Breeding: Best Mare Management Practices

From breeding soundness exams to tracking mares’ cycles, learn what owners should know before having their mares bred.
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Breeding season for horses usually occurs in the spring. This makes winter a good time for breeders to plan for the upcoming season. Although people have many reasons for breeding a horse, there are some important factors that all breeders should consider before getting started.

The mare's age is important, as well as the number of pregnancies and foals she has produced in the past. Older mares that have not had a foal may have more difficulty becoming pregnant. Mares with a history of abortion or pregnancy with twins may be categorized as high risk.

Also consider the mare's health and if she is in good body condition. Does she have any potentially heritable disorders? Does she have any musculoskeletal problems that carrying a foal would exacerbate, such as lameness due to tendon injuries or arthritis?

"Another question horse breeders should ask themselves is why they want to breed this mare, in particular, when so many unwanted horses are out there," said Lisa K. Pearson, DVM, a Washington State University large animal theriogenology resident. "If an owner would be just as happy adopting or rescuing an adult horse for training, showing, or pleasure riding, then perhaps bringing another horse into the world would not be to their advantage. Also, will the owner accept responsibility for the foal for its lifetime? If the foal is to be sold, will there be provisions that if that new owner cannot keep it, it can be returned to the breeder? If it is to be raised and used by the breeder, will they provide for it regardless of the foal's potential use as an athletic animal? All of these questions should be addressed before a mare is bred

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