Mare Breeding Soundness Exam Flashcards
What do we want to know about the mares history interms of generic and reproductive?
- Age and other aspects of signalment
- Any concurrent medical issues?
- Details – determine whether these are likely to impact on the mare’s ability to fall pregnant/ carry a foal
- Do they know if the mare has foaled previously?
- Details
- If current owner put them in foal, were there any problems?
NB. Once mares are in foal, they normally carry to term and foal down without any issues
What do we want to know about the owner and the owners history when conduction a pre-breeding soundness exam?
- Does the owner have experience of putting a mare in foal?
- Why do they want a foal?
- Is this a justified reason (e.g. if they think it is cheaper they should be informed that it won’t be)
- Where do they plan for the mare to conceive/ have the foal?
- Stud/home (advantages and disadvantages of each)
- Have they thought about how they are aiming to inseminate the mare?
- Natural (advantages and disadvantages)
- AI (frozen/ fresh. Advantages and disadvantages of each)
- 19 yo WB x TB
- Would like to breed a foal to continue her line
- Had a previous foal
- Much loved family pet
- Would you breed this mare?
YES – her fertility may not be as good as when she was younger, so it may take longer for her to get in foal. She has slight angulation to her vulva, however it is not severe and therefore there is not likely to be an effect of perineal conformation on fertility. Depending on the time of year (if it is early/ late in season), it may be worth trying an initial cycle without a casslicks in place. If there are signs of endometritis on trans rectal ultrasound or it is later in the breeding season then treatment for the endometritis and preventative measures (Casslicks) may be performed immediately as there are time pressures.
- 2yo unbroken ISH (Irish Sports Horse)
- Well bred mare
- Wants to have a foal now before she is broken in
- Would you breed this mare?
YES - there is not likely to be an effect of perineal conformation on fertility. It is common in professional sports horse yards to want to get something from the mare before they are broken. From a business perspective, the owners are feeding the horse anyway, and she has good bloodlines so it is worth trying to get something back from the mare. She has moderate angulation to her vulva, so it would be worth scanning her to determine whether she has endometritis. If she does, this would need to be addressed and a Casslicks would be advisable. If not, given her fertility is likely to be good it would be worth trying her naturally. Obviously with an animal this young, she would need to be well handled so that it is safe to perform the necessary diagnostics.
- 14yo maiden riding pony
- Nice all-rounder
- Owner would like to breed similar
- Desired stallion is deceased so would like to use frozen AI
- Would you breed this mare?
YES – there is not likely to be an effect of perineal conformation on fertility, and her age should not have a significant detrimental impact on fertility. Her perineal conformation is good so she shouldn’t have endometritis. The issue here is that the owner wants to use frozen AI – ensure that you communicate with them that conception rates are lower with frozen and therefore it may take longer and therefore cost more to get her in foal. Given this information, they may decide to choose a different method of insemination. Another consideration in this mare is that she has melanomas. In this case they are small and therefore should not cause a problem with insemination or birth, however if they were sizeable this would need to be taken into account (e.g. whether natural mating was appropriate/ ethical). In extreme circumstances, it may not be appropriate to breed a mare at all.
- 5yo WB x TB
- Bred a foal as a 2yo
- Currently lame with suspensory ligament desmitis, requires 6months rest
- Would like to put in foal to TB eventing stallion
- Would you breed this mare?
YES – she is young and therefore this should not have a detrimental impact on her fertility. There is not likely to be an effect of perineal conformation on fertility, she’s also successfully bred a foal when she was younger. It is common to breed competitive horses with this sort of injury as they need the time off anyway. Depending on the extent of the injury, you may recommend using AI (chilled) rather than natural mating due to the extra weight she will have to accommodate during a natural mating. The injury should take around 6 months to heal and the weight of the pregnancy will not affect the mare in this timeframe as she will not be heavily pregnant at this stage (mare gestation 320-360 days – approximately 11 months).
- 10yo pony mare
- Bred foal as youngster
- Would like another foal from her (daughter outgrown horse but doesn’t want to sell)
- Laminitis on and off for past 2 years
- Would you breed this mare?
YES – there is not likely to be an effect of perineal conformation on fertility, and her age should not have a significant detrimental impact to fertility. The main issue here is the laminitis – you need more information here really (when was the last episode, how is it being managed, have they recently lost weight etc.). Ultimately, you need to make sure the owner is informed of the potential recurrence in late pregnancy (increased weight), or post foaling (complication if there are retained fetal membranes and metritis).
- 8yo TB
- Retired from racing last year following SDFT injury
- Field sound
- Would you breed this mare?
YES – Age should not have a detrimental impact on her fertility. She has a sunken anus/ moderate angulation to the vulva as is common in TBs. You can also appreciate the vulval seal is poor at the distal portion of the vulva and therefore a Casslicks would be advisable in this mare. The old SDFT injury would not be a concern as she is field sound (many brood mares are used for breeding due to historic lameness issues).
