Cindydawg, The advantages of hand breeding versus pasture breeding are many. First, there is much less chance of someone getting injured - horses can get pretty rough. Then, you have to fill out and send in a stud report to your association on all the mares you breed. If you are hand breeding, you know exactly when that mare was covered and how many times. You know if you've got a good cover or not. The horses can be cleaned before and after the breeding - less chance of infection. And you have a good idea of when the babies are due, especially on mares that have foaled before because you know how long they go.
Doesn't sound like much fun for the mare but this makes sense:') I had read that it could be done either way but besides teaching a young stallion manners I didn't see any pros or cons and just wondering. So much learned and so much to learn. By the time you have had horses for awhile you could probably meet a degree requirement:')