Need to put mare under lights?

[harryapache]

Hi again. You guys are too usefull not to utilize! I have another dumb one for you I'm afraid. I have a pasture kept mare who cycles regularly year round. However as it is winter in Texas and she is a maiden mare, I'm wondering if and for how long I'll need to put her under lights to get her ready for breeding this year. I'm hoping to breed by or in April.

Thanks very much for all of your help!

Alisa

[bullsie]

i can only tell you about my herd of mares. i just use what God gave me. if the stud were out right now, i'd have a whole field of babies next january (am getting old, do all my breeding in july - don't do the sit all night in the cold thing anymore!).

[Calens Arabians]

Harry, I have no trouble getting them bred at that time, in fact, my oldest cycles all year and takes the first time, right out of the pasture, this time we tried it this month, will soon learn if she took or not, laf, but, I agree with Bullsie, go with what God gave you.
PS I am in Oklahoma, the broodies are starting to shed out and the open gal is currently visiting the stud man- both seem to be having fun
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[missmagus]

I am in North Central Texas - we've got some green grass and that's going to help bring them in - however not all girls cooperate. I've had mares cycle but not ovulate until a little later in the year. The lights will help in making sure they ovulate. If you're not sure what to do - next time your mare is showing season - and are you teasing? or do you have a stallion to tease with? If not - it is more difficult but we tease and if it's an early breeding it doesn't hurt to have the mare checked (ultrasounded) to see if she really is building a follicle. If not - it can be a false heat. It may take another heat period or two to get her going unless you want to use Regumate or shots. Hopefully your mare will cooperate and build a follicle with each heat she goes through.
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[RA]

Its just plumb amazing that horses are not extinct. How on gods green earth did they manage to continue to breed and carry foals in the hundreds of years prior to shots, vaccines, lights, AI, embryo transplants, tail wrapping, Iodine on navels.............. It has to be the eighth wonder of the world doesn't it?????

Rich
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[Inyureye]

Yeah, but RA, you know, breeding is a business, and a breeder wants to maximize the potential of each mare through each of their "seasons" - the whole business is about getting the most out of the horses while doing one's best for their health and welfare, and timing the breeding and foaling is part of their safety as well as part of the breeder's investment considerations. There's nothing wrong with using technology and veternary science to produce the best horses under the most optimal conditions.
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[missmagus]

If you want your mares to get in foal early sometimes you have to try and trick Mother Nature!!!!! Otherwise - just wait until the green grass is up and use a stallion to tease. The best is to put a stallion in with the mares - but unfortunately if you're using an outside stallion - can't - and if you're shipping semen - in the end it's more effective if you know what that mare is doing!
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Home of Hollywood White
3X NRHA World Champion Reining Horse

[Dawn]

I think the general rule of thumb is 16hrs of light a day for 60 days prior to the time you want to breed. Most farms will tell you it is best for the mare if she has one cycle before trying to breed her. So for those that want to start breeding in January, it usuallymeans putting them under lights in Novemeber or Mid October. As late as it is now, if you were to breed her this year, it would probably be just as good to wait until late March or early April and forget about the lights. Just my opinion. Good Luck!

[bullsie]

or a very heavy snow falls from the roof takes out the power and the stud does the "whisker test" and discovers no electricity, jumps/runs through all the fences, goes off dancing with the girls for 20 minutes and eleven months later you have a foal.