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Kasie’s Korner


Savvy Equine Breeding


by Kasie Morgan Look For


Characteristics of Any Good Equine Athlete:


a supple, powerful, forward way of moving forward •


feet big enough for soundness, stability, and weight-bearing •


straight front legs •


substantial hocks •


gaskins that look wide, strong, and well-muscled from side and rear


T


here is a lot of magic surrounding breeding season. The challenge is to turn your thoughtfulness into a product that becomes every- thing you ever wanted in a foal /


prospect horse. We are always trying to work with Mother Nature and our own knowledge and intuition, but there are no guarantees. Not even following a recipe is a sure to have success, because with horses both genetic and environmental factors create so many variables. Step one is a healthy foal on the ground, and a mare that is doing a fantastic job as a mom.


Experts agree on these breeding guidelines to maximize your chance of getting the foal you want.


Timing is Everything..... There are a few basics in equine reproduction of which you should have at least a general understanding. The mare’s cycle is 21 days in length. She will generally be in heat for 5-7 days and out of heat for the following two


plus weeks. Ovulation, the actual release of the ovum or egg, occurs approximately 24 hours before the end of the visible heat. Tim- ing is very important in breeding and the clos- er insemination occurs prior to ovulation the better the odds of conceiving and becoming pregnant. A mare can be bred after she ovu- lates however her fertility drops hourly and in general breeding is of little value if more than 6 hours post ovulation.


The schedule for determination of pregnancy varies among breeding farms. One schedule is as follows: 1) days 14–18—check for preg- nancy and twins. Twins can be very danger- ous to both mom and foals. If still open, the mare can be rebred on days 19–20; 2) days 25–30—evaluate normal embryo development (heartbeat present at 30 days), recheck for twins; 3) days 40–60—evaluate normal fetal development; 4) fall check—confirm mare is still pregnant.


Needless to say, breeding season is an excit- ing time of year!


HORSE & AG MAGAZINE I JUNE 2017 11


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