b'SMALL-SCALE SUCCESSPHOTOS COURTESY TRICIA VELEYMany small-scale breeders choose to send their mares to foaling facilities equipped with the staff and technology to handle the birthing process.owner isnt prepared to handle foaling,foaling services, fees vary based on theowner can transport the mare there a boarding the mare at a barn under theregion, length of stay, services rendered,few days to a week prior to foaling. If the care of someone well-versed in it mightmare value, quality of the facility, extentmare is going to be transported long-be the best option.of technology available (e.g., foalingdistance, she should ship several weeks to Its important to know where a foalingmonitors, night vision surveillance cam- a month in advance. facility is and how much it will cost, sheeras, etc.), and skill of the personnel. Veley asks mare owners to provide the says. In case you panic last-minute orWhen owners ship mares to thesemares breeding history because mares have a problem, you know where to getfacilities varies dramatically, dependingtend to follow a foaling pattern. Without help. on how far away they live. If the facilitythat history its difficult to estimate an While Veley charges $700 a month foris within an hours drive, says Ferris, thearrival date.We recommend that the mare comes to us around Day 310, or at least 30 days 3 Tips for Small Breeders before her expected foaling date, she says. The mare and foal stay until the vet Getting a mare pregnant isnt as easy as it might seem. It takes planning, preparation,has checked them and given them clear-and perfect timing, especially when using cooled or frozen semen. Florida-based veterinari- ance to travel. This is usually within the an Philip M. Matthews, DVM, of Peterson & Smith Equine Hospital, in Ocala, offers his advicefirst week after foaling, unless there are for small-scale breeders to increase their success rates. complications with the mare or the foal 1. Know each mares reproductive history. This includes finding out whether she hasthat require more monitoring or treat-been pregnant or foaled previously and her age. Some breeders are surprised to learnment as per the vet.their mare has a disorder or fertility issues that can complicate the process.A maiden (never been bred) mare can develop fertility issues as early as age 10 or 12,Breeding Reality and that might make achieving a pregnancy more difficult, says Matthews.Theres an old saying: If you have live-2. Know the stallions fertility. Ask about the fertility of the stallion and the viabilitystock, you also have deadstock. Breeding of the semen, he says. We want to do whatever possible to maximize our result, whichand, subsequently, foaling can bring the translates to a pregnancy and, ultimately, happy mare owners. most joy and at the same time the most Knowing the stallions age and the number of mares he serviced successfully in the previ- heartache, regardless of how immaculate ous breeding season can help you set your expectations for success. your care is each step of the way. This 3. Know how best to manage the mares cycle. Artificial insemination has madeyear alone, Veley lost three horses: a breeding to top stallions more accessible, but it also means you must manage your mare 4-year-old stud, a broodmare, and a foal.more intensively to ensure a pregnancy; timing of insemination must be nearly perfect for It happens to everybody, and the busi-frozen semen and within a short window for cooled semen. Planning the timing includes knowing how many doses are available, especially for frozen semen. ness can be absolutely brutal, she says. If there is only one dose, it has to be used within six hours of the mares ovulation toHowever, its where my heart is, and I minimize the number of ultrasounds and to breed successfully, Matthews adds. Whenabsolutely love the breeding business. two doses are available there is a little more flexibility. Insemination can be done pre-Life is a gift, not a promise, Moore and post-ovulation then.Katie Navarra adds. Youre making a life every time you breed, and it can have its ups and downs. h20November 2018The Horse | TheHorse.com'