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B
R E E D I N G S E A S O N T I P S
We hope the following articles and tips will help
make
your breeding season go a little more smoothly!
BREEDING
CONTRACT 101
LIVE
COLORED FOAL GUARANTEES THE FINE PRINT
COOLED
SEMEN
CONTRACTS, DON'T GET BURNED!
SHIPPED
SEMEN PROCEDURES 101
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Breeding
Contract 101
Breeding
Contract 101
When
you consider breeding your mare, there are a few items to consider before
you jump in. Any reputable breeder will provide you with a explicit
breeding contract that will spell out each parties terms in black and
white, so you know what you can expect from your partnership. Here are
some common items to look for in a good breeding contract.
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Make
sure each horse and its owners are correctly identified in the
contract.
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It
should address items you’ll hopefully never face, but if you
do…you’ll be glad you had them spelled out in the contract. For
example…what happens if your anxiously awaited Paint foal turns out
to be “spotless”? Who is responsible if either the mare or
stallion is injured? No one expects these things to happen, but they
do, so be covered by addressing them before hand.
-
If
there is a live colored foal guarantee, make sure you know the
details. How long does the foal have to live? What entitles a mare
owner to rebreeding and at what cost?
-
If
a dispute arises, what county will the case be litigated? Who will pay
for legal costs?
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Look
for a clear breakdown of costs for services and when they are to be
paid. Are any fees ever refundable? Who pays booking fees,
veterinarian fees, farrier fees, shipping fees?
-
Look
for terms of payment. Many breeders now take credit cards. Are there
finance charges?
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Look
for specifics on mare care. Wet or dry…how much and what kind of
feed, stall and care is included in the fees.
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Will
the breeder foal out a mare? If so what costs are associated?
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What
are the rebreeding and substitution policies? Who pays for the extra
costs associated with rebreeding?
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When
will a breeder’s certificate be provided for the union?
Remember
if there are any terms or areas in a contract you aren’t comfortable
with, talk it over with the stallion owner. Also, don’t be afraid to ask
for references AND call them. Firsthand experiences can be the best
resource you have when entering unknown territory.
BREEDING
SEASON TIPS HOME | BREEDING
CONTRACT 101 | LIVE
COLORED FOAL GUARANTEES THE FINE PRINT
| COOLED
SEMEN
CONTRACTS, DON'T GET BURNED! | SHIPPED
SEMEN PROCEDURES 101
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Live
Colored Foal Guarantees (LCFG)
LIVE
COLORED FOAL GUARANTEES THE FINE PRINT
A
unique option for Paint Horses breeders is a colored guarantee. While Live
Foal Guarantees (LFG) are commonplace, a color guarantee has many facets.
There can be many questions involved with a LCFG, make sure you enter into
a complete contract and know what is covered and what isn’t. Here are
some tips to consider:
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What
happens if a mare has a solid baby? Is there a charge for a
rebreeding?
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Under
what circumstances can a mare or substitute be rebred and under what
timeline?
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When
is a veterinarian’s statement required
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How
long must a foal live? Do you get your money back if a foal dies?
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What
constitutes a colored foal under the contract?
BREEDING
SEASON TIPS HOME | BREEDING
CONTRACT 101 | LIVE
COLORED FOAL GUARANTEES THE FINE PRINT
| COOLED
SEMEN
CONTRACTS, DON'T GET BURNED! | SHIPPED
SEMEN PROCEDURES 101
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Cooled
Semen Contracts
COOLED
SEMEN
CONTRACTS, DON'T GET BURNED!
A
relatively new option allows you to breed to the cream of the crop no
matter their location. However, shipped semen opens a whole new array of
problems and costs that need to be covered by a good contract. Here are
some things to look for:
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What
is the deadline for ordering semen?
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When
do fees need to be paid?
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What
are the costs for containers? When must they be returned? Are there
late fees?
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What
booking fees are involved?
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What
are the shipping costs, how will semen be shipped and who is
responsible?
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Who
is responsible is a shipment does arrive on time?
BREEDING
SEASON TIPS HOME | BREEDING
CONTRACT 101 | LIVE
COLORED FOAL GUARANTEES THE FINE PRINT
| COOLED
SEMEN
CONTRACTS, DON'T GET BURNED! | SHIPPED
SEMEN PROCEDURES 101
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SHIPPED
SEMEN PROCEDURES
SHIPPED
SEMEN PROCEDURES 101
With
the arrival of shipped semen you now have access to the best stallions in
the business, but shipped semen can mean more of a commitment for you to
make it a success. First, make sure you have a vet who is experienced and
successful using shipped semen. Don’t have one near you? Or live too far
from an airport to meet the deadline? Consider sending your mare to a
local and experience breeding station where the whole process can take
place. Timing is everything with shipped semen. As the mare owner, you now
have more control over breeding than ever, and it’s up to you to make
sure the timing is correct. Here are some tips for shipped success:
Unfortunately,
reality is not as simple as the concept of shipped semen. First, equine
sperm is more delicate than most other species of livestock and note that
not all stallions will ship. This delicacy coupled with the complexity of
the mare's reproductive cycle makes timing of artificial insemination the
single most important factor in the art of transported semen.
·
Make sure your mare is prepared! A breeding soundness exam
is the first step. A rectal exam of the mare's reproductive is common. If
your mare is barren or open, you might consider a uterine culture to check
for disease or infections that could exist.
·
The heat is on! Most mares come into heat every 21 days, and
each heat lasts about 5 to 7 days. Ideally, you’ll want to tease your
mare daily to record her heat cycle. Estrus records along with an
ultrasound or rectal palpation of the mare's when she is in heat can
estimate ovulation. No teasing stallion? Then it’s up to you and your
vet to monitor the follicle and estimate ovulation. Breeding a mare with a
foal is a popular option since the mare traditionally comes into heat 7 to
14 days after the birth of her foal, and then comes into heat again about
30 days after foaling.
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Not a predicatable science! Since not all mares ovulate like
clockwork, you might find hormone therapy an option to create a regular
cycle.
·
When should I make the call? On average, breeding follicles
mature by about 3 to 5 mm a day. Rectal palpation or ultrasound of the
mare's reproductive tract is critical at this point to predict ovulation.
This is where your record keeping and your vet’s experience comes into
play. You’ll need to monitor the follicle and predict ovulation, so you
know when to make the call to the stallion owner and order semen.
Ovulation is near when the cervix opens and softens, uterus has firm tone,
and the follicle is large in diameter and soft to the touch, this is
usually around 45 to 55 mm.
The
race begins! Remember, most semen is only good for about 48 hours after
collection. Your vet will want to check for semen for quality before or
after breeding the mare. Assuming the semen is viable, the mare should be
inseminated as soon as possible. Most semen shipments come with two doses.
Both may be used at one time or the second dose can be used 12-24 hours
later. It’s a good idea to palpate your mare 24 hours after insemination
to make sure she has ovulated. If she hasn’t re-ordering semen may be an
option. Hormones are often used at this point to encourage ovulation. 15
to 18 days later you should schedule an ultrasound exam to determine if
you got lucky! Good luck!
BREEDING
SEASON TIPS HOME | BREEDING
CONTRACT 101 | LIVE
COLORED FOAL GUARANTEES THE FINE PRINT
| COOLED
SEMEN
CONTRACTS, DON'T GET BURNED! | SHIPPED
SEMEN PROCEDURES 101
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