Mares may be bred by natural cover or artificial insemination, depending on breed registry regulations, preference of the stallion owner and/or mare owner, location and availability of the stallion and mare, cost, safety concerns, experience of personnel, and other factors.
Twins are a significant cause of reduced reproductive efficiency in the mare and may result in early pregnancy loss, abortion, stillbirth, or early neonatal death.
Equine viral arteritis is a contagious disease of equids caused by equine arteritis virus.
Progesterone is the key hormone responsible for maintaining pregnancy in all mammals, including horses.
Early accurate diagnosis of pregnancy status, detection and management of twins and identification of pregnancy loss are all important for optimal reproductive management of mares.
The goal of a mare reproductive evaluation or breeding soundness examination is to identify known or potential reproductive abnormalities and to evaluate the potential for a mare to become pregnant and carry a foal successfully to term.