November 12, 2016 - Preparing Mares for Breeding

• Email
• Facebook
• Twitter

Preparing Mares for Breeding

by Heather Smith Thomas

TO GET EVERY MARE safely in foal, it pays to start preparing for breeding well ahead of when you plan to breed her. This means an assessment of health, nutrition and body condition, a breeding soundness examination, and addressing any problems early enough to be able to correct them. Teeth should be checked to make sure there are no dental problems. Regular foot care is important, along with attention to any lameness/soundness issues. If a mare is in pain from laminitis, navicular syndrome or a leg/foot injury, she may not breed successfully, and any lameness problem may get worse when she gains weight during late gestation.

Download this week's Health Zone to continue reading.