Uterine biopsy? For 16 year old mare

[4horses]

I’m considering breeding one of my mares. Just wondering if the uterine biopsy is worthwhile? She is my main riding horse and has not be bred by me before. She has had prior foals with a former owner but that would be 5-6 years ago.

My vet charges $195 for the breeding soundness exam, $165 for the biopsy and $550 per cycle (including ultrasounds, any necessary medications, and AI). Do those prices seem reasonable?

I would have to haul her in to the clinic for each exam. Good thing she loads in the trailer like a dream and doesn’t stress about traveling.

One of the stallion owners said they do AI onsite and include it with the stud fee, using their vet. That may end up being a bit cheaper, but then I risk using a vet I don’t know. I wouldn’t need to pay to ship semen either or risk any mistakes in transport. Just have to haul my mare to Ocala (1 hour).

This would be my first time breeding, although I have foal watched many times for others. My only concern with this mare is she is very silent about her cycles and while sometimes I can tell she is in season she usually doesn’t show. My other mare, I can track on a calendar like clockwork. Or rather my gelding would tell me, in case I didn’t notice…

[NancyM]

As with any breeding plans, nothing you do and pay for will guarantee you anything. If you are buying into the whole AI thing, you might as well dump a bit more money into a biopsy, if you want to. A good report won’t mean that the mare will successfully catch and carry, a bad report won’t mean that she won’t, just less chance. Since she has foaled previously, she has a better chance of still being fertile now, better than if she was a maiden. Most people who invest into the AI scene, throw money at it at every chance, in the hopes of success. Sometimes they get success, other times, it’s just expensive.

As you can tell, I’m not a fan of AI at all, and have never participated. I’ve stood several TB stallions at stud, all live cover always, for both race and show mares. Far less veterinary intervention, and far cheaper for everyone with live cover. Higher conception rates too. A good “stallion man (or woman)” can handle the horses safely, and can tell when to do the breeding, by listening to the horses, and teasing. Unless a stallion is breeding multiple mares at once, little need for US scanning prior to breeding with live cover. I know several stallion managers/handlers who I have great respect for, and recommend. It just amazes me that this skill is being replaced by turkey basters and veterinary intervention, and mare owners who pay the bills without question for something that two horses turned out together in a paddock can get done successfully, for free. Good luck!

[Where_sMyWhite]

@NancyM

It just amazes me that this skill is being replaced by turkey basters and veterinary intervention, and mare owners who pay the bills without question for something that two horses turned out together in a paddock can get done successfully, for free.

Which is a valid statement as long as the mare and the stallion are reasonably located near each other. Not as practical if the mare and stallion are thousands of miles away from each other.

TBs tend to be located fairly near each others. Other breeds, maybe not as much.

[SusanO]

Before you pour money down that black hole I would spring for the biopsy. Especially since she is 16. Luckily she is not a maiden and has foaled before so your odds are good. It would be bad to pay for semen and multiple vet fees and find out the chances of carrying a foal to term are very slim. You can make better choices when you have good information.