BREEDING SEASON TIPS

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

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.

Make sure each horse and its owners are correctly identified in the contract.
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?
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?
Look for specifics on mare care. Wet or dry…how much and what kind of feed, stall and care is included in the fees.
Will the breeder foal out a mare? If so what costs are associated?
What are the rebreeding and substitution policies? Who pays for the extra costs associated with rebreeding?
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

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:

What happens if a mare has a solid baby? Is there a charge for a rebreeding?
Under what circumstances can a mare or substitute be rebred and under what timeline?
When is a veterinarian’s statement required
How long must a foal live? Do you get your money back if a foal dies?
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

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:

What is the deadline for ordering semen?
When do fees need to be paid?
What are the costs for containers? When must they be returned? Are there late fees?
What booking fees are involved?
What are the shipping costs, how will semen be shipped and who is responsible?
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

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.

· 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