I want to send my mare to Stud – how do I need to prepare her?

  • Ensure your mare is in good condition, not overweight or underweight
  • If she is shod, remove shoes and have her feet trimmed – providing Stud with any specific farrier instructions
  • Provide Stud with full contact details, and details of your vet
  • If possible, provide Stud with details of her season
  • Clitoral swab for CEM, Blood Test for EVA. Ensure the Stallion is CEM certified as well
  • Ensure that the Stud Book you plan to register your foal with recognises AI?

What time of year should I consider breeding my mare?

  • We suggest looking at putting your mare into foal between March and August

What is the breeding cycle?

  • Lasts 21 days and four components; oestrus 5-7 days when the mare is in season, Ovulation (release of the egg from the ovary), a further 24hrs of receptivity to semen, Dioestrums -14-16 days when she is no longer in season.
  • The ideal time during the cycle to bring a mare to stud is 5 days prior to expected season, to allow observation of follicular development.

Why Artificial Insemination (AI)?

  • We believe AI is safer for both stallion and mare
  • Less risk of disease and transference
  • Increased conception rates, especially with fresh and chilled semen
  • More beneficial for stallions who are also competing

Which Stallion?

Factors for consideration include:

  • Location of Stallion and type of semen available
  • Stallion – Proven blood lines, age, breed, size, conformation, colour, temperament.  We recommend that, where possible, you visit the Stud prior to booking your mare, to get a real impression of the horse.  Alternatively, as the Stud for detailed information and pictures and/or DVD footage
  • Mare – what sort of foal do you want to breed, consider your mare’s age, temperament and any previous breeding history

Fresh/Frozen/Chilled Semen – which one and why?

  • Frozen – generally better for young, fit, fertile mares – success rate improving with deep uterine insemination which Braeface provide
  • Fresh – can only be used when mare and stallion are at the same location so mare can be inseminated immediately
  • Chilled – ideal for shipping within a 12-14 hour distance with collection taking place one day and insemination the next

AI process

  • ONLY a Vet can legally carry out rectal examinations and ultrasound scanning to determine optimum time for insemination which is mandatory at Braeface.
  • A vet or AI technician can perform insemination of semen – Braeface have two DEFRA qualified AI technicians on site.
  • Hormonal manipulation of oestrus cycle often necessary

When can I collect my mare after foaling?

Usually, a week after foaling, the mare and foal are ready to return home.  Alternatively, if you wish to breed again with the mare, she can remain at Stud and be covered again during her foal heat which is usually 10 days past foaling.

Semen fee

Braeface operate a no foal free return policy

How much does it cost?

Factors for consideration include:

  • Keeping mare whilst pregnant for 11 months
  • Stallion fee
  • Stud livery whilst being scanned, inseminated and foaling
  • Transport
  • Vet’s fees

Please contact Claire Campbell on 01505 850006 with any further questions.