Reproductive Evaluations

A mare reproductive evaluation has some very important applications. If someone is purchasing a mare with the intent of breeding her at some point, it would be wise to have a full reproductive evaluation done prior to purchase. It is not uncommon for mares to have underlying issues that were previously undetected. An evaluation is certainly recommended whenever trauma or injury has occurred to the reproductive tract. Quite often, injuries arise during the foaling process. A timely evaluation post-foaling will assess the damage so corrections can be made to preserve future pregnancies. If a mare has any history of fertility problems, a full evaluation may detect a reason for the subfertility and help to better understand the chances of her ever getting in foal and maintaining a pregnancy. In an attempt to recognize potential complications, many breeders elect to have a reproductive evaluation done prior to the breeding season. Certain management schemes can be put in place to help sustain a pregnancy if issues are detected early.

The mare reproductive evaluation at ERC includes an examination of the perineal (vulvar) region; rectal palpation and ultrasonography of the reproductive tract, vaginal speculum examination, and culture, cytology and biopsy of the uterus. Shortly after the results are compiled, a full report is provided to the mare owner describing the findings and making recommendations with regard to treatment, breeding procedures, and suitability of the mare for breeding.