Section H Care and Handling Mares, Foals and Young Stock Flashcards
Why must horses have passports?
A passport will help to identify a horse as it has information about their markings and conformation. It has their vaccine details inside. It also shows their registered vet and owner
Who issues passports?
Usually the different breeds have different passport agency’s, such as the Shetland pony studnook society. But some are more general such as PetID
What happens to the passport if a horse changes its livery stables?
The passport should always go with the horse
Why should horses be micro chipped?
They should be microchipped so that their owner can be tracked down in the event that they got lost, or so that a vet can identify them
How do you update a passport to include a microchip number?
You have to send it back to the passport issuer who will edit it and send it back
What is the deadline for horses to have a microchip?
By 6months of age or the end of the year, whichever is first
Discuss two of the requirements of the Central Equine Data Base.
Micro chip and passport
Explain what points you consider when deciding to breed from a mare?
Conformation, temperament, breeding, health, age, size
What hereditary conditions may be passed on through the mare?
Poor conformation, umbilical hernia, club feet
Please describe artificial insemination and its advantages.
AI is when semen is collected from the stalliom and inseminated into the mare through the cervix, by a vet or AI technician. It reduces the risk of injury as they do not have to be covered naturally, you can use stallions who are long dead or on the other side of the world. Stallions are able to cover many more mares. There is a lesser risk of disease as there is no contact between stallions and mares.
Why might you choose natural covering over artificial insemination?
Potentially cheaper, presence of stallion makes some mares come into heat stronger. Some mares don’t seem to be able to get pregnant when h they are AI’d. Horses such as thoroughbreds have to be naturally covered in order to go into the stud-book.
What is embryo transfer?
When a mare is inseminated and once an embryo is formed the vet will remove it and insert it into the surrogate mare to grow and be born. It is often used in high level competition horses so they can continue to compete and so that there is less risk to them
When might you decide upon embryo transplant, discuss the dis/advantages.
It is a good for competition horses so they can continue to compete and also reduce the risk of injury. It can also be good for older horses or horses that may not be capable of safely carrying a foal.
Why is it sensible for a vet to examine a mare before she goes to stud?
The vet will need to do a swab for CEM(contagious equine metritus) and a blood test for EVA (equine viral artiritis) for most studs, and any other tests that the stud requires.. It is also a good idea for your vet to give the mare a general health check up.
What swabs will the stud require?
CEM
What blood tests may be required?
Strangles, EVA
Which vaccinations will the studs require?
Influenza and tetanus and EHV
Discuss what times of year a mare is most likely to be in season?
late spring, summer and early autumn
Please describe how you know if a mare is in season.
raising the tail, frequent urination, squealing
What is the normal length of a mare’s cycle? Have you heard of any variations?
21 days, usually no more than plus or minus 3 days
Please discuss how you will choose an ideal service date.
when the mare has come into season, on day 5 ideally
What can disrupt your choice of service date?
Delayed season, delays in getting the semen,
When is the ideal time to cover a mare during her cycle?
day 5
Why might a stud use a teaser stallion?
To encourage a mare come into season
How might the mare behave towards the teaser if she is ready to be covered?
They will come onto season so they will be squaring, urinating frequently, raising their tail
How often might a stallion cover a mare if they are turned out together?
4-10 times over a 24 hour period
On most stud farms mares and stallions do not run together, so how may stud go about covering a mare?
Hand breeding, AI
Discuss what you would like in an ideal foaling environment
Mares should be foaled where they can be discretely observed and where help can be easily given if problems arise. Mares tend to prefer foaling at night in privacy,
What can make facilities un/suitable for a mare to foal?
Busy environment, unsafe buildings eg; leaky rooves. Unsanitary, dirty stables
Please describe what equipment that you consider mandatory for foaling?
phone numbers for the vet
a plentiful supply of sterile gloves for washing the mare and handling the placenta
scissors for cutting umbilical tape or tail wrap; or more seriously, in case of an emergency, for dealing with a red bag birth (where the placenta would need to be cut open), or, again in rare cases, for the need to cut the umbilical cord
umbilical tape or clamp, in case the umbilical cord needs tying off
chlorhexidine wash to disinfect the umbilical stump and reduce possibility of bacterial infection
towels, to dry off and stimulate breathing in the newborn foal
thermometer for mare and newborn foal
large container for milking the mare (in case the foal takes a long time to stand and suckle)
lubricant
calving ropes
head light
Is there any other (non essential) equipment that you might like to have for foaling?
foal milk, colostrum replacer
What preparations should be made before foaling?
Plans should be made for people to do ‘shifts’ of watching the mare. Installation of security camera is also a good idea to allow constant monitoring. Organisation of equipment necessary for foaling nearby to stable.
