11/28/2025
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Breeding season is quite literally just around the corner. A few things to remember this year:
๐ If you want your mare bred before March 1 you need to have her under lights starting at Thanksgiving at the latest.
๐ Mare management is the biggest factor in equine reproduction.
๐ Maiden mares can be dirty.
๐ Itโs cheaper to clean out a uterus than miss a cycle and reship semen.
๐ Having a clean culture on a mare means there was no bacteria found/grown from the swab. Not that there isnโt any bacteria in the uterus.
๐ If you have a budget in mind on breeding your mare, tell your breeding farm that so that no one is shocked when itโs time to pay the bill.
๐ While it is important to let your breeding farm do their job, if you suspect something is off based on their behavior or communication, speak up! Go get your mare! Take her somewhere else! I saw too many cases where there were 900 red flags and owners stuck it out only to be left with an open, skinny mare.
๐ Please make sure all of your fees (chute, shipping etc) are paid with the stud farm so that your mare manager can order semen when needed and not have to track you or an updated card down to order semen. These ladies donโt read the book and go time is go time!
๐ Do your research before dropping your mare off. Make sure you have all the information you want such as who will be working on your mare and any and all fees associated with the services you are asking for. Any farms not willing to divulge these details do not need your business!
๐ The only thing PROVEN (time & time again) to improve fertility in mares & stallions are omega 3s. Primary fish oil. It takes a few weeks for these to make a difference so we recommend starting them 6 weeks out. I have seen this with my own eyes. I make zero off saying this but the 2 products we have used with great success are Fish Oil Factor (Blue Bonnetโs fish oil product) that is a powder and EO-3 oil by Kentucky Research.
๐ One normal cycle in a mare is 18-24 days (ball park). The books tell you 21 days. Mares donโt read books. You get the point. If you drop a mare off and she is in the middle of her cycle, expect it to take 5-10 days to get her ready to breed. Your mare managers can do a lot, but they cannot change how God designed horses. Understand your mare manager wants her bred and home as quickly (or quicker) than you do.
๐ Nutrition is huge in reproduction. Make sure you pick a place that feeds good feed/forage. Free choice forage is crucial. Maybe not the cheapest feed at the local feed store or tractor supply? Pay attention when you drop your mare off. Do these horses all have forage available 24/7? Do they look healthy? Are there holes dug in stalls? Pacing, nervous nellies?
๐ Safety is also key. What kind of fencing do they have? Is it something your horse could get tangled in? Are the stocks safe? Heavy and secure or not even bolted down?
๐ Staying with the safety theme: if you have a mare that gets nervous in the stocks or is obnoxious in the stall, sedation or calming agents are your friend. Nerves and panic attacks do not go hand in hand with pregnancy. It does however go with pregnancy LOSS. Understand that mares are sedated in certain scenarios for everyoneโs safety & success. Please warn us if you have a known nervous nelly or one that sits back.
๐ There are tons of tricks/tactics that can be used to collect/ship a stallion. The collection methods, processing techiques, medications, and AI techniques are endless. Donโt give up on your stud if a farm doesnโt have success with him. Stallions need to find the right fit just like a horse in training.
Good luck in 2026 everyone! ees