Horse Breeding

yes horses can have false pregnancies and they can have miscarriges also, i learned that the hard way!!

Obviously she will look pregnant, her abdomen having been swollen for some months. About a month before she gives birth her udder will start to fill with milk. About three to five days before she foals, a waxy coating will appear on the teats. When milk starts to drip or run from them, foaling is usually about a day or two off. About twentyfour hours before foaling, the muscles over her buttocks (from the highest point of her backside down to the base of her tail) will relax and fall in to allow the foal an easier passage through the pelvis. Anywhere from twelve to four hours before foaling she will be restless, standing rigid, running or pacing in an agitated way. She may seek out other horses or try to avoid them. She will look tucked up at the flank, may stamp her feet or kick at her belly. She will lie down about half an hour before the foal appears.

The mares udder will begin to get bigger about 3 weeks before she gives birth. It will begin to swell at night and get smaller during the day. Usually, the udder will stay full and large on the day before she gives birth. Colostrum may drip from the teats. The colostrum will dry and form what looks like wax over her teats, which is where the term 'waxing' comes from. Waxing normally means that the mare will deliver her foal within 24 hours but its not uncommon for waxing to occur 2 to 3 days before the mare gives birth. When the little drops of wax fall off of the teats, milk will usually drip out and that normally means the foal will be born within 8 to 12 hours. Like women lactating and giving birth, all mares are different, so these are just general guidelines.

Yes, the birth of a horse can be painful as it involves strong contractions to push the foal out of the mare's womb. However, the level of pain experienced can vary depending on individual circumstances and any potential complications during the birth process.

Foaling typically takes between 15 minutes to 2 hours, but can sometimes last longer depending on the individual mare and any complications that may arise during the birth. It is important to monitor the mare closely during labor and have a veterinarian on call in case of any difficulties.

There are many mixed breed horses. Many people will breed 2 types of horses that are specialized in one area to get a horse that is even better at that one thing. There are many mixed breed horses where you cannot tell all the breeds in it. They call those horses "grade" horses.

Black mare aaE-

Piebald stallion aaE-To- (we assume here that the spotting pattern is Tobiano, but he could be Overo, Sabino...and as long as the stallion has only a single spotting allele the spotting pattern can be arbitrarily assigned.) Piebald, by definition is

a black horse with a spotting pattern.

It is not known if either the stallion or the mare carries e at the extension site so there is a possibility that the foal could be chestnut if both parents are Ee.

If either parent is EE all foals produced will be black.

50% chance of a white spotting pattern unless the stallion is homozygous for his spotting pattern (if he is overo he can only be heterozygous) which would make the chance increase to 100%. If the stallion carries multiple different spotting alleles...like Tovero (tobiano and overo), Sabero (Sabino and overo), etc. there is a 75% chance of the foal having a spotting pattern.

Depending on the breed of horse, the penis could be between 12" to about 24". That would be during a time of a full erection, obviously. Some stallions may even have a penis about 36 inches long.

Foals can start nibbling on grass within a few days of birth, but they typically start consuming more substantial amounts of grass around 2-3 weeks of age when their digestive system is better developed. It is important to introduce grass gradually to prevent digestive issues.

Mare gestation typically lasts around 11 months, which is equivalent to about 340 days. However, it can vary slightly depending on the individual mare.

There are many blood tests that can be done to determine if she is in foal or not, but these are expensive and must be done by a vet. The only way a relative amateur can tell is by rectal examination, not a pleasant task without the long glove. The mare must be placed in a crush or carefully hobbled and twitched so she cannot move or kick. The tester inserts a hand into the mare's rectum and feels through the bottom wall for the uterus. If the mare is in foal, a small lump will be clearly felt. If she is not, nothing will be able to be felt. This test can be carried out at around 2 months expected gestation. It is still possible she is pregnant if nothing is there, but she is not as far gone as was thought, less than 2 months since mating.

No. Once a horse has been "cut" or gelded, they cannot grow a new set of testicles. HOWEVER, sometimes when a horse is being gelded, the vet may not get BOTH testicles. (This seems to be quite common. I've known several horses that still had one testicle. Apparently, it is easy to miss one testicle when gelding...perhaps because both testicles had not "dropped" when the the horse was gelded) A horse with one testicle remaining is often referred to as a "jig". "Proud cut" is another term. Male horses with one testicle will continue to exhibit the tendencies and personality of a stallion. They will and CAN mate with (and impregnate) a female. It is important that the vet verify that they remove both testicles when gelding. A side note: Sometimes, even though a male has been gelded, they "don't get the memo" (LOL) and don't realize that they are no longer a stallion. They will continue to try to mate with females who are in season. This is especially true when a male horse has been gelded later in life.

A mare is pregnant for around 11 months, which is roughly 44 weeks. The gestation period for a horse is typically between 320-370 days.

Before breeding your mare, consider her age, health, and conformation to ensure she is physically able to carry a foal. Evaluate her breeding history and genetic background to determine her suitability for producing quality offspring. Additionally, plan for the financial costs associated with breeding, foaling, and caring for the mare and foal.

Progesterone is the major hormone needed to maintain a pregnancy. In the forst 90 days the corpus luteum on the ovary produces the major amount of progesterone. After 90 days the placenta is the major producer. Initiating foaling is by the production of oxytocin.

There is no discharge that I know of but a mare in heat will usually urinate when a stallion is presented. When a stallion is present, other signs of a mare in heat are: turning the hindquarters to the stallion, raising the tail, squatting and a flexing or winking of the labia. When a mare is NOT in heat and a stallion is present, she is totally disinterested and will flatten her ears, squeal, kick and sometimes bite and kick at the stallion.

Horses can behave well in heat by seeking shade to stay cool, staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water, and avoiding strenuous exercise during the hottest parts of the day. It's important for horse owners to provide proper care and management to help their horses cope with the heat.

Male horses, or stallions, can start breeding around 2-3 years of age, but optimal breeding age is considered to be around 4-5 years old. It is important to consider not just the age, but also the physical and mental maturity of the stallion before breeding.

When a horse is having its foaling, you will need a clean and safe foaling area, clean towels or rags to help dry the foal, iodine or disinfectant for the foal's navel, a flashlight for visibility, and a contact number for a veterinarian in case of any complications. It's important to observe from a distance and avoid interfering unless necessary.

There is no special term for a horse birth, although it can be called "foaling."

Before a horse is born, the mare goes through a pregnancy that lasts around 11 months. During this time, the fetus develops and grows inside the mare's womb until it is ready to be born. The mare's body undergoes various changes to support the growing foal, such as increased nutrient requirements and changes in hormone levels.

In horses, the placenta serves as the connection between the mare and foal, providing nutrition and oxygen to the developing fetus and removing waste products. It also acts as a protective barrier, preventing the mare's immune system from rejecting the foal.