Goforth Equine

    Have an open mare that you plan to breed this season? Jumpstart breeding season by putting her under lights. 16 hours of light for 45-60 days is recommended. Contact stallion owners/managers and find out when they will begin collecting their stallions. February 15th is the earliest most farms will breed. This insures that there are no foals born before January 1st.

    More Information:

         During the winter months mares are experiencing the anovulatory period, or anestrous. Mares are seasonally polyestrus, meaning they ovulate (or experience estrus) multiple times during a specific time of year. Summer time is the natural ovulatory season for mares. Ovulation, or lack of, is controlled by different hormones which are circulating at different levels depending on photoperiod, or the amount of daylight exposure. Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland, which is located near the base of the brain. Levels of this hormone are highest when photoperiod is reduced. Melatonin suppresses the hypothalymus (another hormone regulating portion of the brain). As photoperiod increases, melatonin decreases which allows the hypothalymus to become active. The hypothalymus realeases GnRH, gonadotropin realeasing hormone, which stimulates the pituitary gland (yet another hormone regulated portion of the brain) to release two primary gonadatropins: follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and leutilizing hormone (LH). As these hormones are released, follicles on the mare's ovaries begin to develop to a size suitable for ovulation (about 35mm). While all of this is going on internally, the mare is reacting by showing heat signs and interest in the stallion.

        Next Month we'll talk about when to breed, what to look for in a palpation, and the 21 day estrous cycle.

   To start off the New Year, we will be posting discussion topics containing valuable information for breeding season. Feel free to comment, suggest topics, and ask questions regarding equine reproduction or the well-being of your horse in general. We will do our best to be an adequate source of all your horse-related interests! Check us out on Facebook and become a fan to receive blog entries! 

 Wishing Everyone Happy Holidays and A Successful New Year!