* Does the proposed mating further the breed of the Australian Miniature Pony? * Are both the prospective Sire and Dam fertile, fit, healthy and free of confirmation            defects? * Has the prospective Dam had a foal previously, and if so - has there been any problems with foaling down or the dam's care of the foal? * Are the prospective Sire and Dam free of the equine herpes virus, which can cause mid-term abortions (amongst many other things)? * Are the temperaments of the Dam and Sire suitable to be potentially reproduced? * Will there be a caring knowledgeable home available for the future foal regardless of the foal's sex or colour? * Could the mating result in an unviable foal due to the doubling up of a colour gene. * Do you have the time and resources available to ensure the dam and the foal will have all their environmental, health and nutrient needs met throughout the pregnancy and throughout weaning? * Are your fencing/stabling arrangements suitable for foaling and then accommodation of a small foal through the weaning process? * Are you familiar with the breeding cycle, i.e. length of a season, when and how to serve, what to expect, any safety concerns? * Do you recognise that the Stallion and Mare both contribute their genes to the foal, i.e. neither one can be expected to over ride or influence 100% the foals size, temperament, head shape, colour, conformation etc. * Have you remembered to ensure the mare/stallion are Adult Registered prior to being breed from (offspring from two non-registered parents may be registered but only at 2 years and under 87cm of age with the parents of such offspring being recorded as "unknown" on the Certificate), but offspring from one registered parent may be recorded.

If using an outside Stallion (i.e. a Stallion that does not belong to you) ensure that you have detailed information on all costs involved which are usually included in a service agreement drawn up by the Stallion's owner. There can include service fees, agistment, feeding, veterinary tests, viability guarantees for the embryo/foal, as well as an approximate length of time the mare will be away from your stud. It is important that the Stallion owner gives you an Australian Miniature Pony Society Inc. Service Certificate when you collect your mare.

There is at least an 18 month long commitment and investment on both the dam and the foal with each mating, as well as consideration for the future life of the foal created. Think carefully before breeding and if you decide to breed - choose to use the best quality dam and sire that you can afford. Remember our ponies will possibly live for 20 - 30 years.

Breeding - Stud Prefix:

If you intend to breed Australian Miniature Ponies, you will need a stud prefix, and its is a good idea to apply for one with your membership application (or renewal of membership). A Stud Prefix is like a surname, except it goes in front of your foal's name. As there is a limit on the length of the whole name (the total of letters, space etc is 30), a short Stud Prefix gives you more scope for your pony's name. The Stud Prefix itself is limited to 17 characters (including spaces). Sometimes your first selection of Stud Prefix may have already been taken, or may be too similar to an existing Australian Miniature Pony Society Inc. Stud Prefix - so submitting 2 or 3 alternatives can save a lot of time and correspondence. Once a Stud Prefix has been approved and allocated to an AMPS member, it cannot be reissued in the future without written consent.

Breeding - Brands/Branding:

At present, Australian Miniature Pony Society Inc. accepts both Fire Branding and Freeze Branding. If you propose to breed Australian Miniature Ponies, you will notice on the Foal Recording and Adult Registration Forms that there is a requirement for the ponies to be branded. Australian Miniature Pony Society Inc. requires that Stud Brands are registered with Australian Miniature Pony Society Inc., all new Stud Brands must go through a design, description, submission, checking and approval process prior to being made and used.

Victorian - you do not currently need to register your brand with Primary Industries or Sustainability and Environment Departments.

Breeding - Pony Returns:

All members are required to complete an Annual Pony Return WHETHER THEY OWN OR LEASE ANY REGISTERED MINIATURE PONIES OR NOT.
Pony Returns are sent out approximately in June of each year.
The Society uses this Annual Pony Return to ensure the accuracy of the breeding records so that members can look at any pedigrees with confidence. Every pony/foal that you enter onto your Annual Pony Return must be clearly identified with their Australian Miniature Pony Society Inc. registration/recording number. If mating is not included on this return the pony must be 2 years of age before registering and must meet all conditions of registering.

Breeding - Service Certificates:

Australian Miniature Pony Society Inc. have Service Certificates available to members. The use of these forms is compulsory where Stallion owners take outside mares. Where a Service Certificate is issued, it must accompany the Foal Recording Application. This means you must keep it until after the foal is born and you are applying for Foal Recording. Where the Application for Foal Recording is forwarded to Australian Miniature Pony Society Inc., the Australian Miniature Pony Society Inc. Certificate of Service MUST be attached (if you used an outside Stallion). Please do not send the Service Certificate in with your Pony Return form. An Australian Miniature Pony Society Inc. Service Certificate is not required to be completed if you are using your own Stallion at stud over your own mares.

Breeding - DNA Testing/Parentage:

DNA Testing is the only form of parentage verification recognised by the Society, and it is used where there is the possibility of a mare having been served by two or more stallions. The only way a resultant foal can be Foal Recorded is to have the DNA testing done for the mare, the foal and each of the possible sires (the cost is the member's responsibility). These matings must be included on the Annual Pony Return.

Breeding - Gelding:

If a stallion or colt is gelded, the Certificate of Registration/Foal recording must be forwarded to the Society with a notification in writing that the pony has been gelded. The Certificate will be endorsed "gelded" and then returned to you.

Breeding - Death of Ponies:

Upon the death of an Australian Miniature Pony you are required to notify the Society by returning the deceased pony's Certificate of Registration (or Foal Recording or Appendix Recording whichever is applicable) with a note stating that the pony is now deceased. The pony's record will be marked in the Registry's records as deceased, however you will still need to include the death of that pony on your Annual Pony Return for the year in which the pony died.
Some member's like to have the original copy of their deceased pony's registration papers for their records, include this request for a copy at the time of notifying the Society of the pony's death.