REPRODUCTION

Burwash Equine Services has been a forerunner in equine reproduction for over 40 years. We offer mare cycle management, breeding to cooled and frozen semen, embryo transfer, pregnancy checks, and collecting stallions for both shipped cooled and frozen semen.

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Placentitis - a reason for monitoring your pregnant mare
Placentitis - a reason for monitoring your pregnant mare

Foaling season is once again approaching and many pregnant mares have been left out on pasture to eat to their heart’s content over the winter. Often pregnant mares have minimal monitoring throughout most of their pregnancy, but there is a strong case to be made for closer monitoring, especially in mid to late gestation due to the risk of placentitis.

Breeding Your Mare
Breeding Your Mare

So, you want to breed your mare.  You think you have the perfect stallion to match her and so it should be easy, right?  Not quite.  Nowadays, it can be much more complicated than just getting a mare and stallion together.  There are many different options available for breeding your mare.  In this blog post, we will discuss the mare’s reproductive cycle, the different types of semen available, and when to have pregnancy checks done on your mare. 

Breeding Your Mare: A behind-the-scenes look at the science of mare reproduction
Breeding Your Mare: A behind-the-scenes look at the science of mare reproduction

Whether this is your first adventure into the world of mares and foals, or you have been down this road before, you may be wondering what happens between the time you say your farewells at the clinic and the time you get that wonderful news. Well, wonder no more! In this article I will explain all of the techniques, technologies, and tricks we have at our disposal to make the process as reliable and smooth as possible.

Fall Seminar 2014: An Introduction to the World of Reproduction
Fall Seminar 2014: An Introduction to the World of Reproduction

Dr. Brettly Battistone covers what you need to know to make the best decisions for your mare and future foal.

Stallion Semen Freezing
Stallion Semen Freezing

We can start freezing a stallion’s semen as soon as he is sexually mature. For most horses this is any time after 4 years old, but some horses mature earlier or later than others. If your horse is not mature at the time of collection we will be able to see signs of immaturity when examining the sample under the microscope.

It is important to know that every stallion freezes differently, and freezes better in different agents. There are a variety to choose from, and so before performing a commercial freeze, a collection will be “test frozen” with a variety of different agents in order to determine the best agent for your stallion.

Pregnant Mare Management
Pregnant Mare Management

EARLY PREGNANCY

 First ultrasound for pregnancy:  14-16 days post ovulation

This is the earliest time at which the growing embryo can be identified ultrasonographically, and if twins are present, in many cases both embryos can be visualized and the condition dealt with at this time.  However, in some instances a smaller embryo (usually due to the mare ovulating a second follicle days after the first) can be missed in this exam.

Breeding Your Mare
Breeding Your Mare

General Comments:

  • Don’t expect a stallion to “fix” the faults in your mare or vice versa.
  • Spend some time researching a prospective stallion for your mare. Talk to breeders as well as trainers in your chosen discipline – see what’s working.
  • Make sure your mare is in good breeding condition. This includes up-to-date vaccinations and deworming as well as the mare being in good body condition.
  • Track your mare’s cycle – mark it on the calendar. This will save you time and money in the long run.
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Fall Seminar 2019 - The Events of Normal Foaling
Fall Seminar 2019 - The Events of Normal Foaling

Dr. Jennifer Morrissey goes over the details of what you need to know: how to tell that your mare might be about to foal, what happens in a normal foaling, and how to monitor your mare and foal after the birth.

Placentitis - a reason for monitoring your pregnant mare
Placentitis - a reason for monitoring your pregnant mare

Foaling season is once again approaching and many pregnant mares have been left out on pasture to eat to their heart’s content over the winter. Often pregnant mares have minimal monitoring throughout most of their pregnancy, but there is a strong case to be made for closer monitoring, especially in mid to late gestation due to the risk of placentitis.

My Newborn Foal
My Newborn Foal

Welcome to the third post in our series about foaling.  Here we will discuss the important events that take place in a foal’s life immediately after it is born.

When Foaling Is Imminent
When Foaling Is Imminent

In our last post, we covered the signs to monitor in your mare that she is close to foaling.  Here we will cover how to prepare for your foal’s arrival.  These include the stages of labor, foaling kit essentials, and a few of the more common foaling problems.

 

Mares should have a clean and dry area on which to foal, that is free from too many disturbances.  They can foal inside or outside, depending on the time of year and the weather.  If your mare is to foal inside, straw is the recommended bedding.  Having a stocked foaling kit nearby with some basic supplies will also be helpful.  The foaling kit essentials include:

When is my mare going to foal?
When is my mare going to foal?

This is the first post in a series about foaling out your mare.

Foaling season is upon us and mare owners everywhere are left guessing as to when their mares are going to foal.  Watching your mare can be frustrating and confusing, but knowing some basics and being prepared can go along way to help bring a healthy foal into the world, or to help save a sick one.  This spring we will have a series of posts about foaling – what to watch for when your mare is close to foaling, how to be prepared, what to do once the foal is on the ground, and when to breed back your mare.  This first post in the series covers information on the signs that your mare is close to foaling.