Horse breeding?

I am planning to breed my 9 year old mare this spring. (either may or june) This is my first time being in charge of everything that has to be done in order to achieve this, and I'm not completely sure of everything I have to do. If someone experienced could give me a checklist of things I need to get done between now and when I want to have her bred, that would be great!


Let me know if you need any additional info


Thank you so much!








Also, does anyone have some good home remedies (or cheap ones) for horse supplements? I have never had trouble keeping weight on my mare before, (actually I have had the opposite problem) but this winter she has been losing a lot of weight. I am currently feeding her about 4 cups of sweet feed, 2 cups of pellets, and about 1 1/2 flakes of hay twice a day. She has about 2 acres of pasture, but of course the grass doesn't hold much nutrition right now.


Again, any help will be greatly appreciated!


Thanks you guys!


God Bless

Horse breeding?
Having started my riding career on a breeding farm (QH) went on to manage a Morgan breeding farm and having just bred my own mare,who gave me the best colt in all the world,I have some insights to this process :)


First you need to get weight back on your mare,and having her fit will also be an assett.


It will make for an easier pregnancy all around.


If all of a sudden shes losing weight, I would reccomend a thorough examination by your vet,including a complete blood panel.


You are also going to want to have her checked prior to breeding.Its similar to a pelvic exam,the vet comes out and takes a swab %26amp; cultures her vagina.It should come back clean before you breed her.


Are you breeding live cover or AI ? If your breeding AI, you need to make sure your vet is aware,as theres generally a small window of time to inseminate.Yes that can mean a late nite or early run to an airport to pick up an equitainer. If your breeding live cover, make sure that you have someone capable to handle your mare,as well as the stallion.My first collection,I worked with a vet,and his first words to me were that in the breeding world,more horse people get fatally injured during collection because they were unsafe - either the horse reacted and they werent paying attention or they were in a bad position to begin with.


Pick up the book Blessed Are the Broodmares.


3 flakes of hay for a mare that your planning to breed isnt nearly enough.


She really needs to be on free choice hay.


Breeding is a wonderful thing,but its also a huge responsibility.If this is your first time,I would consider boarding her out at a facility that is staffed with knowledgeable folks who know what to expect.Yes its expensive,but it will be more expensive - financially and emotionally , if you did this at home %26amp; something were to go wrong, and you lost mom %26amp; foal.


Also be realistic as to the expense of such a project.


I did my mare at home - but I had the experience to do so - and I still paid in the area of $1,000 in vet care - ultrasounds %26amp; supplements.And I had a strong healthy colt.


Feel free to IM me with any further questions :)
Reply:well i personaly dont know i have a mare that i think is pregnant though. i go on a web site that helps me with it. they know all there is too know. i will give u the link to it. u can post questions or comments when ever you want. u do have to sighn up but that takes like three seconds. they can tell u every thing. theyve done it many times. some have there own breeding farms. and u can stay throughout it till she foals and even longer. they can help with many questons about breeding, and while the mare is pregnant.


http://www.equine-reproduction.com/board...


u jsut follow that link. then u can either click on 2007 2008 foal watch previews, or maiden mares, or Jan. 2008 foal watch. thats the one i recomend. just ask them all the stuff u asked and they will answer with very helpfulnes.


good luck and hope to see u there.
Reply:1 1/2 flakes of hay twice a day isn't nearly enough, especially in winter. She needs at least four in the morning and four at night, if not more.
Reply:Your mare needs to be relatively fit and at a good weight when you breed so up the hay or switch to haylage, and take her on some gentle rides or in-hand walk at a minimum. She generally just needs to be healthy, so make sure she's getting enough nutrition from her grazing, or add a vitamin supplement. She'll need a specialised vet check (I think they provide some sort of certificate in some countries?) if you're taking her to a stud, and it's a good idea anyway if you're just using a friends stallion. She'll need her back shoes off before the stallion covers her if she's shod, but there's no rush to do it yet. They can go back on after she's covered, but it's a good idea to have her completely unshod when she foals.


I'm sure she is already, but make sure she's well behaved to handle. If she's naughty to handle on her own, she's gona be a nightmare when she meets a stallion!


If she's losing weight make sure her worming is upto date. You'll want to do some research into what wormer you can use for a pregnant mare too as some are unsuitable. I use a herbal wormer called verm-x because it's gentle on the gut.
Reply:6 cups with poor pasture is not enough...I would add about a cup per day until you are giving her a full scoop 2-3 times per day to gain weight. Also she needs "all the hay she can eat". You can also try adding plain cooking oil (vegetable oil) to her feed...start with 1/2 cup per day and increase to about 1 cup per day. Don't breed a horse that is underweight. Has she been checked for worms? Have your vet do a fecal count and then act according to his recommendations.


p.s. I'm not fond of "sweet feed". I'm a BIG fan of "Safe Choice" (a pellet feed), almost zero risk of colic.
Reply:This isn't so much a help with feeding as it is a plea to make sure you're horse is good enough to be popping out babies. There are enough unwanted foals around, and if all you really want is a foal, go rescue one. Do a good deed.





I encourage all to read this blog: http://www.fuglyhorseoftheday.blogspot.c...


and to really evaluate their horses and those they plan on breeding to. It takes a good horse owner to seriously look at their horses and find the faults.
Reply:Okay here's the things I do to get my mares ready for breeding. In January I start my mares on a breeders formula feed. Since your mare has problems keeping weight on I suggest you start this right now. I also love using either Focus WT or Weight builder for the hard keepers. I would keep off the sweet feed as it contains a lot of simple sugars that are too easily broke down. Most breeders formulas cut down the carbs and add on the fat. But you can also add a few ounces of corn or veggie oil to pellets. If I'm short on budget I add a few raw eggs and about 4 ounces of oil to the feed as a weight supplement. It will also make her hair and skin nice and healthy- and shiney. Also, you may want to add alfalfa hay or mixed hay to her regime, and if you can manage it, free choice hay.


Before you send her to be bred, have her teeth floated and all proper blood work done. Also have her shots up dated and plan her EHV shot ahead of time so there is no worry.


Next you need to decide where you will be keeping her and if it is proper for breeding and birthing your mare. You'll want to house her in a bigger stall that is birthing ready- EI, no corners, no ground watering buckets(Foals can trip and fall and drown), and that it is plenty big enough and quiet enough that she won't get spooked. Do this ahead of time, as you'll most likely want to keep her in this stall so she'll be more comfortable. And if you'd want to even attack a camera or two to monitor her from your home.





Next I always make sure that all the information for vets, back up vets, farriers, dentists, and chiropractors is available to all that may be in charge of watching after her should you have an emergancy elsewhere or are unable to be there.





If you haven't already chosen a stallion, choose one fast so you can avoid late booking fee's. Make sure it's the one you want so you don't have buyers remorse afterwards. Make sure everything is set up with the stallions owners and that all required paperwork is filled and turned in. They may require a vet clearance that your mare is sound enough to breed, negative blood work to determine your mare doesn't have EHV, WNV, or any other disorder.





Lastly, be sure you are financially able to cover all costs, including the vet charged in case something should go wrong and for the care afterwards. If you can't manage to pay for 2 equines right now and don't see yourself able to do so a year from now, chances are you aren't financially ready, and I'd hate to see your investment sold at public auction and your hard work wasted.
Reply:I would give her all the hay she can eat and cut back on sweet feed. Slowly
Reply:beet pulp wil work...


and for breeding try breeding her at home if she is hi-strung......


two horses at our barn escaped from the facility and got hit by a tracter trailer full on
Reply:As far as the 'home remedies'...you may want to talk to your vet for some suggestions as to why she has been losing 'alot of weight'. Depending on the size/weight of your mare, most folks feed about 1 1/2 to 2 lbs. of feed per 100 lbs. body weight. You didnt mention why type of pellets or hay, and that could be why she's not keeping on weight. For example, my 7 yr. old mare is 900lbs, and I feed 6 lbs. of complete (compumate) pellets, and 6lbs. of bermuda hay per day (split up in two feedings). I like the complete pellets because it has alot of vitamins and minerals all ready in it, and altho most folks prefer alfalfa, or alfalfa mix, she isn't worked/ridden enough in the winter and tends to get a little hot on it.





As far as the breeding, I don't have advice because haven't been in that situation, but again, I think a good vet or the breeder you've selected could give you the information you need. Good luck!