Breeding Horses with Wisdom:
Jeanette Gower on Her New Book The Thinking Horse Breeder
For more than half a century, Jeanette Gower has shaped and brought clarity to the world of horse breeding. Her new book The Thinking Horse Breeder builds on the reputation she earned with her first title Horse Colour Explained (1999), blending accessible science, hands on wisdom and striking photography into a single indispensable guide.
Jeanette’s introduction to horses was not conventional. She devoured every horse book in her local library as a child, soaked up knowledge by riding polo ponies as a teenager, and soon began breeding her own foals. She delved into colour genetics at a time when few in the horse world understood it, exchanging letters with international experts and studying pigeon breeding systems just to figure out what colour her foal might be. That curiosity and perseverance led to the foundation of her successful Chalani stud in South Australia (with her daughter Kim) and eventually to writing Horse Colour Explained, a richly illustrated guide covering inheritance of base colours, dilutions, patterns and ethical breeding considerations. The book remains a trusted resource decades later, praised for its real world insights and approachable style.
Now, with over 50 years of breeding experience, Jeanette revisits her broader life’s work in The Thinking Horse Breeder. In just six months including layout and photography she assembled a 238 page memoir and manual full of vivid stories, practical advice and over 190 colour photos, many contributed by her late husband, equestrian photographer Peter Gower.
This book is not just for genetics enthusiasts. Written in clear and inclusive language suitable for readers as young as twelve, it encompasses the full journey: selecting bloodlines, planning matings, modern breeding technologies including AI, frozen semen, embryo transfer and cloning, raising and training young horses, marketing your stud, cost control, photography tips and succession planning. It even tackles tough questions like what happens to your horses if circumstances change, reinforcing Jeanette’s philosophy that responsible breeding is more about thought than impulse.
Jeanette places special importance on the mare as the foundation of any successful breeding program, particularly the “tail female line” which passes traits like heart size via mitochondrial DNA. Her guidance urges breeders to go beyond superficial traits and understand the pedigree deeply, not only the stallions but the female lineage too.
She hopes her new book will reach beyond the pages. It has already been vetted by veterinarians for scientific accuracy. The audiobook edition, released two weeks ago, offers a perfect solution for time pressed breeders out in the paddock or on the road.
This is a book for everyone who wants to breed thoughtfully, whether you are just starting out, running a small hobby stud, or looking to scale your program. It is not about convincing anyone to breed, but giving them the knowledge to decide with clarity. As Jeanette puts it: if you read this and decide breeding is not for you, that is a success too.While Horse Colour Explained remains a seminal reference in understanding equine colour genetics, The Thinking Horse Breeder offers the full arc, melding science, ethics, economics and a lifetime of experience into a single guide. Together, these two books form a complementary set: one explains why and how colour inheritance matters, the other shows what else matters in breeding and raising quality horses.