Horses mate through courtship followed by mounting receptive mares. Mares show heat signs during 5-7 days of cycle. Stallions respond with Flehmen Response and display mating behavior. Mating typically lasts only a few minutes
Pony is a small horse under 14.2 hands (58 inches) at the withers. Some organizations define pony as mature horse below specific height. Australian ponies measure under 14 hands (56 inches)
Stallions are male horses without castration. They have thicker necks and muscular physiques due to testosterone. Testes are 8-12 cm long, 6-7 cm high, 5 cm wide. Penis is 50 cm long when erect, increasing 50% in length
Horse breeding involves selective reproduction of horses for specific characteristics. Male parent (stallion) is called sire, female parent (mare) is called dam. Horses are bred where they are foaled, not where conception occurred. "Colt" refers to young male, "filly" to young female
Fillies reach sexual maturity between 1-2 years old. Horses cycle from late spring to early fall each year. Each cycle lasts 21-22 days, divided into estrus (6-8 days) and diestrus (14-16 days)
Mating begins with teasing to determine mare's heat cycle. Stallion mounts mare from rear during copulation. Actual mating lasts only a few minutes