Welcome to our new Webpage

“When Spring comes around again every year, it always reminds me of what we worked so hard for last year. I like mares, and I like seeing what they produce. You can’t watch a great race finish or a great camp horse or a great showjumper and not think that somehow, right back in the beginning you played a small part in making it all possible. That’s what gives you the buzz. That’s what makes you wait for the spring to come around again every year… for the whole, wonderful thing to be repeated.”

—Dr David Pascoe

It is that time of year that we all look forward to when temperatures rise and the daily sight of newborn foals reminds us of renewal and the circle of life. In the breeding season, preparation is always the key to a smoother season. This year sees the whole of South East Queensland struggling with a severe drought.

At OVH Repro, Dr Pascoe says that this situation should not be a cause for concern to breeders as, “drought conditions actually produce more consistent results if a balanced diet is fed. Statistics have shown that the reproductive performance of mares is actually better than in a routine rainy season, as there is no variation in feed levels and there is a fairly constant ground temperature”.

“If horses are fed better then they breed better,” smiles Dr. Pascoe. “When everything is controlled and there are no fluctuations such as in a drought situation, it has been known to produce a 10% higher pregnancy rate.” Dr. Pascoe is very quick to point out that the most important criteria for a successful breeding season is balanced nutrition. “It is up to the horse owner to be aware of what their individual horses need,” he continues. “Feed companies can only advise what to feed but it is ultimately up to the mare owner to monitor how well the horse is doing on that particular feed”.

It is also important to realise that even though horses might look fat – with shiny coats and “licked-out” feed bins – they still might not be getting the correct balance of nutrients. Dr. Pascoe compares it to a wooden wine cask. “If it takes 20 pieces of wood to make up the barrel but one piece is too short, you are never going to be able to completely fill that barrel”, he says. “In the same way, you can keep feeding your horse but if the diet is unbalanced or deficient in something, then the horse is never going to perform or reproduce to its optimum potential because something is missing to make a complete picture. Instead, the unbalanced diet will be turned into fat or make it difficult for the mare to pass on the necessary nutrients to the unborn or suckling foal”.

“If you want to be sure,” says Dr. Pascoe, “then go and get your feeding programme analysed. A good vet or a nutritionist can do this for you”. He adds that one of the major indicators of an unbalanced diet is the appearance of ring formations on a horse’s hooves.

Dry mares need to be in good condition. “The outdated system of “spring flush” – where dry mares are lightened off during the winter and then flushed with green grass and supplement – has actually been proven in numerous world wide studies to slow down cycling time by 1 to 2 months. The mare may even appear to be in season when she is teased by the stallion but she will not get in foal or hold a pregnancy because her body is simply not ready. “Dry mares perform best when they arrive at the stud in good condition,” is Dr. Pascoe’s advice.

With pregnant mares, it is really only in the last trimester when the foal grows very fast that feed supplements need to increase from 1kg to approximately 2 kgs. As soon as the mare foals down, feed should increase to 2.5kgs. The most critical factor is the mineral, vitamin and amino acid balance necessary for the strong bone development of the foal. If the mare’s diet is not balanced, her reproductive cycle can shut down as she is putting everything into the foal, which can be a disaster for the breeder. And then once the mare foals down, “the chances of the mare on a balanced diet getting in foal again improve by as much as 10% to 15% but deficiencies in diet could mean that a mare might have to go two cycles instead of one before she gets pregnant”, continues Dr. Pascoe.

There are, of course, so many misconceptions about how to feed a balanced diet. A paddock which has knee high grass does not necessarily mean that a mare is getting enough nutrients. Green grass is actually 70% water. Research has shown that pregnancy rates follow rain cycles and, unless there are supplements in wet periods, then breeding problems can occur.

Whether you are breeding sports horses or thoroughbreds, OVH Repro is always available to give breeders sound advice. “I don’t ever consider myself to be simply the vet,” says Dr. David Pascoe. “I consider myself to be part of the management team. That’s when I feel I am doing my job to my best ability and in that way we can get the best results for everybody”.