The Risks of Horse Breeding - Twins

I debated on writing this post - not because of the information it will contain, but because it was inspired by a very sad situation. Sad for the horses I mean, not the owner. I don't feel a whit of pity for the owner at all.

I've written several posts before about horse breeding. I'm not against it in the least to be honest - I don't give a damn what you do with your animals as long as you take *responsibility* for the animals and the results of breeding. Since we're talking about horses, that's what I'll focus on.

In my opinion, to successfully breed a live foal, you only need a few things, (remember, I am not talking about QUALITY of the foal, merely health), and if you don't have them, you certainly should not be breeding.

You need a mare and stallion that are healthy with no history of breeding complications. You need the proper facilities to house a pregnant mare (and a stallion if you must) - that includes everything from shelter to fencing that falls within the accepted guidelines as secure and safe for all of the horses, including the coming foal.

You need the proper feed - not just any crap from your feedstore will do. You have to evaluate your horse and take the time to choose the best diet for them.

Most importantly, you have to be willing to provide the PROPER medical care. Not just calling the vet when Poopsie cuts herself or is sick. You *need* to follow the correct protocol for breeding.  Your mare should be checked for uterine infections or bacteria. She needs to be in good health, good weight.

So you breed your horse. A responsible owner has the mare checked for pregnancy *very* early on. We're talking days. A mare can be ultrasounded and checked as early as 17 days. To me, this is one of the most important parts of mare care.

Why, you ask?

Because of the risks of twins. Double ovulation (releasing two eggs at once) is not as uncommon as you may think. Normally only one egg is fertilized and a standard pregnancy follows, resulting in one foal. Because the risk of two fertilized eggs is believed to be fairly minimal, quite a few people see checking as "unnecessary" and don't do it.

9 times out of 10, the person would be fine. The mare would carry one foal.

But that 1 time...that 1 time can cost you your foal(s) and your mare's life.

By not having your mare checked at the proper time, you have *no idea* if you mare is carrying twins. You are unable to "pinch" one egg off and you bypass a safe time to abort the mare and rebreed if need be. You put everything at risk to "save a little money" or because it's "unlikely" or "not important."

If you're not willing to put in 100%, please don't breed your mare. Just don't do it. If you can't afford the routine vet visits to protect your mare and her unborn, just don't do it. If you're unwilling to lose your mare due to a foaling accident, don't do it.

Go buy a weanling instead if you must. Goodness knows there is an overabundance of them, in every color of the horse rainbow, every breed, everywhere. For cheap.

Because if you choose to go forward with breeding and are either incapable or unwilling to do things right, your mare might just end up paying the ultimate price. And it will be *your* fault.

When you breed your mare, *YOU* are responsible for what happens.

Including this.

 

Two little lives wasted and a mare who is lucky to be alive because someone was too stubborn, too selfish, too foolish, to take responsibility for their choice.

Are you willing to be that person?