Thoroughbred Stud Management

Question 1

Populations that require management during the breeding season (5)

Answer 1

1. Wet mares (pregnant)
2. Dry mares (barren and maiden)
3. Stallions
4. Weanlings and Yearlings
5. Foals

Question 2

Management of wet mares

Answer 2

1. Planning for foaling
2. Parturition
3. Examine placenta
4. Testing colostrum
5. Getting the mare back in foal

Question 3

Planning for foaling (4)

Answer 3

1. 340 day gestation
2. Vaccinate and drench mare
3. Bring mare into foaling padocks 2-3 weeks before due date
4. Open Caslick prior to foaling

Question 4

What can do wrong during parturition? (5)

Answer 4

1. Dystocia
2. Injury to vagina, cervix or uterus
3. Retained placenta
4. Colic may indicate haemorrhage
5. “Red bag”

Question 5

Caslicks surgery

Answer 5

Sew up the upper part of the vulva to prevent air entering the reproductive tract and potentially causing infections

Question 6

Horses seasonal breeders

Answer 6

1. Seasonally polyoestrus
2. Aim for Sept 1 cover
3. Require: lengthening daylight hours, increase in temp, increase in plane of nutrition

Question 7

Non-infectious causes of abortion in mares (2)

Answer 7

1. Twinning

2. Torsion of the umbilical cord

Question 8

Infectious causes of abortion in mares

Answer 8

1. Placentitis (bacteria e.g. E.coli or fungal)
2. Equine Herpes Virus-1
3. Ingestion of caterpillars

Question 9

Weight of normal foal

Answer 9

Normal thoroughbred foal 55kg

Question 10

Examining foal after birth (4)

Answer 10

Examine:
1. general maturity 
2. normal foal behaviour 
3. head, chest, abdomen, limbs 
Assess blood sample for passive transfer of antibodies

Question 11

Foal health issues

Answer 11

1. Neonatal sepsis
2. Foal scours (diarrhoea)
3. Neonatal maladjustment syndrome “dummy foals”

Question 12

Jobs in the breeding industry (5)

Answer 12

1. Stud management
2. Bloodstock agent
3. Pedigree Analyst
4. Stallion manager
5. Foal attendant

Question 13

Management of internal parasites to prevent resistance (4)

Answer 13

1. Collection of manure
2. Keeping stocking rates low
3. Paddock rotation
4. Putting foals into cleaner paddocks

Question 14

Stallion management

Answer 14

1. Popular stallions cover 2-3 mares / day
2. Some up to 4 / day
3. Up to 150 per breeding season
4. Coordinating ovulation across several mares

Question 15

Vaccination schedule for foals

Answer 15

1. Tetnus/Strangles at 3 mnts
2. Tetnus/Strangles + EHV 1&4 at 4.5 months
3. Strangles + EHV at 6 months

Question 16

Rattles

Answer 16

Older foals develop it when they inhale dust contaminated with a certain bacteria
Causes broncho pneumonia and abscesses in the lungs