How do you prepare a "virgin" mare for breeding?

Question

I have a 4 year old mare that i wish to breed. We tried last breeding season, but she did not concieve and it was too late in the season to continue trying, so i decided to wait untill this spring. The thing i would like to know is If there is anything in particular i should do to prepare her, since she has never been in foal before? The stallion is fertile and he is at the barn i board at. Would it be easier to do in-hand breeding or pasture breeding and how often? Thanks so much...

I have done this before. I know the risks, the diseases, the vet care, stallion management and selection. I was just wondering, since i have never bred a "maiden" mare before, if any special care was to be used. I am working with an experianced breeder and a very competant vet. Both mare and Stallion are utd on shots, hoof care, wormer etc... I thank you all who responded. The stallion is a very high end regestered Sorral tabiano paint horse and the mare is a registered AQHA mare with great bloodlines. The foal would be well-bred and a future champion. I have tried the pasture breeding and that proved to be the least stressful for both stallion and mare. They were building a natural mare-stallion herd dynamic, but since she did not concieve, i thought that maybe another approach could be taken. Again, thanks for all the answers! I really appreciate it!!

Answer 1

I was tempted to say 'sit her down and carefully explain the facts of life' but I try to be serious in my responses - so - I am opposed to managed insemination. I have a friend who had two mares (one maiden, one not) and both suffered ruptured vaginas because the stallion thrust too violently and the mares were tied and unable to move away. One had to be put down.

In nature it is the mare that decides when to mate - not the stallion. Unleashing a stallion that is kept in unnatural conditions and teased into a frenzy prior to mating onto a maiden mare is not just just unnatural - I think it's dangerous and cruel. Brood mares are often tied and hobbled and mated according to human timetables not her readiness. It's no wonder so many of them get edgy about having their hind legs handled.

If you really must breed from her - and if the stallion is used to running with mares - let them sort it out in a pasture. As long as they are both unshod - and have plenty of room to move and he hasn't been in solitary confinement all his life - they'll work it out and she'll stand more chance of conceiving.

Give nature some credit - please.

Answer 2

Haley G another copy and paste from
http://www.horses-and-horse-information.com/articles/horse-breeding.shtml

Nothing in particular except to keep her a little on the heavy side. This helps a new mother carry to term. Occassionally one will settle and keep absorbing until a little extra weight is put on. They generally get over this after their first foal but not always.

I am just talking an extra 50 pounds or so not a huge amount of weight, Too much weight is no better for horses than it is for people.

BTW Haley G You have just been reported. I do not like reporting people but I made an exception in your case.

Answer 3

Since you're asking here instead of seeking the advice of a veterinarian I suggest, respectfully that you DO NOT breed.

There's too many unregistered half breeds out there that end up in the slaughter industry. Please see about purchasing the horse you want instead of breeding for it. Breeding is risky and expensive.

Also, unbred mares are referred to as 'Maiden' not virgin. Please hire a competent equine reproductive vet. If you do decide to breed, you need to vaccinate for Rhino, educate yourself on wobblers, and other genetic illnesses. Also, the vet will tell you when the mare is most fertile and thereby eliminate the stud's risk by exposing him to an unreceptive mare.

Good luck

Answer 4

ok first enable me say this I cant have faith its no longer butter. ha ha I quite have a mare that had an accident breeding. or maybe nonetheless the colt is a pleasing specimen with super strains i think to blame telling human beings how he got here to be given this is irresponsible to have centers the place the stallions can ruin out of their stalls. even nonetheless i'm merely boarding her there and don't very own the stallions and so on. you need to no longer be breeding your horses. you're no longer even knowledgeable sufficient in horse coat colorings and genetics to appreciate the thank you to spell overo. this is elementary. i will understand you have a reliable mare which you desire a foal out of for entertainment purposes like path driving. advantageous one foal to a reliable stallion. Then later on (Like 5-8 years) in case you desire yet another one while she is older decide for it. yet you in basic terms bred 3 horses that are of no familiar registerable crossbreeding. As human beings desire to tell me you in basic terms have one butt. Horses are costly and so is their education. additionally you will kill your mare. in case you maintain breeding her the style you're you will reason her extreme harm. She isn't a breeding gadget. in case you had a registered mare with rather reliable strains, super conformation, and a spectacular disposition i'd inform you this. . . supply her a minimum of a million 3 hundred and sixty 5 days off formerly breeding back. have faith it or no longer they too desire time to get better. I quite have that registered mare, reliable strains and so on. and that i wont breed her back till I quite have her modern colt totally experienced and ridable. and in basic terms then will she be bred to a shown stallion with surprising bloodlines. supply up being a outdoor breeder and grow to be a in charge horse proprietor. I mean heavily you're happening an exceedingly undesirable highway. What do you propose on doing with those foals? who is going to thoroughly practice them? Do you have the money for all of their education and vet charges? besides in case you purchased the mustang from the BLM you're no longer allowed to reproduce so which you're breaking the regulation. and in case you purchased her from a mustang breeder then technically she isn't a mustang yet quite a horse without familiar breeding who originated from a mustang formerly interior the day who originated from Spanish horses that escaped. i'd recommend like became suggested formerly use the horses you have and supply up breeding your adverse mare.

Answer 5

Breeding in hand is safer for both horses.

Tease her with a stallion. she will "present" when she is ready. Have a vet palpate her to check for a folicle (egg release from ovary) otherwise she won't concieve.

Answer 6

There is terrible risk of harm to her and the stallion when left to themselves in a pasture. She will kick his chest and could ruin his breeding life. He can savage her as well. Kick and kick to control her. Better to allow experts to do the breeding in hand, bring her to the stud several times before the breeding for teasing and so she knows him, it will make for a more succesful experiance

Answer 7

The above answer was taken from this site without credit....

www.horses-and-horse-information.com/articles/horse-breeding.shtml