COLOSTRUM

Colostrum is produced by the mare and is the first milk she produces when she gives birth. She only produces this milk for up to 24 hours after giving birth. The milk appears different from that which she will produce for the rest of her lactation period, in that it is yellow, thick, and sticky. As…

BylizzieApril 22, 20210Comments

ASKHQ: SWAYBACK

Q: What is a swayback? A: A swayback is a hollow back, that has a dip between the withers and loin area. This type of back is usually too long and excessively flexible, so develops a sway because the ligaments become weak and sag. Interestingly most of the strain on a sway back is on the…

BylizzieOctober 30, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Breeding Horse Breed Horse Channel Horse Health

ASKHQ: GESTATION

Q: What is the gestation period for a mare? A: The average gestation length in mares ranges from 320 to 362 days. Most mares foal down within 330-345 days of successful breeding. Having said this, many mares will successfully foal down with gestation lengths outside of this range. It is also worth noting that ponies, on average,…

BylizzieOctober 23, 20200Comments

Horse Breed Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training

ASKHQ: EXERCISE IN PREGNANCY

Q: Can you exercise a pregnant mare? A: Many owners are very concerned about riding a pregnant mare, for fear they may harm the mare or growing foal. Vets generally, however, disagree apart from in the first and last months of pregnancy. Vets generally feel that as long as the mare is healthy, and the pregnancy…

BylizzieFebruary 28, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Horse Breed Horse Channel Horse Health

ASKHQ: DOUBLE TROUBLE

Q: How often do horses have twins? A: Twins are conceived as a result of the stallion's sperm fertilising two eggs released when a mare double ovulates. Thoroughbreds and Warmbloods are the most likely to have mutliple ovulations, and they therefore tend to have more twins than other breeds. However, nature does not favour the birth of…

BylizzieOctober 19, 20190Comments

Horse Health Know How

HOW OFTEN DO HORSES HAVE TWINS?

Veterinarians will typically recommend removing one of the twin embryos to maximise survival and well-being of both mare and remaining foal [dropcap]N[/dropcap]ature does not favour the birth of equine twins, and many mares will abort within the first 40 days of pregnancy. Of the mares who carry twins longer than six weeks, 80% will abort during…

BylizzieDecember 18, 20170Comments

Horse Channel Horse Health Know How

BUN IN THE OVEN – THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FOAL

It’s very exciting to be involved in breeding a live, healthy foal. Here we explore the journey of pregnancy in a mare. Falling pregnant Pregnancy can occur when an egg has been fertilised in the mare. Fertilisation of the egg is necessary for an embryo to form, which constitutes the first form of life for the…

BylizzieSeptember 14, 20170Comments

COLOSTRUM

ASKHQ: SWAYBACK

ASKHQ: GESTATION

ASKHQ: EXERCISE IN PREGNANCY

ASKHQ: DOUBLE TROUBLE

HOW OFTEN DO HORSES HAVE TWINS?

BUN IN THE OVEN – THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FOAL

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