The Breeding Mare

The Breeding Mare is also exposed to the use of Black Cohosh (Cimifuga racemosa) root as itis my preferred way to short-cycle the animal I want to breed NOW. Instead of stopping the usage after 2 days, I continue administering the cohosh extract until I observe the desirable estrus signs. This applies to the dog as well as the horse.

For example, I purchased an 18 year old AQHA mare who remained on the AHSA recognized combined training show circuit until the age of 15. This mare exhibited typical signs of prolonged progestin usage including male dominance behavorial patterns and the inability to show signs of a complete estrus cycle. Whenever introduced to another horse, the mare squealed, bowed the neck, struck out with the foreleg and/or kicked out behind though facing the other horse. Due to the history of 13 years of Regu-Mate, the attending vet pronounced her incapable of producing a foal due to the decreased female reproductive organs & subsequent hormonal imbalances. For more information on this mare & her foals for sale, please go to http://www.circlestarfarms.com/QueensCedar.htm.

Throughout the Fall & Winter months, we gave this individual Black Cohosh extract daily in large doses (4-8 ounces twice daily) until we finally observed a change in her pasture behavior towards others. At that time, we discontinued the extract. At the 1st sign of heat in February, we bred her with no problems. I had expected hostility towards the stallion. She was docile & willing while displaying for the 1st time physical signs of estrus (teasing). An ultrasound provided evidence of the pregnancy 15 days from the last day of breeding.

The mare has continued to breed & to produce yearly. However, the "teasing" of other mares & to the stallion continue throughout the pregnancy.

Often in such cases, we have found if a mare still does not exhibit signs of estrus after Black Cohosh additives, it may be due to the brain area of sexual function has decreased its signals. To these mares' diets, we have added 2-6 ounces of Damiana (Turnera diffusa) leaf extract twice daily. Combined with Black Cohosh during the appropriate time of the year, this therapy has always insured the mare with the Grandmother complex has been able reach pregnancy successfully.

Proper hormonal interaction must include the thyroid & other portions of the endocrine system for maintaining a pregnancy & all female reproductive tract integrity. Therefore, we often recommend a nutritional combination of Red Raspberry (Rubus idaeus) leaf, Licorce (Glycyrrhza glabra) root, Kelp (Ascophyllum nodosum), & Wild Rose (Rosa caina) hips. We call our version of this supplement, FM 10.

Infections seem to plague most mares at some time. The most common forms of bacterial infections seem to be Streptococcus zooepidemicus with Pseudomonas aerguginosa (chronic) & Klebsiella pneumoniae following in degree of occurrence. Veterinary procedures include lavage with 1-2 libers of a sterile saline solution repeated until clear fluid is evacuated. Oxytocin (20 IU) is often given IV or IM to promote contractions. A normal healthy uterus should contract numerous times daily to promote an environment unlikely to maintain disease. Antibiotics such as Amikacin, Ampicillin, Gentocin, K Penicillin or Ticarcillin are often introduced into the reproductive tract. Endometritis (tissue inflammation of the lumen lining of the uterus) is often secondary to the bacterial infection. We have found that by using a solution of 1/2 FM11 & 1/2 FM10 to lavage the tract has produced a more satisfactory result. Normally after 3 days of lavage in this manner, consequent cultures have found the animal free of infection. With mares of well-documented fertility problems, we have used this method of lavage accompanied by internal application of both FM10 and FM11 in the feed.

One case involved an AQHA Champion mare who had been examined by 3 of the major veterinarian fertility experts in the state of Texas. The mare's history showed a common diagnosis of too much scarring of the cervix for proper closure. Hence, the mare would appear pregnant usually for 2-4 weeks. After this time, she would "slip". All vets suggested she was a candidate for embryo transfer irregardless she was purchased in foal during the AQHA World Show sale. That foal was carried to term. The owner declined to accept the procedure due to the expense without any guarantee of producing a live foal. If pregnancy was attempted, the owner was advised to maintain the Regu-Mate supplementation throughout the pregnancy. The owner chose to deliver her to our care.

After 2 weeks of nutritional supplementation of 4 ounces FM10 & FM11 twice daily, I had my veterinarian palpate the mare. No history was given. There was evidence remaining only of a slight prior cervical tear. The cervix closed properly. Only then did I give the vet the total case history including the names of the prior veterinarians. Due to the magnitude of their reputations, my vet suggested following the prior Regu-Mate protocol. Soon afterwards, the mare was pronounced in foal after only 1 stallion exposure during the heat cycle. Reluctantly, we did follow the Regu-Mate protocols while continuing with the reduced dose of 2 ounces twice daily of FM11 & FM10. The resulting male foal delivered was not a neonatal case as feared by my vet. Instead, it was obviously feminine in physical characteristics. This was explained by the vet as a supposed side effect due to the Regu-Mate usage over a long period of time. Additional pregnancies were successful using only the FM11 & FM10. There were no additional side effects found in the following foals.

The People's Home Stock Book written in the early 1900"s referred to barrenness as often due to acid secretions, retention of afterbirth, or due to infection of "germs of contagious abortion". The suggestion was to dissolve 1 ounce baking soda in 1 quart clean water. This solution was used to wash out the vaginal area daily for 2 weeks or longer. (One TBSP carbolic acid in 3 pints water double used.) These procedures were to be used until the mare was in foal. If due to an acid condition, one was to put 2 heaping teaspoons of yeast in 1 pint boiled water, allow the solution to set for 4-5 hours in a warm area until milky. Flush the area with warm water, then insert the yeast solution. The mare was to be bred within 2-6 hours after the procedure.

Pneumovaginal (wind sucking) is due to poor perineal conformation. The vulva tilts forward due to the structure of the anus & the vagina. There is reduced vulva muscular tone. This structure allows urine & feces to seep into the reproductive tract. The consequences are a mare who is iunable to work effiently due to infection. Veterinarian procedures include the use of a caslicks or episioplasty (plastic surgery of the vulva). This procedure is often required in the Competition Mare to attempt to prevent infection. It is often used after breeding to attempt toaid the problem in the Breeding Mare. One must be sure to find out from his/her vet when the caslicks should be removed prior to breeding or to foaling. Yearly, we learn of tragic cases of mare mutilation during foaling due to an uncorrected episioplasty.

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