Page 933 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

Blood test for equine viral arteritis (EVA)

A blood test should also be taken to test the mare for EVA prior to breeding and the stallion
VetBooks.ir should be confirmed as clear before the mare visits him. It takes some time for the results of

both the CEM swabs and the EVA blood tests to be confirmed and so it is advisable to have
them taken at least 10 days before the mare goes to stud.

NATURAL COVERING

Once all of the pre-breeding checks have been carried out, then provided no problems have
been detected, the mare is ready to be mated or ‘covered’. Regular veterinary examinations

may be performed to ensure this is done at the optimum time. Mating may take place:
• with the mares running free in a paddock with the stallion, or

• by supervised breeding in-hand.

The former is sometimes used on pony studs where the number of visiting mares is relatively

small. The main advantage is that the reduced amount of supervision considerably reduces
the costs. However, one of the main disadvantages is the increased risk of injury (from kicks
and bites) to the mares or the stallion. The value of many stud animals today is too high to

take any unnecessary risks and so most commercial studs practise breeding in-hand.

Breeding in-hand

LOCATION
The covering procedure involves the stallion being led to the mare that is presented to him

when she is in full oestrus – a separate teaser stallion may be used to establish this. Mating
normally occurs in a specially designated covering area with plenty of space and a non-slip

floor. A rubber floor keeps dust levels to a minimum and can be thoroughly cleaned. The
floor surface may be designed with a step or a slope to assist a stallion that is covering a mare

that is larger or smaller than him.

SAFETY

Safety is an important consideration. Handlers of both the mare and the stallion should wear

hard hats, appropriate protective footwear and gloves and be prepared for the animal to strike
out or bite at any time. Both the stallion and the mare should be bridled and the mare should

wear special covering boots made of felt or leather on her hind feet to reduce the risk of the
stallion being seriously injured if she kicks. Some stallions bite the mare’s neck during