Reproductive services
Our experienced reproductive vets can advise and guide you through any breeding queries you have.
Our team
Our dedicated team of equine fertility experts brings together over 50 years of collective fertility experience, and we provide a truly bespoke approach and superior care for horses and tailored support for clients.
Our reproduction team is led by equine reproductive and stud medicine expert Brian Reed BVMS CertEP MRCVS, and supported by surgical and medical specialists from our referral team. Brian works in all areas of equine practice, but has a long-standing interest in equine reproduction and holds a certificate in advanced veterinary practice.
We also boast the support of our full service laboratory onsite, enabling speedy and accurate reporting. Get in touch to learn more.
Learn more about our reproductive services
Our vast experience is used to advise clients on the most appropriate method to achieve optimal pregnancy rates. We offer competitive AI veterinary schemes, as well as work that can be done on a “pay as you go” basis.
In addition to our comprehensive chilled or frozen artificial insemination and foaling schemes, we offer numerous breeding related services to you at your premises to minimise the time your mare is away from home comforts for breeding or foaling.
We also have good working relationships with many studs across the UK and Europe, which helps contribute towards high pregnancy rates.
Managing Mares for Insemination/Breeding
Our vets are experienced at “setting up” and “walking in” mares to be bred at distant studs.
We can discuss the best approaches for clients and referring vets on a case by case basis, ensuring continuity of care and management.
Breeding at Home
We offer a mobile breeding service for chilled semen or natural cover.
Our vets may be able to perform the whole process of cycle monitoring to insemination at your premises, so please feel free to discuss your case with one of our breeding team. Our vets’ decisions will be final if they feel that the facilities that you have available are not suitable or safe for this service to be offered.
(dependent on location and available facilities)
Foetal Gender Determination
This technique is best employed at around 55 to 65 days of pregnancy.
Otherwise known as “foetal sexing”, this technique is available to clients wishing to make commercial decisions for sales animals or just wanting to know what their mare is carrying.
The mare is examined ultrasonographically and the pregnancy is assessed for gender.
Examination of Newborn Foals and Newly Foaled Mares
Our team will be delighted to come and check over your mare and new arrival.
We would routinely check for any abnormalities, administer tetanus prophylaxis, examine the placenta, take a blood sample from the foal to measure the antibody (IgG) level and answer any questions you may have.
We can also perform insurance examinations, identity certificates, implant a microchip in the foal and offer advice on mare and foal feeding, foal foot care, worming and vaccinations.
Mare Infertility Investigations
Mares that have failed to conceive a pregnancy may require thorough evaluation.
We can investigate the causes of poor fertility, and every case will be first subjected to a thorough historical and gynaecological examination before a plan is formulated.
Examples of techniques used to investigate/treat infertility include:
- Vulvar conformation assessment and correctional surgery.
- Endometrial cytological examination.
- Endometrial biopsy, uterine endoscopy (hysteroscopy).
- Laser or electrical ablation of endometrial cysts.
- Intra-uterine lavage/therapies.
Twin Reduction/Management
We examine mares carrying a twin pregnancy and attempt reduction of one conceptus leaving the other to grow on.
This can be particularly difficult for pregnancies in the same uterine horn or for pregnancies that are at an advanced stage.
If you have a mare carrying twins, please contact one of our breeding vets to discuss the available options.
Routine Pre-breeding Health Testing and Examinations
Most breeding centres require that your mare has a negative test result for EIA, EVA and CEM for the current breeding season
This is achieved by taking blood samples and a swab from your mare prior to the commencement of breeding.
It is also a good idea to have your mare reproductively examined to establish that there are no pre-existing problems which may affect the chances of obtaining a pregnancy. This can be done at home in most cases.
Embryo Transfer Service
An increasingly common procedure for competition mares who are unable to carry their own pregnancy due to health reasons or competition commitments.
The donor mare is inseminated with chilled or frozen semen as usual and then the embryo is flushed from the mare’s uterus on or around day seven after ovulation.
This embryo is then processed and non-surgically transferred into a recipient mare’s uterus (whose cycle has been synchronised with that of the donor mare) to be carried until full term.
Clients may wish to use a recipient mare of their own or utilise the recipient mare service from an external facility.
Please feel free to discuss your requirements with a member of our team.