08/28/2026
It’s simple: breeders make the pony world go round, Grace Morgan writes. Without breeders, there wouldn’t be super fancy, well-minded, safe ponies to tote kids around.
I asked pony breeders about the cost and the worth of the ponies they produce. As a small breeder myself, I found the answers very insightful. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the numbers, but so important to remember your “why.”
Megan Burtness, BridleWood Welsh, Paso Robles, CA
“That number can vary significantly depending on breeding expenses. On average, a chute fee covering two cycles for fresh or cooled semen is about $750. If you’re doing some or all of the work in-house or using live cover, costs go down. On the other hand, using frozen semen, paying stud fees, and encountering any complications can quickly raise expenses. For my own mares, I usually spend between $300 and $500 per breeding cycle, including supplies, fuel for vet visits, ultrasound fees, and medications used to manage timing. Older mares tend to require more intervention and maintenance, increasing the investment in each resulting foal.
The average cost to maintain a mare for a year is around $2,000 to $2,500. Once the foal is born, it begins to add to the mare’s feed requirements and eventually has its own feed costs as well. By weaning, most foals have had 2–4 farrier trims, their first two sets of vaccinations, a well-foal check, and possibly some veterinary care for minor issues.
On average, my breakeven point for a foal at weaning is at least $3,500, including the cost of maintaining the mare, breeding, carrying the pregnancy, foaling, and raising the foal through 4–5 months of age. For some mares or breedings, that number can rise to $5,000–$7,000, depending on complications or specific circumstances.”
📎 Continue reading this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2025/08/20/breeders-make-the-pony-world-go-round/
