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  Discussion on Breeding a young mare--too young?
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 25, 2000 - 8:29 pm:

I have a 3 year-old warmblood mare that we bred 5 times this year (three times to an elderly stallion, and twice to a young stallion--the last using fresh semen by AI), each time perfectly bracketing her ovulation (documented by ultrasound). Prior to breeding, she had normal cultures and cytologies. The first 2 times, we planned embryo transfer but no embryo was recovered. The last 3 times, we decided what the heck and intended she carry her own pregnancy. None of the attempts took. My vet suggested that perhaps her body was telling us that she is too young, and suggested waiting until next breeding season. Is this plausible? Next year, we will have to do embryo transfer since she's entered into the 2002 dressage futurity and will need to be actively training in the spring of 2002. I'm happy to wait until next year to rebreed, but if there are other potential and more likely causes, I would like to look for them first before rebreeding since each embryo transfer attempt costs extra at this point.

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 26, 2000 - 9:19 am:

Hello Gay: Dr. O is out of town and I am sure he will respond when returns. In the meantime, I will suggest that you read his article under Mare Infertility, she cycles but does not settle. I personally do not breed my mares until they are at least 4 years old. I want them to have the opportunity to mature a little more physically and mentally before they have to raise a foal. However, a lot of people breed younger mares and they do just fine.
You will find in Dr. O's article that the number one cause of mare infertility is management and not medical. As he says in the conclusion, occassionally no exact cause for mare infertility can be found. If your mare has no problems found on physical exam, pre and post breeding ultrasound, uterine cytology and culture, and uterine biopsy all fail to turn up any definite treatable problems, the best therapy is to breed her again and breed her again. The article also suggests that recent research work shows post breeding oxytocin and antibiotic treatment may increase conception rates, especially if the mare has post breeding fluid accumulation.
I hope this information helps and Good Luck. Dr. Woodworth

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 26, 2000 - 3:34 pm:

As always, DrW leaves little else to be said. Thank you and DrM for all the help while I was gone.
DrO
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