Harmony Hills Veterinary Services

09/02/2026

One of our highlights this season was hosting 4th year veterinary students from the University of Minnesota on their Equine Theriogenology rotation. We had jam-packed days and a huge variety of cases. We will be doing this again!

08/29/2026

🐣Following up on this week’s twin reduction, the remaining single embryo was rechecked 3 days later. Gestational age 20 days. There is even a trace of fetal heart tissue found with Doppler—look for the small blue dot 💙in the center of the box. 💛

Day 20 is not usually when we’d schedule a heartbeat check. We’ll return in two weeks to verify this pregnancy.
⚠️Late summer is an excellent time to ultrasound pregnancies, as many mares are coming due for their first rhino vaccines. 💉We are keeping rhino vaccine in stock if you’d like to have us vaccinate or to pick up. Note that this is separate from the respiratory vaccine given in the fall months. They can be given concurrently.
For appointments, email or text: [email protected] (651) 447-4857

08/25/2026

Twin Management in the Mare 🐣🐣
Don't let the appearance of twins be a dark cloud over a positive pregnancy check. Better two (or three!) than zero!

We saw a generous number of twins this year, thanks to some lush pasture early this spring providing extra nutritional support. 🌱🌱🌱 This set was from known asynchronous ovulations 1 day apart in a mare that had many reasons not to be pregnant at all, but that story is worth its own entry. ⚛
📊📈Statistically, smaller embryos often resorb on their own, particularly when fixed adjacent to the larger embryo. When an embryo measures 4 days behind its chronologic age, it also typically resorbs. This one was right on the cusp. ⚖ After waiting a day to allow the smaller one time to reduce on its own (it didn't), it appeared to be settling in the opposite horn which does not favor auto-reduction. The call was made to proceed with manual reduction. Measuring 13 days at Day 16 post-2nd-ovulation, we didn't want to take more chances of this little survivor implanting far away enough from the larger embryo to beat the odds or close enough to risk damaging both embryos. A recheck in a couple of days will be sure it doesn't comes back to life, which can happen! 👻😲‼️

07/30/2026

Equine Infectious Anemia was recently diagnosed in Minnesota. If only there was a test for this awful disease... 🧐 Wait, there is! Thank you, Dr. Leroy Coggins, for the Coggins test. Transmission of EIA from horse to horse is via flying insects, particularly flies. Seen any lately? 🌪️🪰🪰🪰

Equine infectious anemia (EIA) is a potentially fatal blood-borne infectious viral disease that produces a persistent infection among equids nearly worldwide.

05/12/2026

Broodmares. Delayed uterine clearance. You won’t see it if you don’t look for it.

04/14/2026

We have updated our website to include our new client form, a link to access our client portal/bill pay site and a separate page to request shipments from the stallions we stand. Top of the page on the right!

Breeding Management and Consultations at MidSummer Farms, Lakeville, MN [email protected]

04/06/2026

How to double the weight of a blanket 🏋️

03/18/2026

The AQHA’s “Two year rule” is gone.

𝑼𝑷𝑫𝑨𝑻𝑬: 𝑻𝑾𝑶-𝒀𝑬𝑨𝑹 𝑹𝑼𝑳𝑬 (𝑹𝒆𝒈 111.6 & 𝑹𝒆𝒈 112.9)

This week at Convention, AQHA members worked through the association’s governance and rule making process.

👉 After two days of meetings reviewing and discussing the rule, the Stud Book Committee recommended keeping the rule in place while a task force reviewed more data and research and reported back in 2027.
👉 During the General Membership Meeting, members voted not to adopt that recommendation.
👉 A motion was then made from the floor to rescind the rule but still appoint a task force to review the data.
👉 The membership approved that motion.
👉 The motion then went to the AQHA Board of Directors, 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗲.

A task force will now study the issue and present its findings at the 2027 Convention. 𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 “𝘁𝘄𝗼-𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿” 𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱.

03/14/2026

🥧For those who celebrate 🥳
Happy Pi Day from your local centrifuge

Bonus Trivia:
3.141592653……

♾️Double Bonus: What are the most simple equations defining the irrational number Pi?
♾️Triple Bonus: Why is it considered an irrational number?
(A few possible answers way below for those seeking math literacy)

C = 🥧 x d
🥧 = C / d = C / (2🥧r)
Where C = circumference, d = diameter, r = radius, and pie = pi

Pi is an irrational number because it cannot be expressed as the ratio of two integers.

03/06/2026

Squealing Mares. 🎷Music to our ears here in the HHVS breeding program as it means we will see you soon for pre-breeding exams and cultures!

📣Anyone else hear random squeals out in the pasture all last week? Why does this occur when there is still snow on the ground?
🐦With the warm weather and longer days, mares from age 2 to 102 are finally thinking about spring and the return of their estrous cycles. Are they taking their hint from the birds? Sort of.

📅Unless under a timed lighting protocol, Minnesota mares are generally not having breed-able cycles up here in MN... yet.

💗Sometimes they aren't supposed to be thinking of those *hot* ♨️ geldings over the fence, or gossiping with their girlfriends. 🪞Looking at you, Show Mares. 🔍

💓But they can't help it--unless they are on supplemental progesterone/altrenogest, such as Regumate(R), mares will show signs of estrus (squealing, posturing, frequent urination, etc.) even if they are not truly in heat. Or if they have had both ovaries removed ‼️

🆒In our experience the signs of being in heat tend to be strongest during the first stretch of warm weather in late winter and milder as spring progresses.

🌡️With rain and cooler temperatures on the way, we anticipate less time dedicated to mare shenanigans. To be continued...

⏳Bonus: During late summer, this behavior signals the autumn transition period where mares cycle erratically prior to their winter break.
⌛️ Double-Bonus: Mares do not experience menopause; 👑they can cycle for life, often exhibiting stronger, sassier, lady-like behavior 💃

🆕Now accepting your squealy mare for pre-breeding ultrasounds and cultures

Call now to connect with business.