Broodmare Evaluation and Record Charts

The following charts are useful in recording data for each of your mares in production. Click on the links below for viewing and printing.

Broodmare Record of Produce

Broodmare Conformation and Breeding Evaluation Chart

Foaling Date Calculation

The foaling charts on this page are based on an average 342 days gestational length.  However,  gestation length is variable in the horse and can be effected by many factors with 320 to 360 days falling within a "normal" range.  There are seasonal effects with mares due to foal in late winter and early spring carrying their foals approximately 5 to 10 days longer than mares foaling late spring or summer. Exposure of pregnant mares to artificial lighting regimens can reduce gestation by an average of ten days. Other factors that may influence gestational length include sex of the foal, maternal nutrition, ingested toxins and environmental stresses.

 

Check your mares Foaling date with these 
 Foal Date Calculators

Calculate approximate due date Calculate Number of days in foal

Enter last date mare was bred:
Number of days last pregnancy:
 

Estimated foaling date:

Enter last date mare was bred:
Enter today's date:

Estimated Number of daysin foal
 

Foaling Date Calculator
 Mare Care Chart
Name of Mare:
Last breeding Date:
/ / 

 

  Activity Due Date Actual Date  

Estimated Due Date

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Ultrasound at two weeks
/ / 
  

Palpation at nine weeks

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Rhinopneumonitis -  at 5 months

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Rhinopneumonitis -  at 7 months

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Palpation at eight months

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Rhinopneumonitis -  at 9 months

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Update All Vaccines

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Recommended Items For a Foaling Kit

 

Vet phone numbers

Clean towels

Betadine

Nolvasan

Sterile scissors

Long sleeve vet gloves

Vet wrap

Duct tape

KY jelly or other vet lube

No-Doz

Oxytocin

Banamine

Digital thermometer

Dac CMZ or other foal pro-biotic

Foal milk replacer

Plain syringes- 60cc

Needles and syringes for the Oxy and Banamine

Clean soda bottle

Goat nipples

Plastic measuring cup (for collection of colostrum from mare)

Colostrum frozen from a previous foaling (keep frozen)

Flashlight

Dental floss

Turkey baster (for suctioning airway)
Plastic bag

Two soft dog leashes
Twitch
Foal blanket

 

Foal Facts

Heart Rates: 
Normal: 60 to 110 Beats/Minute (BPM)

 

Respiration Rates:
At 1 Hour Post Foaling: 70-90 Breathes/Minute (BPM)

At 1 Week of Age: 25-60 Breathes/Minute (BPM)

 

Rectal Temperature:
At 1 Hour Post Foaling: 100 degrees F- 102.5 degrees F

 

Recipe for Emergency Milk Replacer for Foals

Submitted by Dr. R. Smithson, DVM

 

1 can goats milk

1 can water

2 tablespoons honey

8oz. vanilla or plain yogurt

1/2 cup dry milk

3 tablespoons buttermilk 

 

Dr. Smithson reports no resulting scours from this mixture. He also suggests as an emergency "bottle" an empty disposable enema container.

 

Breeding Tips

 

To quickly calculate the foaling date of your mare on a normal 340 day gestation, take the mares last breeding date, add five days and then subtract 30 days.

 

Make sure your booster shots are given 45 days prior to the date the mare is due to foal. This should include a 4-way that will maximize the titer to give your foal's immune system a huge jump start!

 

Bring your mares into the barn at night at least 25 days before their due date. If a mare foals prior to 25 days, it is unlikely the foal will survive without huge medical consequences and expense. 

 

A broodmare will relax the following parts of her body just prior to foaling:

1) Muscles and ligaments along her rump

2) Her vulva will lengthen

3) Her teats will fill 

 

Record your mare's daily changes as she progresses towards her foaling due date. This information will help you predict future foaling patterns.

 

Placing mares under artificial light 60-90 days before the start of your projected first breeding will induce your mare to cycle much earlier. The artificial light should be equivalent to thirty candle power strength at eye level throughout the entire stall.

~~~

Normal Equine Vital Signs

Heart Rate:

32-44 beats/minute

Respiratory Rate:

12-20 breaths/minute

Temperature:

99.5-101.5 degrees

Mucous Membrane Color:

Pink

CRT (Capillary Refill Time - pressing finger on gum above the front teeth and seeing how long it takes for the color to return):

Less than 2 seconds

Skin Turgor (Skin elasticity - pinching skin and seeing how long it takes to return to normal):

Less than 1 second

Hoof Temperature:

Luke warm

 

Simplified Color Genetics Tables
Calculate Your Color Crosses

Color Genetics Symbols

Genetic Formulas and Color Definitions
Genetic Formula Color
W White
G Gray
E, A, CC, dd, gg, ww, toto Bay
E, aa, CC, dd, gg, ww, toto Black
ee, aa, CC, dd, gg, ww, toto Red
E, A, CCcr, dd, gg, ww, toto Buckskin
ee, CCcr, dd, gg, ww, toto Palomino
CcrCcr Cremello
E, A, CC, D, gg, ww, toto Dun
E, aa, CC, D, gg, ww, toto Grullo
ee, CC, D, gg, ww, toto Red dun
E, A, CC, dd, gg, ww, TO Bay tobiano
ee, CC, D, gg, ww, TO Red dun tobiano

 

Alleles and Actions of Horse Coat Color Genes
Gene Alleles Observed Effect of Alleles in Homozygous and Heterozygous Condition
W W

w

 WW: Lethal

Ww: Horse typically lacks pigment in skin, hair and eyes and appears to be white.

ww: Horse is fully pigmented.
G G

g

 GG: Horse shows progressive silvering with age to white or flea-bitten, but is born any non-gray color. Pigment is always present in skin and eyes at all stages of silvering.

Gg: Same as GG.

gg: Horse does not show progressive silvering with age.
E E

e

 EE: Horse has ability to form black pigment in skin and hair. Black pigment in hair may be either in a points pattern or distributed overall.

Ee: Same as EE.

ee: Horse has black pigment in skin, but hair pigment will be red.
A A

a

 AA: Black hair (E), restricted to points pattern. A has no effect on red (ee) pigment.

Aa: Same as AA.

aa: Black (E) hair is uniformly distributed over body and points. (A) has no effect on red (ee) pigment.
C C

Ccr

 CC: Horse is fully pigmented.

CCcr: Red pigment is diluted to creme; Bay (agouti) is diluted to creme; black pigment is unaffected.

CcrCcr: Both red and black pigments are diluted to pale creme. Skin and eye color are also diluted.
D D

d

 DD: Horse shows a diluted body color to pinkish-red, yellow-red, yellow or mouse gray and has dark points including dorsal stripe, shoulder stripe and leg barring.

Dd: Same as DD.

dd: Horse has undiluted coat color.
TO TO

to

 TOTO: Horse is characterized by white spotting pattern known ads tobiano. Legs are usually white

Toto: Same as TOTO

toto: No tobiano pattern present.

 

Simplified Color Cross Results- Base Colors

 
Parent Colors
Foal Results
Black x Black
Black
Chestnut
Bay
Bay x Bay
Black
Chestnut
Bay  
Chestnut x Chestnut
Chestnut
   
Black x Bay
Black
Chestnut
Bay  
Black x Chestnut
Black
Chestnut
Bay
Bay x Chestnut
Black
Chestnut
Bay  

Base x Creme

 
Parent Colors
Foal Results
Black x Palomino
Black
Chestnut
Bay
Smoky Black
Palomino
Buckskin
Black x Buckskin
Black
Chestnut
Bay
Smoky Black
Palomino
Buckskin
Black x Smoky Black
Black
Chestnut
Bay
Smoky Black
Palomino
Buckskin
Bay x Palomino
Black
Chestnut
Bay
Smoky Black
Palomino
Buckskin
Bay x Buckskin
Black
Chestnut
Bay
Smoky Black
Palomino
Buckskin
Bay x Smoky Black
Black
Chestnut
Bay
Smoky Black
Palomino
Buckskin
Chestnut x Palomino
Chestnut
  
  
Palomino
Chestnut x Buckskin
Black
Chestnut
Bay
Smoky Black
Palomino
Buckskin
Chestnut x Smoky Black
Black
Chestnut
Bay
Smoky Black
Palomino
Buckskin

Base x Double Creme

 
Parent Colors
Foal Results
Black x Cremello
Smoky Black
Palomino
Buckskin
Black x Perlino
Smoky Black
Palomino
Buckskin
Black x Smoky Cream
Smoky Black
Palomino
Buckskin
Bay x Cremello
Smoky Black
Palomino
Buckskin
Bay x Perlino
Smoky Black
Palomino
Buckskin
Bay x Smoky Cream
Smoky Black
Palomino
Buckskin
Chestnut x Cremello
Palomino
  
  
Chestnut x Perlino
Smoky Black
Palomino
Buckskin
Chestnut x Smoky Black
Smoky Black
Palomino
Buckskin

 
Dun Cross Results
 
Base x Dun
 
Parent Colors
Foal Results
Black x Black Dun
Black
Chestnut
Bay
Grullo
Red Dun
Bay Dun
Black x Bay Dun
Black
Chestnut
Bay
Grullo
Red Dun
Bay Dun
Black x Chestnut Dun
Black
Chestnut
Bay
Grullo
Red Dun
Bay Dun
Bay x Bay Dun
Black
Chestnut
Bay
Grullo
Red Dun
Bay Dun
Bay x Red Dun
Black
Chestnut
Bay
Grullo
Red Dun
Bay Dun
Chestnut x Red Dun
Chestnut
  
  
Red Dun

Dun x Dun

Parent Colors
Foal Results
Grullo x Grullo (Black Dun)
Black
Chestnut
Bay
Grullo
Red Dun
Bay Dun
Grullo x Bay Dun
Black
Chestnut
Bay
Grullo
Red Dun
Bay Dun
Grullo x Chestnut Dun
Black
Chestnut
Bay
Grullo
Red Dun
Bay Dun
Bay Dun x Bay Dun
Black
Chestnut
Bay
Grullo
Red Dun
Bay Dun
Bay Dun x Redt Dun
Black
Chestnut
Bay
Grullo
Red Dun
Bay Dun
Red Dun x Red Dun
Chestnut
  
  
Red Dun


Recommended Vaccination Schedule
(Always consult with your own veterinarian)

*Please note: At Sawyer Creek we do vaccinate all our stock for the West Nile Virus. You will not find it on this schedule however, and it is highly recommended that this vaccine, as well as all others, be done at the advice of your own personal veterinarian.

Disease

Signs

 Spread

Foals

Yearlings

Competition Horses

Pleasure Horses

Breeding Stock Notes
Tetanus Toxoid Difficulty eating or walking. Overreaction to noise, stiffness, elevation of 3rd eyelid Not contagious: caused by puncture or wound infection 1st dose- 3-4 months of age

2nd dose- 4-5 months

 Annually Annually Annually Anually-4-6 weeks prior to foaling or breeding Administered IM

Booster at time of penetrating injury or surgery if last vaccination was not within 6 months.

 
Encephalomyelitis EEE, WEE, VEE Often fatal: fever, staggering, circling, head pressing, depression and sleeplessness Not contagious, spread by mosquitoes 1st dose 3-4 months of age

2nd dose at 4-5 months

 Annually Annually Annually Anually-4-6 weeks prior to foaling or breeding Administered IM

Booster at 6 months in endemic areas

Greatest incidence of the disease occurs in late summer & early fall. Optimum time to administer is April, May and June.
Influenza Rarely fatal, cough, loss of appetite, fever, depression, muscle soreness, discharge from nose and eyes Very contagious, keep affected animals isolated 1st dose- 6 months of age

2nd dose- seven months of age

3rd dose- 8 months of age

Booster every 3 months

 Every 3 months Every 3 months Annually with a booster prior to likely exposure- shows, parades, etc. Every three months At least twice a year with one booster 4-6 weeks prior to foaling Administered IM

A series of at least 3 doses is recommended for primary immunization of foals
Rhinopneumonitis EHV-1, EHV-4 (Equine Herpes Virus or rhino) Respiratory distress, nasal discharge, cough, fever, causes abortion in pregnant mares Very contagious, keep affected animals isolated 1st dose- 6 months of age

2nd dose- 7 months of age

3rd dose-8 months of age

 Every 3 months Every 3 months Annually with a booster prior to likely exposure 5th, 7th, 9th month of gestation. Vaccinate before breeding and 4-6 weeks prior to foaling Administered IM

If primary dose is started prior to 3 months of age, a 3 dose primary series is recommended

In areas of known infection, an additional booster vaccine should be given 2-3 months after conception.

Rabies 1st dose- 3-4 months of age Annually Annually Annually Annually Administered IM
Strangles Fever, swollen jaw glands, loss of appetite, cough, nasal discharge, can cause abortion in pregnant mares Very contagious, keep affected animals isolated 1st dose- 3 months of age

2nd dose- 4 months of age

 Annually Annually Annually Annually- 4 to 6 weeks prior to foaling Administered IM

If disease incidence is high & anticipated administer 2 injections 2-3 weeks apart in early fall. Immunity will last 5-6 months so reinoculate in the spring if your mare is at risk from the disease

Daily exercise helps to minimize injection reactions
Potomac Horse Fever ( PHF) Lethargy, anorexia, fever, colic, laminitis, colitis & diarrhea Spread during insect season. 1st dose- 3 months of age

2nd dose- 4 months of age

 Annually Annually Annually Annually- 4 to 6 weeks prior to foaling Administered IM

Where disease incidence is high, vaccinate before the start of insect season

Recommended Deworming Schedule

(Always consult with your own veterinarian)

Time of Year

Winter

(deep freeze)

 Spring

(past thaw)

Summer

(grazing season)

Fall

(first freeze)

Treatment

General parasite control plus all stages of encysted small strongyles

General parasite control plus bots and tapeworms

 General parasite control General parasite control

Chemical Compound

 Fenbendazole Ivermectin, Moxidectin, or Pyrantel Pamoate Fenbendazole Ivermectin, Moxidectin, or Pyrantel Pamoate

Examples of Product Brands

 Safe-guard

Power-dose

(see below)

 Ivercare, Quest, Quest Plus, Zimectrin, Zimectrin Gold, Rotation 1, Equell, Equimax, Strongid, Rotation 2 Safe-guard Ivercare, Quest, Quest Plus, Zimectrin, Zimectrin Gold, Rotation 1, Equell, Equimax, Strongid, Rotation 2
Special Instructions Administer two 25 gram syringes per 1100 pds/day for 5 consecutive days Zimectrin, Ivercare, Quest, Rotation 1 and Equell users should consult a vet for tapeworm treatment Consult your vet for foal worming reccomendations

 

 Quest and Quest Plus should only be used on horses 6 months of age and older

 

 Recommendations for Shipped Semen and Broodmare Owners


Mare owners that want to use Shipped Semen need to be planning and preparing their mares early. Give your vet a heads up before you start the breeding season so your vet can get you on his schedule. Listed here are tips to help the mare owner gear up for a successful breeding season.

PLAN AHEAD
A good working relationship with your vet and the stallion manager will help speed the process along. Your vet will want to know what days the stallion farm ships semen so he can manage your mare's ovulation to coincide with those shipping dates. Your vet will want to know what kind of time frame you are working toward and also the breeding season dates of the stallion.

OPEN MARES
If your mare is open, a breeding soundness examination would be a good first step in readying your mare for breeding. If you wait until the vet arrives to check her prior to that first breeding and find she does have reproductive problems, you will lose valuable time getting her healthy and postpone your breeding by weeks. If you want to breed your open mare early in the year, February for instance, the mare needs to be put under artificial lighting at least 60 days prior to your target date.

SHIPPING TIPS
Most semen is shipped overnight using a ground delivery service. When you use overnight ground services, make sure you write down the tracking number so you can track the shipment immediately if the shipment doesn't arrive on time. Be there when it arrives.

COUNTER TO COUNTER
However, there are times when semen will need to be shipped via the airlines in order to meet the mare's ovulation schedule. Mare owners need to plan ahead and know the routine of picking up their package at the airport. Since 911, airline regulations have tightened. You will need a photo ID to pick up a package at the airport. Make sure the package is addressed to your farm name, not an individual name. This way, anyone from your farm can pick up the package. Contact your airport for procedures on picking up your package beforehand.

WAITING FOR YOUR VET
When waiting for your vet to arrive to inseminate your mare with the shipped semen, keep the container in a cool place and do not open the container until the vet arrives.

 

"Lone Ranger"

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