Mares
Before you breed:
A general physical exam should be performed prior to breeding to ensure that your mare is in good health. A breeding soundness exam should also be performed to verify your mare’s reproductive health. A breeding soundness exam often includes transrectal palpation of reproductive structures and/or ultrasound. If your mare has been bred unsuccessfully in the past then a uterine culture and / or uterine biopsy will likely be recommended by your veterinarian. This will allow the veterinarian to know if there is an underlying uterine infection or another reason why the mare has been unsuccessful within a previous breeding program.
The breeding season typically starts in February of each year. Mares kept under artificial lighting to imitate lengthening of day light will be more successfully bred this early in the season. Many people wait until later in the spring, starting mid March to mid April. As a mare shows signs of estrous (heat) the veterinarian will assess follicle size by ultrasound examination.
Typically as the horse shows signs of estrous (heat) the veterinarian will check the follicle size by ultrasound examination. This allows the doctor to see if there are any abnormalities within the ovaries or uterus for this particular heat cycle and as time progresses allows for the veterinarian to determine which day will be best for breeding. He is also able to see if there is an ovulatory follicle. The veterinarian also likes to check the uterus post breeding to be sure the uterus has expelled any extra liquid and is not continuing to accumulate any fluids.
Stallions
Dr. Van Lente is able to collect semen from your stallion. With every artificial insemination Dr. Van Lente does check the semen for quality and quantity. We do have the supplies for artificial insemination and this can be done at our facility or at your farm.
Embryo Transfer
Dr. Van Lente has taken courses and studied the embryo transfer technique. Embryo transfer is a technique used to obtain an embryo from one mare and transfer it to a recipient mare. The genetics of the donor mare are passed on without this mare having to go through pregnancy and parturition. This is a new, cutting edge procedure and Dr. Van Lente is excited to continue to master the technique. There is a lot of work involved in timing mares to be in sync with their heat cycles, breeding the mare, and prepping the recipient mare. Please contact us if you are interested in this procedure or if you would like to learn more.
| 
