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If you're considering breeding your beloved mare and raising her foal, it's essential to weigh the financial implications and potential health risks. Breeding should only proceed if your mare possesses exceptional genetic qualities worth passing on and if the desired traits aren't readily available in existing horses. With a surplus of unwanted horses, committing to the care of a foal is a lifelong responsibility.
Essential Steps
Preparing for Horse Breeding
Evaluate the financial investment required for breeding. Breeding entails significant costs, including stallion fees, insurance, and transportation expenses. Artificial insemination is an alternative option, involving purchasing semen and the insemination procedure.
Estimate the potential veterinary expenses associated with pregnancy. Understand that pregnancy entails veterinary costs for ensuring the mare's health, diagnosing pregnancy, vaccinating against various diseases, and covering any complications during foaling.
Calculate additional expenses. Approach breeding with clear objectives rather than vague desires. Consider potential complications during foaling and opt for professional foaling facilities for first-time breeders. Additional costs include feed, stabling, bedding, and postnatal care.
- Moreover, raising a foal entails at least two years before it can be trained for riding, with no guarantee of its suitability.
Determine the mare's breeding readiness. Understand the mare's seasonal breeding nature and the possibility of manipulating her reproductive cycle through artificial means for specific breeding goals.
- This manipulation is common in Thoroughbred breeding for racing purposes, where birth dates influence racing eligibility.
Ensure the mare's suitability for breeding. Optimal breeding age for mares is typically between three to four years, avoiding breeding too early when the mare is still growing, or too late when conception may be difficult.
- Breeding too early places excessive strain on a growing mare, while breeding too late may hinder conception.
Preparing the Mare for Breeding
Ensure consistent care for the pregnant mare throughout the majority of gestation. Typically spanning nearly a year, pregnancy lasts about 340 days on average, with a permissible range of 20 days in either direction considered normal. During the first two-thirds of pregnancy, maintain the mare's regular feeding regimen, as excessive weight during birth significantly increases the risk of complications. It's crucial to keep the mare physically active during this period to enhance her endurance for the demanding process of foaling.
- She can still be ridden during this phase, aiding in maintaining her fitness and stamina for the upcoming birthing, which is notably strenuous.
- If your mare grazes in a pasture, ensure it's devoid of fescue grass to prevent fescue toxicity during pregnancy.
- Consult your veterinarian regarding appropriate nutrition, including the need for dietary supplements such as salt blocks or vitamins.
Exercise caution and gentleness with the mare nearing the end of her pregnancy. The advancing pregnancy exerts significant strain on the mare's body; hence, during the final third of her gestation period, handle her delicately. Avoid riding her and increase her food intake to accommodate the foal's growth.
Caring for a Mare in Labor
Stay vigilant for the initial signs of impending foaling. Mares typically give birth during nighttime, preferring a dark and tranquil environment to relax adequately for foaling. The initial stage of labor involves the uterus contracting and preparing for foal expulsion, manifesting as restlessness, tail swishing indicative of irritation, and overall irritability.
- During this phase, the foal's positioning adjusts in readiness for birthing.
- No direct intervention is necessary at this point; rather, heightened monitoring becomes crucial once labor commences.
Observe closely without intervention during the second stage of labor. As the mare transitions into the pushing phase of labor, she may exhibit signs of exertion such as sweating profusely. During this stage, the mare typically lies down with extended legs and exerts significant pushing force. It's common for her to alternate between standing and lying down until the foal is delivered.
- Continuous monitoring is recommended during this phase, either through remote cameras or by a quietly positioned observer with a torch.
Ensure readiness to contact a veterinarian. If the mare experiences prolonged straining without foal progression for 20-40 minutes, immediate veterinary assistance should be sought. It's advisable to have a veterinarian available for such emergencies during the birthing process.
