Mare & Foal

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Q: I own a top quality mare that I would love to have a foal out of. However, she is also my primary riding and competition mount, and I’d prefer not to stop riding her so she can have a foal. I do have another mare and am considering using her as a surrogate for embryo transfer. What exactly is involved in embryo transfer? How can I tell if my second mare is a good surrogate candidate?

How to Care for Your New Foal

By Mark Andrews, DVM - You have waited eleven months for your foal to arrive. Now he is here what can you do to ensure he gets off to the best possible start in life? First thing's first. Make sure that the foal sucks. A normal foal should stand and drink from the mare within two hours. If the foal is having difficulty sucking, or is not interested, he may have serious problems. Call an experienced horse vet sooner rather than later.

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Q - I will be breeding my mare using cooled semen. Is there anything I can do to increase her chances of becoming pregnant on the first try?

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By Juan C. Samper, DVM - Endometritis, which is the inflammation (swelling and irritation) of the uterus, is the main reason for mares not becoming pregnant. This inflammation can be acute or it can be chronic; in other words, this inflammation could be something that is occurring for the first time or it could be a problem that has been going on for a long time.

Vaccine Against Foal Pneumonia Morris Animal Foundation’s Patsy Link Chair in Equine Research at Texas A&M University foal pneumonia r. equi, vaccines for pregnant mares, Harvard Medical School, rhodococcus equi

Morris Animal Foundation’s $2 Million Research Investment Offers Hope for Horse Lovers - After decades in the making, a vaccine against deadly foal pneumonia might finally be within reach, thanks to Morris Animal Foundation-funded research conducted at two major universities. The breakthrough could potentially save the lives of thousands of foals every year.

Artificial light has been used to mimic longer day length and hasten the onset of seasonal reproductive activity in mares. Extending the day length to about 16 hours is now a common management tool on horse breeding farms.

Researchers at the University of Guelph are searching for clues to better manage a virus that can cause late gestation abortion in mares. Horses carrying equine herpesvirus (EHV) may exhibit signs as minor as a runny nose and mild fever, but the virus is a major cause of neurological, respiratory, and reproductive disease, including abortions, in the equine industry.

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From bloodlines to athletic career to temperament, there are many different reasons to breed your mare. While the mare owner may have no trouble making the decision to breed their mare and choosing the perfect stallion, sorting through the myriad details involved in the actual breeding process can be challenging. Being informed about mares’ cycles and the different options for breeding can help make the breeding process go more smoothly, especially for first-time breeders.

Why is colostrum important for foals, mare and foal colostrum, mare’s colostrum, Juliet getty, equine immunoglobulins horse, why do foals need colostrum, nutrition for foals, equine foal nutrition, feeding a new foal

Colostrum - you know it as the mare’s first milk. It is a complex fluid, rich in nutrients and immune-regulating compounds, all designed to give the newborn foal the immune support he needs to thrive. Unlike humans who are born with an initial level of immunity, newborn horses do not benefit from any placental transfer of immunoglobulins; therefore, they must consume colostrum in the first few hours of life in order to survive.

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Good nutrition throughout pregnancy is essential to the health of both mare and foal. Adjust your broodmare’s diet as gestation progresses to meet her changing nutrient needs.

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