Experiences Shipping Pregnant Mares Cross Country?

[Montanas_Girl]

I’ve recently decided that I love my 2018 filly so much that I should purchase her dam, who will be bred back for a full sibling to my filly in 2020 before she ships to me (~1700 miles). The mare has shipped cross country once before in her life, as a yearling, and has been shown lightly, so she isn’t a completely novice traveler. Now, hopefully she’ll start cycling early-ish in the year and thus be able to ship relatively early, but, if she doesn’t, then I could be looking at a summer travel date (all four of her foals have been born in April, so I’m not holding my breath on her breaking her pattern and cycling early this go 'round). The possibility of high temperatures during the time of year she’ll be shipping make me a bit nervous.

Have any of you ever shipped a mare cross country after she was confirmed in foal? If so, how far along was she, and did you do anything “extra” for her? The head therio at our vet school here recommends waiting until after a 60 day ultrasound and possibly putting her on Regumate for the trip. Any thoughts?

[iJump]

I was going to ship a pregnant mare across the country and my vet suggested waiting until she was in her third trimester.

I never did end up moving her, but I probably would have shipped in a box stall.

[Huntin_Pony]

Unless she’s a thoroughbred, I’d ship the mare now and the semen later.

[Montanas_Girl]

@Huntin' Pony

Unless she’s a thoroughbred, I’d ship the mare now and the semen later.

Not a Thoroughbred, but the stallion has never been collected/shipped and is a bit older (i.e. I don’t want to be the guinea pig on finding out his semen doesn’t cool/ship well), so that’s not an option.

[EventerAJ]

When we shipped TB mares from KY to PA, we waited until they were at least 45 days in foal. Gave 10ccs of Regumate the day before, the day of, and 7 days after hauling. Mares were typically tubed/oiled the day before travel as well, just to guard against colic (they weren’t frequent travelers, just once or twice a year journey). Hauled commercially on big rigs, usually a box stall.

[Montanas_Girl]

Thanks, @EventerAJ! That seems to mesh with my vet’s advice; it’s nice to have the reassurance.

[va2txrider]

I shipped a TB mare in September (hot) from Texas to Virginia when she was 6 months in foal. She had a box stall. She was a nervous shipper and sweated till she was foaming/dripping the first hour, then settled down the rest of the trip. She did just fine. They always drop some weight on long trips like that, and are tired for about a week, but she did not lose the foal or colic.

[Montanas_Girl]

Thank you, @va2txrider!

[Daventry]

We are in Alberta, Canada (directly above Montana) and have shipped several pregnant mares from Florida, and other locations on the east coast, with no problem. In each case, we waited the veterinary recommended 60 days in foal and ultrasounded before shipping.

[allanglos]

I shipped a TB mare from WA to FL. She was 3 months in foal, and lost it.

[Montanas_Girl]

Thanks, @Daventry; it sounds like the 60 day mark is the most common recommendation. Very sorry to hear about your mare, @allanglos.

[Hillside_H_Ranch]

I shipped a mare from Oregon to Missouri several months ago, when she was about 4 1/2 months in foal. She had a box stall, but we didn’t do anything “special” for her. I prefer shipping in the 4-6 month in foal stage; that’s also a common stage of pregnancy to import mares in foal, as well.

[Edgar]

What HILLSIDE said. I have shipped several at several stages and prefer 3-6 months along but have shipped at 30 days and never a problem and no regumate. Always in a box ans as direct as possible. I worry more about contamination than the trip. We usually give a week or so of Immunall prior to shipping to strengthen the immune system and help to endure the stress. www.immunallusa.com in case you wonder.