Horse Breeding Horse Breeding Procedures and Procedures and ManagementManagement

By: Anthony WatsonBy: Anthony Watson

First Examine Mare before First Examine Mare before breedingbreeding

AgeAge ____________________ ConformationConformation DispositionDisposition Hereditary disordersHereditary disorders ____________________________ NutritionNutrition

Problems that may exist?Problems that may exist? Look for abnormal discharge (blood or pus from vagina)Look for abnormal discharge (blood or pus from vagina) Mares affected with skin disease and parasitesMares affected with skin disease and parasites Mares suffering from high fevers, strangles, influenza, Mares suffering from high fevers, strangles, influenza,

shipping fever, and pneumoniashipping fever, and pneumonia Mares that have recently suffered from retained Mares that have recently suffered from retained

afterbirthafterbirth Mares that have suffered lacerations in foalingMares that have suffered lacerations in foaling Mare that stay in heatMare that stay in heat Mares that are extremely thin or fatMares that are extremely thin or fat Mares that have severe unsoundness that is hereditaryMares that have severe unsoundness that is hereditary Mares that have uterine infectionsMares that have uterine infections Mares should have access to adequate food and waterMares should have access to adequate food and water

– (Most of the above also apply to the stallion)(Most of the above also apply to the stallion)

Breeding ProceduresBreeding Procedures

Natural Mating (Pasture Mating and Natural Mating (Pasture Mating and Hand Mating)Hand Mating)

Artificial Insemination (AI)Artificial Insemination (AI) Embryo TransferEmbryo Transfer Cloning (New technology)Cloning (New technology)

Natural ServiceNatural Service

Mare Serviced by Stallion NaturallyMare Serviced by Stallion Naturally Mare must be in estrus to conceiveMare must be in estrus to conceive At times natural service is hard to At times natural service is hard to

manage, especially when Mare and manage, especially when Mare and Stallion are kept separate (Hand Stallion are kept separate (Hand Mating)Mating)

Natural Service could be dangerous if Natural Service could be dangerous if the two are kept together (Pasture the two are kept together (Pasture Mating)Mating)

Hand MatingHand Mating

The best way to breed maresThe best way to breed mares– Allows breeder to record breeding dates Allows breeder to record breeding dates

and project foaling datesand project foaling dates– Guards against injury to both the stallion Guards against injury to both the stallion

and mareand mare– Helps prevent disease transferHelps prevent disease transfer

Pasture MatingPasture Mating

What are the advantages and What are the advantages and disadvantages?disadvantages?

Artificial InseminationArtificial Insemination

Semen must be collectedSemen must be collected Breeding can take place without the Breeding can take place without the

stallion presentstallion present Safer for mare, stallion, and horse ownerSafer for mare, stallion, and horse owner Disease transfer is decreasedDisease transfer is decreased Breeding dates and foaling dates are notedBreeding dates and foaling dates are noted AI Technician needed or the horse owner AI Technician needed or the horse owner

needs to be certifiedneeds to be certified Easy way to select and use good geneticsEasy way to select and use good genetics

AI ProceduresAI Procedures

AI ProceduresAI Procedures

AI ProceduresAI Procedures

AI ToolsAI Tools

Embryo TransferEmbryo Transfer Most commonly done in cattle but can be Most commonly done in cattle but can be

done in horses.done in horses. Eggs are flushed from animals, then Eggs are flushed from animals, then

placed in recipient animalsplaced in recipient animals Flushed animal is known as the donor Flushed animal is known as the donor

animals and the recipient animal is the animals and the recipient animal is the one in which the fertilized egg is placed.one in which the fertilized egg is placed.

Eggs must be fertilized first before flushingEggs must be fertilized first before flushing The eggs can be frozen or implantedThe eggs can be frozen or implanted

Embryo Transfer Contd.Embryo Transfer Contd.

Owner can choose the sex of his/her Owner can choose the sex of his/her animalanimal

CloningCloning

Producing genetically identical Producing genetically identical individualsindividuals

Done by splitting the embryo into two Done by splitting the embryo into two halves.halves.

The other method is by taking an The other method is by taking an unfertilized egg and removing the unfertilized egg and removing the genetic material, then one cell genetic material, then one cell removed from another embryo and removed from another embryo and fused into the unfertilized egg.fused into the unfertilized egg.

Questions?Questions?

Any questions or comments on Any questions or comments on breeding methods?breeding methods?

Pregnancy of the MarePregnancy of the Mare

Give Proper Nutrition (May need to Give Proper Nutrition (May need to house away from other horses)house away from other horses)

Keep providing regular dental and hoof Keep providing regular dental and hoof carecare– Shoes should be removed a couple weeks Shoes should be removed a couple weeks

before foaling to protect foalbefore foaling to protect foal Mare should continue to receive Mare should continue to receive

exerciseexercise Control Parasites by what?Control Parasites by what? Vaccination ProgramVaccination Program

Vaccination of the Pregnant Vaccination of the Pregnant MareMare

Rhinopneumonitis Vaccination – Rhinopneumonitis Vaccination – infect the respiratory tract of the infect the respiratory tract of the animal and can cause abortion.animal and can cause abortion.

TetanusTetanus Influenza (4 weeks prior to foaling)Influenza (4 weeks prior to foaling) Vet may recommend vaccinations for Vet may recommend vaccinations for

strangles, rabies, anthrax,etc.strangles, rabies, anthrax,etc.– Consult vet over your pregnant mareConsult vet over your pregnant mare

AbortionAbortion

Abortion – the expulsion of the fetus Abortion – the expulsion of the fetus at any point prior to the time the foal at any point prior to the time the foal can survive out of the uteruscan survive out of the uterus

Can occur as late as the 10Can occur as late as the 10thth month month Estimated that 20-30% of equine Estimated that 20-30% of equine

pregnancy ends up in abortionpregnancy ends up in abortion

Abortion Contd.Abortion Contd.

Abortion can be caused by infectious Abortion can be caused by infectious diseases or noninfectious diseasesdiseases or noninfectious diseases

There are several infectious diseases There are several infectious diseases that can cause abortions that we will that can cause abortions that we will discuss at a later time if possible.discuss at a later time if possible.

Noninfectious CausesNoninfectious Causes– TwinningTwinning– Hormonal FailureHormonal Failure– Nutritional Deficiencies, Accidents or Nutritional Deficiencies, Accidents or

InjuriesInjuries

Signs of Approaching Signs of Approaching ParturitionParturition

2-6 weeks away – udder starting to 2-6 weeks away – udder starting to distend from bodydistend from body

7-10 days – muscular shrinkage or 7-10 days – muscular shrinkage or falling away at top of buttocks near falling away at top of buttocks near tailheadtailhead

4-6 days – teats are beginning to hold 4-6 days – teats are beginning to hold milkmilk

1-4 days – wax on the end of the teats1-4 days – wax on the end of the teats– Vulva starts to become swollen and loose Vulva starts to become swollen and loose

lookinglooking

Waxing of TeatsWaxing of Teats

Signs of Approaching Signs of Approaching ParturitionParturition

Hours away – milk may leak from Hours away – milk may leak from teats, restlessness, sweating, teats, restlessness, sweating, urinating frequently, lie down and urinating frequently, lie down and get up several times, biting at the get up several times, biting at the sides of the flanks, switching of the sides of the flanks, switching of the tailtail– Foaling can take place quick with Foaling can take place quick with

sometimes showing no signs, be sometimes showing no signs, be prepared 30 days in advanceprepared 30 days in advance

Preparing for the Foaling Preparing for the Foaling ProcessProcess

1 month before foaling – booster 1 month before foaling – booster vaccinationsvaccinations

7-10 days before – locate a place for 7-10 days before – locate a place for the marethe mare– Clean, Dry, and away from other animalsClean, Dry, and away from other animals– If using a stall disinfect the stall with lye If using a stall disinfect the stall with lye

waterwater– Make sure stall has plenty of clean beddingMake sure stall has plenty of clean bedding

The “Big Day”The “Big Day”

1.1. Rupture of the Rupture of the chorioallantois (water chorioallantois (water bag)bag) which causes a large amount of which causes a large amount of fluid to be passed out the vagina.fluid to be passed out the vagina.

2.2. Next you will see the amnion (inner Next you will see the amnion (inner membrane) surrounding the foal.membrane) surrounding the foal.

3.3. During a normal birth the foal will be During a normal birth the foal will be coming front feet first with their coming front feet first with their heels down followed by the nose heels down followed by the nose

The “Big Day”The “Big Day”

Process should not take more than Process should not take more than 30 minutes.30 minutes.

Most mares do foal lying down but Most mares do foal lying down but some will choose to standsome will choose to stand

If a mare does not make adequate If a mare does not make adequate progress or you see that the foal is progress or you see that the foal is coming backwards you should coming backwards you should contact the veterinarian immediatelycontact the veterinarian immediately

The “Big Day”The “Big Day”

If you see the mare is making no If you see the mare is making no progress and the veterinarian cannot progress and the veterinarian cannot be reached you need to provide be reached you need to provide assistance to the foal and mare.assistance to the foal and mare.– Make sure your process is clean, quiet, Make sure your process is clean, quiet,

gentle, and you apply what knowledge gentle, and you apply what knowledge you haveyou have

The “Big Day”The “Big Day”

If parturition is delayed the fetus If parturition is delayed the fetus often dies from twisting or knotting often dies from twisting or knotting of the umbilical cord.of the umbilical cord.– This stops fetal circulation or lack of This stops fetal circulation or lack of

oxygen to the fetus or bothoxygen to the fetus or both

After the Foal is bornAfter the Foal is born

Check for breathing and that all Check for breathing and that all membranes have been removed membranes have been removed away from the foals nostrils and away from the foals nostrils and mouthmouth– If the foal is not breathing you may need If the foal is not breathing you may need

to apply artificial respiration.to apply artificial respiration. Dip Navel with iodine/water solutionDip Navel with iodine/water solution Make sure foal receives colostrum 30 Make sure foal receives colostrum 30

minutes to 2 hours after birthminutes to 2 hours after birth

After the Foal is bornAfter the Foal is born

The placenta (afterbirth) should be The placenta (afterbirth) should be expelled as soon as the mare gets expelled as soon as the mare gets up.up.– If placenta is not shed it should be tied If placenta is not shed it should be tied

to the mare’s tail so that it is not to the mare’s tail so that it is not stepped on by the mare or foal. The stepped on by the mare or foal. The mare should shed it no longer than 3 mare should shed it no longer than 3 hours after foaling, if she has not shed hours after foaling, if she has not shed the placenta call the vet. The vet will the placenta call the vet. The vet will more than likely administer oxytocin.more than likely administer oxytocin.

After the Foal is bornAfter the Foal is born

Feed the mare lightly for the first few Feed the mare lightly for the first few days.days.– Rule of thumb – ½ normal amountRule of thumb – ½ normal amount

Administer luke warm water at low Administer luke warm water at low levels several times throughout the day levels several times throughout the day not allowing her to gorge. not allowing her to gorge.

Stall should be lightly cleaned after Stall should be lightly cleaned after birth.birth.

Lastly, make sure the foal has a bowel Lastly, make sure the foal has a bowel movement within 4-12 hrs. after birthmovement within 4-12 hrs. after birth

After the Foal is bornAfter the Foal is born

Hopefully, you now have a healthy Hopefully, you now have a healthy mare and foal after 336 days of work mare and foal after 336 days of work and careful management.and careful management.