The breeding season is upon us, and many horse owners are looking forward to meeting their new foals and thinking about breeding their mares this season.
Methods of breeding
Horses can be bred naturally or artificial insemination with fresh semen, chilled semen or frozen semen. Each technique has its own advantages and disadvantages, and we can talk you through what best suits your situation. Often the most important factor is choosing a stallion. Once you have chosen a stallion, the method of breeding may be narrowed down to a few options.
Breeding and oestrus cycles
Most mares will start cycling in spring, although 20% of mares cycle continuously throughout the year. Mares that have foaled will come into season around seven days after foaling (the “foal heat”) and typically ovulate 10 days after foaling. This may be a good time to breed your mare, but this is best assessed on a case by case basis in discussion with your vet. After that, the mare will come into season approximately every 21-22 days.
Preparing for foaling
A mare’s pregnancy is typically described as being around 340 days. However, there is a wide range and anywhere from 320 to 370 days is normal. Typically, a mare will have a similar length of pregnancy for each foal, so if a mare “foals early” at 330 days each time, she’s not really foaling early – 330 days is normal for her! And remember, before worrying that your mare is “overdue”, make sure you have an accurate service date for the correct mare!
The mare’s vaccination and worming should be up-to-date and scheduled to happen again around two months prior to foaling. Vaccinations should include 2-in-1 (tetanus and strangles) and you may even consider Hendra vaccination– both are safe to use in pregnant mares.
Call our team if you have any questions about breeding your mare. |