Seeing all the cute foal photos shared every Spring? Wishing you could have started your beloved mare from scratch? If you are considering jumping into breeding this year, we have outlined some important things to evaluate and decisions to be made that can make the process more enjoyable and save you some time, stress and maybe even some money.

The first factor to consider for a successful breeding season is the broodmare.

• The mare should be in good overall health and body condition. Any health concerns and lameness issues should be discussed
  with your veterinarian before considering breeding as they could have a significant impact on her fertility and ability to carry a foal to term.
• Mares that are significantly under or overweight should have their diet and exercise adjusted to achieve a more ideal body condition.
• Research has shown that mares in ideal body condition have improved conception rates.

If the mare is in good health and body condition, the next step is having a breeding soundness exam performed by your veterinarian. This exam should include:

• a rectal palpation and ultrasound exam of the mare’s reproductive tract, a vaginal exam, and evaluation of her vulvar conformation.
• A culture and cytology of the uterus and a uterine biopsy may also be recommended depending on the mare’s age, previous breeding history, and initial exam
  findings.

The purpose of the breeding soundness exam is to identify specific problems that could potentially be corrected prior to breeding and therefore increase the chances of success. Problems that cannot be corrected may result in the decision not to breed or to seek an alternate breeding technique that may save time and money. For this reason, it is wise to have the breeding soundness exam performed prior to completing a breeding contract.

The next most important factors to consider are the selection of the stallion and the method of breeding that will be utilized. When selecting a stallion, most people look at the stallion’s performance record, pedigree, and conformation. While these are all important and should not be overlooked, few people investigate their fertility. While there are many cases where obtaining adequate information on the stallion’s fertility can be challenging, reputable breeders will be willing to give you information on the stallion’s breeding performance. Key questions to ask include:

• How many mares the stallion bred last year and how many of those mares are in foal.
• The stallion’s first cycle conception rate. This is the number of mares they get pregnant on the first cycle bred.
  • If the stallion manager does not have specific data to back up his fertility, ask for references from others that have bred to him. It would be extremely frustrating for a mare owner to have paid non-refundable breeding fees for a stallion that turns out to have poor fertility and their mare is not pregnant after multiple attempts.

The more information you can obtain about the stallion before committing to a breeding contract the better off you will be. Look over the breeding contract closely before signing and sending money. Things to know:

• Is there a live foal guarantee
• Can the breeding be carried over to next year if needed
• Can you substitute a different mare if needed
• Is any portion of the fee refundable.

The most common method of breeding used today is artificial insemination.

• Artificial insemination can be performed with fresh semen collected from the stallion and immediately inseminated into the mare.  In this situation the mare must be transported to the farm where the stallion is collected. While this will limit the stallion choice by geographic region, this method often has higher conception rates.
• The second method for artificial insemination utilizes cooled/shipped semen. With this method the stallion is collected and the semen diluted with a semen extender which protects and prolongs the life of the sperm. It is then packaged, cooled and shipped overnight to the location of the mare. This allows the selection of stallions from all over the USA and Canada while allowing your mare to stay close to home.
• The third method for artificial insemination utilizes frozen semen. In this situation, the stallion will have had his semen collected and cryopreserved (frozen) and stored in liquid nitrogen. The frozen semen can be stored for long periods of time and shipped in a special liquid nitrogen shipper whenever needed. This allows for the selection of stallions from all over the world including those that may still be competing or have passed away.

No matter which method of artificial insemination that is used, the stallion and his semen should be evaluated by an experienced reproduction veterinarian to assess his potential fertility prior to his use as a breeding stallion. All of these methods have pros and cons. Which method you use will be influenced by the availability of the stallion and what is best for your mare based on her evaluation. In general, pregnancy rates are highest with fresh semen and drop slightly with cooled and slightly more with frozen semen; however this is highly stallion dependent. Many stallions that cool or freeze well have excellent fertility with cooled or frozen semen. Unfortunately, many stallions do not have semen that cools or freezes well, and those stallions will lower the overall conception rates and can result in the belief that those methods are not as successful. Put plainly, stallion selection is extremely important.

The final important factor in getting your mare pregnant is the management of the mare. Working with a breeding facility and a veterinarian that has training and experience with the type of breeding selected is critical for overall success. If you have a healthy, reproductively sound mare and a fertile stallion, it is still essential that they are managed properly to breed at the correct time and the semen is properly handled . An experienced veterinarian is better able to diagnose subtle problems that can be managed to improve the chances of a successful pregnancy. This is especially important if you have an older mare or a mare prone to post breeding complications.

Preparing to breed your mare can be overwhelming, especially for owners who are going through it for the first time. Not to worry! The team at Woodside Equine Clinic’s Reproduction Center, managed by Dr. David Stanford, a board-certified reproduction specialist with over 35 years of experience in equine reproduction, is here to answer questions and guide you through the process. Our Reproduction Center is designed to safely and effectively evaluate your mare with ample room and padded stocks. Our laboratory is conveniently located next to the stocks room to process cultures, biopsies, and semen samples. Whether you are a regular with a seasoned broodmare or just getting started, the first step is to get connected with us! Reach out by phone, or email, with questions or to book an appointment for that first evaluation of the season.