| Make Room for Baby |
December/2003 |
One of your main objectives whether you own or work with broodmares should be to produce the maximum number of live, healthy foals from the mares bred during the previous season. Perhaps the biggest obstacle to achieving this aim is the "problem" mare.
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| Can He or Can't He? |
November/2003 |
Regardless of the number of mares being bred, it is important to monitor the stallion's reproductive success in order to maintain his reputation and give yourself time to address any problems he might have. Evaluating breeding records can enable you to determine if changes in breeding protocols might be needed if you would like to increase his book size or if you need to accommodate a heavy competition schedule during the breeding season.
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| Let There Be Light! |
October/2003 |
Because of the demands of competition and sales, following the natural reproductive cycle dictated by Mother Nature often doesn't fit into man's breeding program. While Mother Nature's time frame stipulates that the mare should be receptive to the stallion in late spring/early summer to produce a foal when the grass is green and the weather is warm, man, as steward of the horse, often has other plans.
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| She Ain't What She Used to Be |
August/2003 |
The aging process takes its toll in many ways on horses and humans. When women reach a certain age, for example, they experience menopause, a transitional period when Nature serves notice that they no longer can bear children. With horses, that stage of life is less pronounced, with some mares capable of bearing foals almost up to the time of death.
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| The Inner Mare |
July/2003 |
Owners of mares should know correct anatomical terminology, have a working knowledge of the normal reproductive cycle, and be acquainted with common problems that could occur. The following article is designed to help mare owners understand the normal reproductive tract of the mare, and the words that veterinarians use to describe normal and abnormal aspects of that anatomy.
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| What Boys Are Made Of |
June/2003 |
An appreciation of normal reproductive anatomy is essential to the competent physical examination of the stallion's reproductive tract. If you are involved in breeding, then you should be familiar with what is considered normal so you know when something is wrong. This information will also help mare owners make informed decisions about a particular stallion which might have physical problems outside the norm.
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| A View Within: Reproductive Ultrasound |
May/2003 |
Since the early 1980s, the use of ultrasound has revolutionized our understanding of mare reproductive physiology, and with it stud management. Ultrasound allows the practitioner to diagnose problems and monitor reproductive activity with considerable accuracy. Additionally, the non-invasive nature of the technique reduces the risks of harming the mare or her fetus, and allows sequential monitoring.
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| Pregnant Mares and Supplements |
April/2003 |
Eleven months is a very long time to wait for a foal. I know from personal experience that the further along the mare is, the more your hopes and dreams for your "perfect foal" grow. It doesn't matter if the foal is bred to gallop to the wire or jump to the moon, or whether you are dreaming about lots of markings or a perfect blanket, everyone wants one thing--a healthy foal.
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| Marbles Keep Mares Out of Heat |
March/2003 |
Mares in performance careers are sometimes a frustration to their trainers and riders because during estrus, they can have difficulty concentrating on their work or have "behavioral problems." Many horse owners resort to hormone therapy to keep mares from coming into heat while training or showing.
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| Repro in the Rockies |
February/2003 |
The center of the Colorado State University (CSU) veterinary school's equine reproductive universe is its 22,000-square-foot Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory and a smaller satellite, the Equine Reproduction Laboratory. In these facilities, faculty members, graduate students, post-doctorate fellows, and visiting scientists from around the world work on a daily basis to unveil the mysteries and solve the problems of equine reproduction.
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| In the Aftermath of Birth--Retained Placenta |
January/2002 |
The birth of a foal is a wondrous event; if all goes well, it is over quickly as the mare goes through the three stages of labor. The first stage generally involves restlessness as the mare paces the stall, paws, lies down, gets back up, and perhaps breaks into a sweat. The second stage, which includes "breaking her water," is one of strong contractions as the mare lies down to deliver the foal, often in a matter of only a few minutes.
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