Whether you are a seasoned breeder or are breeding your mare for the first time, we can help! To start the process, we offer a breeding soundness exam which consists of a full physical exam with special attention to the external reproductive organs, palpation and ultrasound of the reproductive tract, and uterine culture and cytology, if needed. This is best done at the beginning of the breeding season while your mare is showing signs of heat.

If you are interested in having your mare bred by Artificial Insemination, we offer a breeding package in which the mare can stay at our clinic and includes daily palpation and ultrasound of the reproductive tract, insemination with fresh or cooled shipped semen at the appropriate time, and the first pregnancy exam.

If you prefer to do live cover, we will perform palpation and ultrasound of the reproductive tract to aid in timing the breeding and to check for pregnancy.

Whether your mare was bred via artificial insemination or live cover, it's important to confirm her pregnancy via ultrasound exam at key times, which will allow us to head off any issues and allow you to try again if she didn't take.

14-16 days post-insemination: First ultrasound check to confirm pregnancy. This timing is very important as this is our window to check for twins and pinch a twin if needed. Additionally, if your mare is bred and has poor conformation of her perineum, a Caslicks will be placed at this time.

28-30 days: Second ultrasound to confirm pregnancy again and to look for the fetal “heartbeat.”

45-60 days: Some owners will choose to do an additional pregnancy check as a majority of equine pregnancies are lost early on (<60 days).

300 days (or sooner depending on the mare and clinical signs): An ultrasound for placental health may be performed.

Managing mare infertility requires a comprehensive approach that includes careful breeding management, regular veterinary assessments, and appropriate nutritional support. Understanding the underlying causes of infertility, such as hormonal imbalances or uterine health issues, is crucial. Collaborating with your veterinarian to perform reproductive examinations and utilize advanced technologies like ultrasound can aid in diagnosing problems. Additionally, maintaining optimal body condition and managing stress levels can significantly improve reproductive outcomes. With the right care and attention, many mares can successfully conceive and carry healthy foals.

Uterine lavage helps clear any unwanted materials or infections from the uterine environment, providing a cleaner slate for fertility efforts. Meanwhile, a biopsy can give valuable insights into the health of the endometrium, allowing for targeted treatments that can enhance the mare's ability to conceive and carry a foal to term.

Once your mare is in foal, we will help you care for her throughout her pregnancy by providing a customized healthcare schedule. The most important veterinary healthcare aspect during pregnancy is vaccinating against EHV-1 at 3, 5, 7, and 9 months and boostering all vaccines at 10 months.

When it comes time to foal, we are able to provide assistance should you need it. We also recommend a Mare and Foal Exam at approximately 8 to 12 hours post-foaling. During the exam, we will perform physical exams on both the mare and foal in addition to checking the placenta and running a Foal IgG to make sure the baby received enough antibodies from the mare’s colostrum. Following foaling, we can provide you with a customized healthcare schedule for your new addition to make sure they start out life on the right foot!