How to Prepare Your Mare for Breeding

So you want to breed your mare? There are a number of preparations that need to be made so that your mare is comfortable and healthy during her pregnancy. Just as in humans, mares need to be in optimum health to avoid the heartache of a difficult pregnancy, delivery or worse an unhealthy foal.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. The first rule of thumb is to have your mare examined by a veterinarian several months in advance of the time you are planning to breed her. This will establish her breeding soundness. Schedule this while she is in heat so step 2 can be performed.
2. Have the vet palpate your mare to insure there are no physical problems with her reproductive organs. The older a mare gets the less tone she is likely to have to her uterus.
3. During her palpation have a uterine culture performed. This will determine if she is carrying any infections that need to be treated. Yes a “virgin” mare can have infections. Many breeding farms will require this test so that nothing can be passed to the stallion. Also, infections can make it hard if not impossible to achieve pregnancy.
4. The vet also needs to check her teeth to make sure she can provide adequate nutrition to the foal. If necessary have her teeth floated.
5. Make sure the mare has her vaccinations also. All stud farms will require a negative coggins test also. Some stud farms may require and EVA test before breeding also.
6. Have her wormed and her feet trimmed.
7. Maintain your mare’s weight at an optimum level. Mare’s that are too fat can have a difficult time conceiving and delivering. Mare’s that are too skinny can have an even more difficult time. The best conditioned mare has enough fat so that you can’t see the ribs but not so much that you can’t find them by feel.

Tips & Warnings

• Always check your breeding contract and the stud farm's requirements well in advance to ensure all requirements are met.