My maiden mare is 8 and has been caslicked since she was 2… Most of the breeders I’ve spoken to said a swab would not be necessary, but one of the breeders I enquired to said she needed to be swabbed.
I’m just wondering what the reason is? I know why they are swabbed when they’re regular Broodies etc
[QUOTE=Vic_007;6974711]
My maiden mare is 8 and has been caslicked since she was 2… Most of the breeders I’ve spoken to said a swab would not be necessary, but one of the breeders I enquired to said she needed to be swabbed.
I’m just wondering what the reason is? I know why they are swabbed when they’re regular Broodies etc[/QUOTE]
Why was she caslicked at two as a maiden? I’m not criticizing, just curious–I’m not familiar with doing this. I assume she wasn’t checked then?
Thanks
It common for mares at the track to be caslicked…
Race horse–got it!
We recommend that all mares have a culture prior to breeding, including maiden mares. Maidens can (and do) have infections; it is not all that uncommon.
Maiden mares can have infections. In the TB industry, it’s standard procedure to do a culture on any open mare preparing for breeding. Cultures are not required for a mare who foaled; unless she comes up empty twice, a culture is generally needed for her 3rd trip to the shed. Maidens/open mares must have clean culture on 1st trip (& 3rd+ if it gets to that).
With live cover, a clean culture is a bit more important than AI; don’t want to spread anything.
Interesting LOL… well my older mare had a negative swab 2 years ago and I have to repeat that one too apparently.
Most of the breeders i’ve asked (all sport horse oldenburgs etc) have said maidens dont need a swab, but broodmares do. That is why I was wondering about it.
[QUOTE=Vic_007;6975295]
Interesting LOL… well my older mare had a negative swab 2 years ago and I have to repeat that one too apparently.
Most of the breeders i’ve asked (all sport horse oldenburgs etc) have said maidens dont need a swab, but broodmares do. That is why I was wondering about it.[/QUOTE]
My vet agrees with the breeders you talked to, for what it’s worth. I told her I wanted to do it on my maiden and she thought I was just looking for reasons to spend money. But I understand where those who do them are coming from too (I posted a thread on this awhile back and got lots of answers on the reasons to do it).
I just bred a maiden mare. My vet did a cytology, which was clean, so she didn’t do a culture.
[QUOTE=clint;6976083]
I just bred a maiden mare. My vet did a cytology, which was clean, so she didn’t do a culture.[/QUOTE]
Remind me, how long do the results take on a cytology? Is that an immediate thing? They have to be in heat, right? It’s been a few years and I just can’t remember.
[QUOTE=TrotTrotPumpkn;6976101]
Remind me, how long do the results take on a cytology? Is that an immediate thing? They have to be in heat, right? It’s been a few years and I just can’t remember.[/QUOTE]
The cytology was immediate, as this vet has a lab. Yes, the mare was coming into heat, had some clear fluid, so it was checked.
[QUOTE=TrotTrotPumpkn;6976020]
My vet agrees with the breeders you talked to, for what it’s worth. I told her I wanted to do it on my maiden and she thought I was just looking for reasons to spend money. But I understand where those who do them are coming from too (I posted a thread on this awhile back and got lots of answers on the reasons to do it).[/QUOTE]
When I started breeding, I was assured by most breeders and vets that maidens did not need a c&c. I learned the hard way that maidens can be infected and that doing a c&c in conjunction with a general repro exam before breeding a maiden is cheap insurance against wasting money on expensive semen and vet bills that result from unsuccessful breedings.
For this maiden I had a general repro exam as well. I spent a lot of money a few years ago on a mare I tried to breed who never could carry a foal.
[QUOTE=Home Again Farm;6976299]
I learned the hard way that maidens can be infected and that doing a c&c in conjunction with a general repro exam before breeding a maiden is cheap insurance against wasting money on expensive semen and vet bills that result from unsuccessful breedings.[/QUOTE]
^^^^ This
I had a homebred filly who was caslicked as I caslicked all my fillies when they come in to the track have an infection so bad at a later point in time while still on the track that she needed to be flushed. My vet was not amused!
It’s in my contract that they have to be C&C’d, but I tell the MOs it’s really up to them if they want to risk it. I have had maidens with infections and if there is something going on, the MO is literally flushing money down the drain to inseminate…she’s not going to settle until the uterus is clean. Sometimes, I tell them to try one cycle. If she doesn’t catch, then culture before trying again.
FWIW I’m actually going to do a cytology, by the way, on my maiden. Even though the vet will think I’m flushing money away. I’m sure when I do it she will be clean because I did. 
ok well thanks guys
I was going to breed my older mare a couple years ago and had my old vet out, asked for the exam and swab. She convinced me not to get the swab… I ended up having to have her back out because the stallion owner I chose required it. So my breeding exam fees doubled by basically having her come out twice. I was not impressed LOL
I have a new vet now though who is supposed to be “the one” in our area for breeding.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
