Do Broodmares Know Best?
I am constantly dismayed by the many reports of broodmares and/or foals lost during or after birth, due to complications. Why is this happening so much? And how can it be avoided?
Most breeders of horses, amateur and professional alike, seem to focus on mare fertility and reproductive ability, in a reductionist way of thinking, while the interests of all concerned may be better served with a holistic approach.
This quote from Ivor John Basko DVM provides the first insight
“Control of the hormonal system of horses by the use of synthetic drugs and hormones may be practical in large scale breeding operations, but it does not serve the best interests of the animals”.
Is there too much human intervention in what is a natural process? These days most horses are bred by Artificial Insemination and that in itself leads to problems.
Firstly the mare is injected with Prostaglandin to bring her into season, regardless of the stage of her cycle. That is the first interference with the natural process. Secondly many mares are allergic to synthetic additives to semen, when being inseminated.
I have only bred a few horses, all Thoroughbreds by natural service, without any problems. The only time I tried to breed with Artificial Insemination, it caused me to backtrack as the mare in question had serious side effects from her only injection of PG. Instead I went back to my painstaking observations of her cycles and sent her to the stallion with the comment “You should be able to breed her tomorrow morning” That is what happened and she was only served once and came home happy, ultimately delivering a healthy foal quickly without assistance. Good old Raspberry Leaf. More on that later.
I have also helped a large number of clients over the past 28 years with breeding mares resolving problems such as Placentitis and Mastitis, excess fluid in the uterus, ovarian cysts, older mares not holding pregnancies and irregular cycles, often caused by artificial prevention of cycles in competition mares. This included Gilgai Farm, breeders of Black Caviar, for some years.
David Quick from Isle of Wight Stud, has been breeding Holsteiner horses on his organically run farm, for over 30 years. I was interested in his view on where things go wrong with breeding, given the amazing track record for fertility and reproductive success of his broodmares and stallions.
David says preparation, nutrition and management are the key areas.
“Preparation is key with the broodmare, she must not be too fat or too thin and on a rising plane of nutrition, and in good health physically and emotionally, including lack of worms. A good record of her breeding history is also important. Observation and recording of cycles in maiden mares especially is also a big help.”
“Nutrition is obviously of major importance and I consider that natural feeding is the foundation of producing healthy horses.”
“Providing mares, foals, youngstock and stallions with all natural feeds and naturally grown pastures, especially keeping them off processed rancid pellets usually with Canola Oil in them is critical. This kind of feeding produces mares which are too fat and lacking muscle tone.”
He went on to explain the importance of body condition of the mare at various stages of pregnancy. So if we go back to our mare who is in ideal condition before she is served, she should be maintained in that condition until she reaches her last trimester, and for the first few months of the foal’s life when her nutritional requirements are much higher.
Working stallions, mares in 3rd trimester and lactating, especially in first 3 months of foal’s life, and growing horses from birth to two years of age have high energy requirements, equivalent to equine athletes in hard work.
“Exercise is also very important – they should be in paddocks with other broodmares ideally – where they have plenty of room to go for a gallop when the mood takes them. Wild horses travel hundreds of miles searching for what they need at certain times, so that tells us everything.”
When the mare is getting close to foaling there isn’t a lot of room left in her belly so she is usually not keen on too much hay and prefers concentrates which are higher energy for a smaller intake.
“Mares choose where they are going to foal at least a month before foaling, so the practice of removing them to a designated foaling yard or even a stable, is profoundly disturbing for them and interferes with the time of delivery of the foal.”
“I also think that too much pregnancy testing and ultra-sounding is contra-indicated, so should be kept to the minimum necessary.”
On the positive side, how often do we hear of owners finding a healthy foal that has been safely delivered during the night? Happily quite often, which leads us to believe that Broodmares Know Best.
All they need is the right kind of natural and herbal support.
Australia’s only all natural feed supplement Walkenny Park Equi-Vital is perfect for breeding and competition horses, with it’s blend of seaweed, wheat germ, rosehips, brewer’s yeast and french white millet.
Denise Farrugia of Walkenny Park Equine Herbs has bred a number of riding ponies over the years and she agrees the natural approach is the best. She can help with herbal and natural feeding programs for groups of broodmares or for individual problem mares, just contact her by email at admin@walkenny.com.au
GOOD OLD RASPBERRY LEAF
Easy to add to the feed and essential for broodmares, due to being the highest plant source of Folic Acid.
Supreme female reproductive herb – aids conception, strengthens and tones the endometrium, assists contractions during foaling, encourages quick and complete expulsion of the afterbirth, checks haemorrhage during labour, tones uterine muscles, prevents abortion especially in cases where cause is not obvious, support for older mares who have had many foals or having their first foal
Dried leaf – double handful per day added to the feed, for an average sized mare (450kg), commencing one to two months prior to joining and continuing until one to two months pregnant, and one to two months prior to foaling continuing until the foal is 2 weeks old, if mare is to be rejoined on first true heat, continue until she is one or two months pregnant.
No need to continue use for the whole pregnancy except where previous serious difficulties have been encountered.
Best quality available from
Natural feeding and herbs for broodmares are fully detailed in my new book The Holistic Horse Herbal, available here.
