Breeding Horse Hygiene

 When it comes to breeding, clean horses are very important. In particular, the hygiene of your stallion can “make or break” the success of your breeding program. I will cover the basics of female and male hygiene as it pertains to breeding.

Female:

            A major cause of failure to breed in female horses is persistent post-breeding endometriosis (PPBM). This inflammation is caused by the deposition of semen, bacteria and debris into the horse; in normal cases, this is reduced and/or gone by 48 hours after natural cover. In other situations, the female remains inflamed and problems arise (embryonic death, failure to conceive, etc). Minimizing contamination is important…utilizing proper hygiene can help with the prevention of PPBM. Bandaging the mare’s tail, and cleaning the vulva and perineal area with sterile water contribute to proper hygiene. Some studs will clip the top of the tail which may be more hygienic than simply bandaging the tail.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srZhtfLFVFg

Male:

            The most important upkeep of your stallion for breeding purposes, other than making sure he is physically able to mount and ejaculate, is the cleaning of his sheath. In fact, whether the horse is a gelding or a stallion, the sheath should be cleaned periodically. A dirty sheath can lead to infection and urinary problems. Prior to breeding, the penis should be rinsed with clean water (no soap), including the urethral diverticulum. The external genitalia should be cleaned with a bucket, and that bucket cleaned between stallions in a stud, to prevent transfer of possible diseases.

http://www.thehorse.com/videos/30323/sheath-cleaning-for-male-horses-how-to

It's important to have clean, healthy animals before breeding. This can help ensure diseases are not spread between animals or herds, and increases your chances of a health foal!