Category Archives: breeding

Obese Mares

Posted: | August 6, 2023

Obese Mares Have More Problems Than We Thought! It has been previously documented that obese mares have a higher tendency towards early embryonic death, particularly in hot weather and this has been put down to the core temperature of these mare potentially being higher than other mares, with a negative impact on embryo survival[1]. At ISER XIII Meikle… Read More »

Words To Lose!

Posted: | April 15, 2023

When lecturing on equine reproduction our lead lecturer Jos Mottershead often comments that there are several words to lose in order to avoid confusion and – plainly – being incorrect. The words he always cites are “never” and “always”, because the moment that one uses those words, invariably someone in the audience comes up with a situation which… Read More »

Vulval Conformation and Caslick’s Procedure

Posted: | November 2, 2021

Vulval Conformation, Common Vulval Injuries and the Caslick’s Procedure – Vulval Conformation and the Caslick’s Procedure are important aspects to consider, especially when breeding older multiparous mares By Jonathan F Pycock, BVetMed, PhD, DESM, MRCVS, RCVS Specialist in Equine Reproduction In the normal mare the vulva provides the first effective barrier to protect the uterus from ascending infection.… Read More »

Horse Breeding Ethics

Posted: | October 31, 2021

The Ethics of Breeding – More than a popularity contest – This older article discussing horse breeding ethics, while written many years ago still holds true today and is worthy of consideration By Jos Mottershead Printed in: Atlantic Horse and Pony, February 1990: “She’s not grown as much as I thought she would”. How many times have people… Read More »

Contagious Equine Metritis – CEM

Posted: | October 31, 2021

Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) – A notifiable disease, Contagious Equine Metritis poses a significant threat for domestic breeders and international trade. By Jos Mottershead and Kathy St. Martin History In the spring of 1977 a previously unidentified genital infection of the equine was observed in the United Kingdom and Ireland in Thoroughbreds. Mares were being found not pregnant… Read More »

Steroidal Secretion Effects on Uterine Ultrasound Characteristics

Posted: | October 27, 2021

Ultrasound Characteristics of the Uterus in the Cycling Mare and their Correlation with Steroid Hormones and Timing of Ovulation – By Jonathan Pycock, BVetMed, PhD, DESM, MRCVS, RCVS Specialist in Equine Reproduction – Steroid Effects on Uterine Ultrasound in the Mare By Jonathan F Pycock, BVetMed, PhD, DESM, MRCVS, RCVS Specialist in Equine Reproduction The introduction of transrectal… Read More »

AI use in the TB industry

Posted: | October 24, 2021

The question of AI use in the TB industry – a viewpoint – Here we offer some support for the use of AI and refute some of the common reasons often offered against the use By Jos Mottershead That the TB industry is still so vehemently opposed to the use of AI continues to be a source of… Read More »

Equine Viral Arteritis Factfile

Posted: | October 22, 2021

Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA) – A summary of information about a disease with reproductive implications. This equine viral arteritis factfile shoots down some myths. There are many myths and much misinformation surrounding the disease equine viral arteritis (EVA). Here we present a list of facts in an attempt to assist in clarification and education for the breeding public.… Read More »

Equine Viral Arteritis

Posted: | October 22, 2021

Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA) – a detailed and descriptive article about equine viral arteritis (EVA), a disease which has severe negative reproductive implications. By: Kathy St.Martina, Jos Mottersheada, Dr. Peter Timoneyb aEquine-Reproduction.com LLC, Wynnewood, OK 73098, USA; bDepartment of Veterinary Science, Gluck Equine Research Center, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA… Read More »

Hormones of the Mare’s Estrous Cycle

Posted: | October 22, 2021

The Mare’s Estrous Cycle – an overview of the hormonal relationships that go to make up the reproductive cycle in the mare By Jos Mottershead (These charts and much of the information appearing in this article are reproduced from the Equine-Reproduction.com short course notes, at which this topic is discussed in detail. For more information on the educational… Read More »