Prepping for Pregnancy

Over the years many people have come to me on the correct way to prep a mare for pregnancy. Many are under the belief that you either just AI or live cover with no other after thought. Quite the contrary. Planning your mares pregnancy comes months, even years ahead of when you actually plan to breed her. How your mare is fed, trained, and used from her own conception plays a huge role in the type of mare she is today. This week I will dedicate each post to helpful pre-pregnancy pointers.

So lets get started from day one. So hooray, you've just purchased your mare. You are excited by the prospect of her being your personal buddy and eventually broodmare. You've done your research on her and what the market is like today. You've been dreaming of the perfect stallion and how your mare is going to be a great mother. You have even picked out her future progeny name. That includes both barn name and registered name. For both a colt or filly. HALT! Pull those reins back and lets take another look at this. Here are my helpful pointers that I live by.

1. I do not breed or purchase any mare that has been bred under the age of 5 years old. Young filly's do NOT carry well. Many mares are not finished developing until after 5 years. Pregnancy takes a toll on mares just as it does humans. The sagging belly often diminishes the top line muscles of a mare. For an already undeveloped pregnant filly this can create major issues later on in life including poor joint health, sway back, chronic abortion, and septicemia.
2. I get sire and dam history. Everyone wants to believe that their horse is just as peaceful as the day is long. The truth could be that their sire or dam were as rank as could be. The dam may even have been an intolerable mom. It is not something I would want to take a chance with or risk having a mare that could reject her foal.
3. I do extensive checking on the mare. Previous owner may say that the mare had a foal the year prior or that the mare is breeding sound. But you will never know until you have a vet check. A huge red flag with me is a mare that has been bred here or there often years apart. Does she have irregular cycles? Does she not carry well? How many times did she abort? All of these questions need to be answered.
4. Look at her previous babies. Are they willing and accepting to other horses or their handlers? Are they healthy and growing properly? Have they gone on to compete or perform successfully?
5. Don't settle. Don't purchase the cheapest mare you can find with so-so bloodlines just because you are dying to have a cute little foal run around. If you are going to breed, find a mare and sire that are marketable so if you fall on hard times, you won't have an issue selling the offspring.

Tomorrow I will continue this session of Breeding 101 with a post on How to properly feed before pregnancy.