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Breeding Horses/Questions Answered by Expert Lynne Curtis Gudes

SubjectDate Asked
mare/preg5/28/2012
  Q: we have looked at picks wow what a change, i have asked old owner when she was in heat last she said ...
  A: It sounds like the former owner doesn't know much more about this mare's history than you do. Since ...
Will an injury affect my mare when foaling?5/17/2012
  Q: This is my first time breeding my mare ! She is about 14hh . Shes 11 and had 1 foal when she was ...
  A: I know what you really want to here is "no problem", however, without know EXACTLY and with ...
Question about a study I saw on spontaneous abortions by mares5/14/2012
  Q: I saw a study that said a mare is more likely to abort after coming in foal if she's not allowed to ...
  A: Please correct me if I am wrong, but I think you may be referring to this study Bartoš L et al ...
Pregnant shetland pony10/14/2011
  Q: she was used in pony rides.the man who we bought her from didn't stay long enough to give me any ...
  A: First I am wondering why she has gained 30 pounds in two weeks. That is too much too fast. Depending ...
palomino mare8/17/2011
  Q: how do you tell when the mare is about to foal because this is the mares first foal????
  A: The gestation period for a mare is between 320 and 370 days with average being about 240 days. If ...
Horse coat color genetics8/17/2011
  Q: Whoo, the world of horse colors, and the genetics behind them, are a vast and varied place, and full ...
  A: Without seeing the horse you are talking about myself, I can only make some educated guesses. I am ...
horses7/23/2011
  Q: How do horses reproduce
  A: Horses are mammals and reproduce like all other mammals. In the case of horses, the mare carries ...
Pregnant Mare Yes/No?7/4/2011
  Q: I recently had my mare checked to see if she was in foal via rectal palpation about 2 months after ...
  A: Your question has been languishing in the question pool, so I thought I'd see if I can help. It is ...
coggins test for horses6/16/2011
  Q: what is coggins test for horses? why it should be performed? lets suppose, i want to buy a horse ...
  A: Remember, I am not a veterinarian. I know you are not in the U.S., however, in many states in the ...
rabies in horses6/16/2011
  Q: is rabies common in horses? how does a rabid horse look like? is there any treatment for rabies in ...
  A: You are in India. Approximately 20,000 people per year die of rabies in India. I am not a ...
safety with foals6/16/2011
  Q: please tell me how to be careful from foals. i had been a riding club on june 2nd 2011. there, a 6 ...
  A: I am not absolutely certain if you are asking how to handle foals so that you do not hurt them, or ...
pony/horse breeding6/9/2011
  Q: Are there any techniques,(aside from A.I.), that could assist in the breeding of Sec.A Welsh ...
  A: Some mares are exceptionally cooperative and will actually squat for a shorter stud. I agree with ...
virus from livestock animals to horses5/22/2011
  Q: can i keep goats, hens, dogs, cats at stables for company for horses? does any virus spread from ...
  A: Perhaps I should first offer the caveat that I am not a veterinarian, nor a virologist. Goats, ...
Horse Breeding4/26/2011
  Q: I have a 21 year old Tenn walker, she is in good health, I still ride her on trials. I want to breed ...
  A: It's absolutely worth a try. Older mares that have not carried a foal for many years can be ...
swollen nipples in horses4/25/2011
  Q: i have a 7 yr old mare who had a live foal in oct 2009, he was weaned in mar 2010 due to him being a ...
  A: Mastitis is always possible. Also, if your mare is already a bit fat, consider equine metabolic ...
how old is too old?2/1/2011
  Q: How old is too old for a mare to get pregnant? ...thank u. Take care
  A: If only the answer were as easy as the question, sounds like it should be. I know you want a ...
mini stud breeding1/2/2011
  Q: My mini horse stud is turning 4 and he still doesn't know he is a stud and he wouldn't breed my 1 ...
  A: If he is 4 and doesn't behave like a stallion, there may be a hormonal issue. I would call your vet ...
Appaloosa breeding11/21/2010
  Q: I have an appaloosa colt and when he is ready would like to breed him as his confirmation, colour is ...
  A: Your best chance for color will be to breed to a mare with color. That said, once in a while, two ...
Mares teats11/4/2010
  Q: Just acquired a beautiful 7 year old thoroughbred mare which we just had saddle broken and started ...
  A: First congratulation on your new mare. She sounds lovely. Some mares will have larger teats than ...
Pseudomonas aeruginosa9/5/2010
  Q: I recently took my (miniature) Falabella to a fertility specialist in Tucson. He was diagnosed with ...
  A: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is treatable in stallions. It is a difficult and sometimes frustrating ...
Imprinting Foals8/22/2010
  Q: I was curious if you could tell me a little bit about imprinting foals from/at birth? I have ...
  A: Rather then recreate the wheel, I have given you a link to an excellent article on imprinting which ...
BREEDING question8/4/2010
  Q: I have a mini mare 34". I am trying to breed to a mini jack 32". She doesn't seem cooperative. Is ...
  A: Are you absolutely positive she is in season? Very few mares will breed when they aren't in season, ...
horse pregnancy8/3/2010
  Q: a couple weeks ago it was clear coming out of teats i no it all sounds as though she is getting ...
  A: I would have my vet look at her. Older mares that have had foals can sometimes have fluid 2 years or ...
mini mare possibly pregnant7/21/2010
  Q: I purchased a mini mare last september. I was told she was almost 2. The vet told me in February ...
  A: Horses hormones can do odd things. Rather than guessing all the possibilities, I'd get this mare ...
pregnant ?6/21/2010
  Q: I recently saved a 3yr pintabian from going to the killpens.We know she was pastured w/2 proven ...
  A: August to January is late in the breeding seasons. Some mares just won't come in late in the season ...
Stallion with undescended testicles6/20/2010
  Q: I inherited a miniature stallion, 2 yrs old, on which we can see no testicles. One vet said she ...
  A: Last question first. A lot of mares will "show" to a gelding. Some geldings can act rather studdy. ...
Breeding Lipizzaners to Friesians4/1/2010
  Q: Have you ever bred the Lipizzaner horse with a Friesian horse?
  A: The quick answer is "no". I have never owned either breed. However, both breeds are beautiful ...
False Pregnancy3/29/2010
  Q: I have a 21 yr old mare. She has ran with my 7 yr old male that is fixed since I purchased the 2 ...
  A: First, why would you wonder about a "false pregnancy" when your old mare is with two young ...
Breeding A Paint Mare with Cataracts3/28/2010
  Q: I have a beautiful paint filly. 2yrs old that has cataracts in both eyes. None of the other foals ...
  A: When a horse this young has cataracts, they are rather certain to be congenital. Cataracts have been ...
Mares nursing fillies3/26/2010
  Q: Lynne my name is John and I just traded two mares with fillies on there side.. One is three weeks ...
  A: If the filly is an appropriate weight and looks healthy you are probably OK. The size of a mares bag ...
My Mare's Foal has died3/22/2010
  Q: my mare had her foal whilst I was away for the weekend, she would not let the foal suckle and ...
  A: First, I am really sorry to hear about the death of your foal. A new foal is such a long awaited ...
Is it possible to miss a foal with palpatation3/22/2010
  Q: My mare is a 23 yr old Tb who has produced a number of foals. She has always been a very poor doer ...
  A: Your vet would have to be more than a poor diagnostician to miss a foal this late in the spring ...
my mare8/25/2009
  Q: i have a warmblood mare that stands about 14.3 at 5years old now she is stil growing and has been ...
  A: In general, the size of the fetus is determined by how much room is available inside the mare. I ...
discharge8/7/2009
  Q: We have a mare that is about 13 years old and had her bred a couple of weeks ago. I have noticed ...
  A: Mares have discharge for several different reasons. It COULD be just her own normal hormones. You ...
horse drying up8/6/2009
  Q: I have just seperate a mother and her yearling(she is almost 2). How long will it take the mother ...
  A: If your mare is still nursing an almost 2 year old, she is one of those extremely tolerant mares. ...
Lunging my pregnant mare8/1/2009
  Q: I have a 5 year old Arabian/Paint mare who is being put in foal for the first time this week. This ...
  A: As far as exercising your mare; the question I always ask myself is how would it be if humans were ...
foaling7/30/2009
  Q: Our mare is walking a very short stride almost like baby steps. Is this normal when close to ...
  A: It is POSSIBLE it is just the position of the foal. As long as you are sure her front feet are fine ...
foaling7/29/2009
  Q: Our mare is walking a very short stride almost like baby steps. Is this normal when close to ...
  A: Do you feel any heat in her front hooves? Is she reluctant to put weight on one or both front feet? ...
Hey!7/14/2009
  Q: I have a 13 y/o thoroughbred mare that i want to breed. At her age is it still ok to breed her? I'm ...
  A: Thirteen is a fine age to breed your mare. She is fully mature, but not geriatric. Have your vet do ...
Foaling6/25/2009
  Q: I have a five year old Shetland pony mare that was bred last year (late May/early June) with a ...
  A: The AVERAGE gestation for Shetland mares according to a study of various breed gestation times in ...
Foaling my mare6/21/2009
  Q: My mare will be foaling at my farm for the first time next May. What are some common issues she ...
  A: I recommend you read "Blessed Are the Broodmares". It's a great book and will answer most of your ...
Gelded Donkey6/15/2009
  Q: I bought an alleged "gelded Standard donkey" for my young female Mammoth as a compannion. I noticed ...
  A: I think I'd find another vet who is willing to treat my donkeys. Is your mammoth jennet ill-behaved ...
Foaling6/8/2009
  Q: this is my mare's 2nd foal. Since last night, entire "slit" has been slightly open, with vulva, (in ...
  A: Yeah, fescue would worry me a bit too. I take this to mean she's never had an ultra sound. As I ...
Foaling6/8/2009
  Q: this is my mare's 2nd foal. Since last night, entire "slit" has been slightly open, with vulva, (in ...
  A: From your description, nothing SOUNDS scary. Try milking a little milk into your hand. Is it ...
horse4/29/2009
  Q: So i have a baby horse who will be 2 in july. she is already 13.5 hands thats as tall as the horse i ...
  A: Your "baby" isn't much of a baby anymore. If your filly (you did say "she") were human, she will be ...
foaling mare4/19/2009
  Q: I have a very over weight belgian/quarter horse. I was informed last summer some time that a young ...
  A: If you think she "could" be pregnant, have your vet check her out. You can give yourself the ...
Mini mare foal or not4/16/2009
  Q: I bought a mini mare that allegedly is in foal due any day. The problem I am having is the previous ...
  A: "Anyday" is NOT a "due date"! Call them back and ASK specifically what dates she was bred. Take a ...
Over due pregnent mare4/2/2009
  Q: My mare is 8 years old with her first colt. We hand breed her and she was covered on March 26, ...
  A: "Usual" gestation is from 320-270 days. (At 370 she is a mere 5 days over) However, healthy foals ...
horse2/21/2009
  Q: what should i expect out of my pregnant mare the last month or two? what are the signs of foaling?
  A: Sorry it took so long to get back to you. I had just answered a similar question recently. If I ...
breeding my pony2/18/2009
  Q: but she has the breed of a horse she is a dutch warmblood quarter horse her parents were very large ...
  A: At 14.1 hands you should have no problems breeding your mare to whatever you like. If you want a ...
foaling2/3/2009
  Q: I have a mare that is due ANY day. She has severe diarrhea is this a sign that the baby is coming ...
  A: You didn't mention if she is a maiden or not. If she is not a maiden it would be NICE if you can ...
foaling2/2/2009
  Q: I have a mare that is due ANY day. She has severe diarrhea is this a sign that the baby is coming ...
  A: As hormone levels fluctuate, it is not unusual for mares to develop diarrhea. Make sure she doesn't ...

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Lynne Curtis Gudes

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Expertise

Breeding, foaling, behavior, imprinting and common medical issues arising from foaling. Also stallion handling.

Experience

I have been involved in horses for approximately 45 years. I showed hunters, jumpers and stock horses. In the 80's I was licensed as a trainer on the race track. I have run broodmare operations, delivered foals and taught everything from what to feed and which end the shoes go on to advanced jumping. I tend to be impatient with owners who think their horses prefer to be locked up in confined spaces. Even my show and race horses rarely spent more than only the night before an event in a stall...the rest of the time they had room to run. In 1974 I rode a Quarter Horse Stallion and a Thoroughbred Mare solo from Minneapolis to San Francisco.

Organizations
Mensa

Publications
"The Long Ride" Published in Women Sports Magazine March of 1975 an article regarding the author's cross country horseback ride from Minnesota to California. "A Horse is a Horse,of Course" An article regarding investigating horse incidents and the Equine Liability Act for investigators and attorneys. published in The Legal Investigator, February 2004 "Investigating Animal Cases:" A chapter written at the request of the editors for a professional textbook entitled Advanced Forensic Civil Investigations published by Lawyers and Judges Publishing June, 1997 "Murder by Another Name:" An article published in The John Cook Fraud Report, December 1994 regarding the intentional killing of horses for greed and insurance fraud. "The Responsibilities of Horse Owners in Rural Communities:" A paper presented before the Regional Seminar of the National Association of Legal Investigators in November 1987 at Phoenix, Arizona. "The Old Gray Mare is Worth $10,000,000 Now." A professional paper on the investigation of cases involving bloodstock and racetracks presented before the National Conference of the National Association of Legal Investigators in Washington, D.C., June 1986.

Education/Credentials
approximately 3 years of confined college....no degree. Advanced degree from the university of experience :>)

Awards and Honors
Recipient of the 1st place Anthony M. Golec Editor-Publisher Award 2004

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