Horse breeding services in Greater Toronto Area

Understanding Equine Pregnancies

Usually, a horse carries a colt or a filly for eleven months. However, this period could slightly vary from pregnancy to pregnancy. Typically, a horse carries a filly for a shorter period than a colt, but again this varies from pregnancy to pregnancy. If a foal is born before 300 days of gestation, the chances are that it will not survive. A colt born between 300 and 330 days of gestation may survive. However, it is at high risk and requires urgent medical attention.

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER A FEW WEEKS LATER

The outcome of thoroughbreds breeding usually becomes apparent after a couple of weeks or more. Once that period elapses, we conduct an ultrasound exam on the mare to ascertain whether conception has taken place. We also confirm the number of embryos, and if they are multiple, a veterinarian eliminates one of them. Mares are less likely to carry twin embryos to birth – chances of losing the pregnancy are higher in such cases. Those that reach term become foals that cannot race well. A single embryo has a higher chance of reaching term even though it will have the twin gene.
We will move the mare to the foaling paddocks during the last days of the pregnancy, which is approximately 11 months. Our foaling assistants will be on standby, readily available to handle any difficulty during birth. Possible intervention measures include repositioning the foal’s legs or pulling it manually. Our team will also ensure the foal receives optimal postnatal care. Our procedure for breeding thoroughbred horses is different from what happens in the wild, where mares isolate themselves when foaling.
A nurse mare can rear the thoroughbred if the mare cannot care for the foal - the thoroughbred foul replaces the nurse mare’s foul. However, that arrangement also has challenges, the most common being health issues when the orphan cannot adjust to the new diet. Behavioural problems can also arise later, but every potential issue has a solution. The replacer foul thrives because the nurse mare can rely on lactation-inducing hormones.
Breeding thoroughbred horses follow a one-year cycle – mating takes place one month after the birth.

Labour and Delivery

Before getting ready to give birth, a mare experiences 1 to 2 hours of contractions that end with the sac breaking. The actual delivery process lasts for about 30 minutes. We can intervene at any stage of the delivery to ensure that nothing goes wrong. You should contact us if you notice anything abnormal or if the delivery lasts more than 30 minutes. The foal should be standing within 1 to 2 hours of delivery and nursing within 2 to 3 hours. Our team is available 24/7 at your service.

Whether you are breeding a horse for pleasure or profit, we encourage you to seek the help of an expert with experience in equine reproductive services. Amplify Stables can ensure utmost care at every step of the process to ensure that both the mother and foal are safe.