OK, for all of you who have open mares under lights, I'd be interested in hearing who's mares are cycling and who's aren't. We've had mares under lights since December 1st and nobody's doing anything yet... but then again, we just had another massive cold spell, frozen ground, ice everywhere, etc. I wonder if that might have stopped anything that would otherwise be starting to happen??? We had a lot of very COLD weather earlier in the season than usual, and it lasted for a long time (and was miserable.) I'm just trying to figure out if the weather patterns have much to do with when the "under lights" mares start to cycle.
It appears that our mares are foaling late this year, too... although this is the first year we've owned the first mare we had to foal, so I don't know her previous history... but she foaled on day 359. We're waiting for a mare to foal now, she's always gone over 340 days, and today is day 354 for her. I'm not surprised that she's waiting, but it appears she'll go longer this year than she has in the past. The rest of ours are due in March.
So, am I the only one WAITING for mares to cycle and WAITING for mares to foal???
Mares Under Lights
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Mares Under Lights
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"Don't be a boorish buffoon" -Hokies Respect 'Jerk Alert'
Oh heavens no... my mare due Jan 25th is still hangin' on to the foal... day 368 since she was covered Feb 19th last year. My Jan 6th mare was On-The-Dot. Re cycling, I have two coming in heat now. Will breed at least one this afternoon... but others are sluggish.
So Run for the Roses, as fast as you can.....
We have three open/maiden mares to breed this year. All have been under lights and they've all been cycling since mid-January. We bred one last Sunday, have another booked for this Saturday and the third is due in season next week.
However--when we were at the breeding shed last weekend, all the other mares owners were standing around talking about how late their in-foals mares were going this year. Two to three weeks late wasn't at all unusual. They were blaming it on the Feb. cold snap.
Our only in-foal mare isn't due until May, so I hope she doesn't go late.
edited to add: the mares in question are living in Midway, KY.
However--when we were at the breeding shed last weekend, all the other mares owners were standing around talking about how late their in-foals mares were going this year. Two to three weeks late wasn't at all unusual. They were blaming it on the Feb. cold snap.
Our only in-foal mare isn't due until May, so I hope she doesn't go late.
edited to add: the mares in question are living in Midway, KY.
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Karie
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Roguelet- we are in the same exact boat you are in.. 4 open mares under lights and not showing anything.. the 2 inthe barn that are in foal aren't due until april and may so I am not sure about them..
I think this latest cold spell really screwed things up with the mares!!
I am in Michigan and its been COLD (except today it was nice!)
I think this latest cold spell really screwed things up with the mares!!
I am in Michigan and its been COLD (except today it was nice!)
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Intrinsic Worth
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Karie
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the mares in my barn are teased almost every day... they also get RICH alfalfa hay and a 14% pelleted feed (Patriot)..
I need to "Jump Start" one of the mares that shipped in from Texas.. I gotta get her bred and out of here.. not much space and she has to be turned out alone. I was told to put her on regumate for 3 or 5 days (cant remember which) and hit her with a shot to bring her in and then I can breed.. I have never been told this before.. Does it work or am I way off?
I need to "Jump Start" one of the mares that shipped in from Texas.. I gotta get her bred and out of here.. not much space and she has to be turned out alone. I was told to put her on regumate for 3 or 5 days (cant remember which) and hit her with a shot to bring her in and then I can breed.. I have never been told this before.. Does it work or am I way off?
Mares under Lights
I may be wrong but my understanding is that it is purely a light thing( being able to read a newspaper anywhere in the stall) and that temperature has no effect.
The protocol I was taught was to put them on Regumate on Feb 1st and then PD them at the end of the course and most UK breeders I know do this.
Both under lights mares have now been covered although it has been the coldest winter for many many years .
Is this the standard USA procedure?
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The protocol I was taught was to put them on Regumate on Feb 1st and then PD them at the end of the course and most UK breeders I know do this.
Both under lights mares have now been covered although it has been the coldest winter for many many years .
Is this the standard USA procedure?
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Mercedes-Benz W219 specifications
Last edited by Galejade on Thu Feb 03, 2011 12:39 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Intrinsic Worth
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Typically we had mares on regumate when they had multiple small follicles. We put them on a 10 day course of regumate and started teasing them immediately afterwards and they usually have a strong heat cycle and a good follicle to breed on. As for the usefullness of making them cycle when they haven't been, I haven't seen it been done before.
Funny thing is that I'm in Michigan too and there's a barn full of in season mares where I board (none being bred.)
Funny thing is that I'm in Michigan too and there's a barn full of in season mares where I board (none being bred.)
All men are equal on the turf - or under it.
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I know Teri and Wolfgang well. Let's just say I wouldn't keep a horse in their care, especially not with Wolfgang around. When they first bought Schon Tier, he thought fans were a horrible thing outside a horse stall and horses could live on 1 flake of hay a day.
All men are equal on the turf - or under it.
I start my mares under lights November 1. They are always cycling well by the end of January. Usually the mares start to shed out about one month prior to cycling well. (I mean normal heat cycles with an ovulation. Not just transitional.)
The only reason the lights wouldn't work is if they are not bright enough. That is very important. Otherwise you are wasting your time. It has nothing to do with nutrition or teasing.
Regumate will only work if the mare has one follicle which is at least 2 cm. 10 days of Regumate. Check 3 days later.
The only reason the lights wouldn't work is if they are not bright enough. That is very important. Otherwise you are wasting your time. It has nothing to do with nutrition or teasing.
Regumate will only work if the mare has one follicle which is at least 2 cm. 10 days of Regumate. Check 3 days later.
LSB wrote:Just found out today that my riding horse is cycling. No lights, no special food, no hormones. Just a TB mare who isn't going to be bred, trying to drive me crazy.
I think Bell is or has recently, too, based on my gelding's behavior. Haven't paid too close attention... but isn't it always the way!?
I could smell the "thaw" smell tonight, when I left work... I think we're heading into an early spring (crossing fingers!)...
So is it just lighting that triggers it, or the sense that spring is coming, too? If extra daylight is the trigger, wouldn't every mare start cycling at the same time every year as the daylight increase is always a constant?
Seems to me that it has to be a little of both...?