Equine Reproduction Courses

[Onzyy]

Equine Reproduction Courses

Instructor - Dr. James Cole
Dates - Monday, Tuesday,Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
Time - 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm (Mon., Tues, and Fri.)/4:00 pm-6:30 pm (Thurs.) / 9:00 am - 11:30 am (Sat.)
Place - Classes take place in the Broodmare Barn


Equine Reproduction - Familiarize students with the basic anatomy and physiology of the male and female reproductive systems of the horse, care and preparation of mares and stallions for breeding, breeding techniques, post breeding examinations, and considerations to pregnancy and foaling. Students will also learn the basics of how to properly handle pregnant mares and foals.

***Horse health and Horse breeding goes hand-in-hand. To understand the risks of breeding, you must understand the basics of health.***

Breeding Healthy - Familiarize students with the basic anatomy of the horse, teaches the basics of first aide, deals with general health and well-being of the horse. Students will also learn about parasites, parasite control, common diseases and illnesses that can cause problems with breeding stallions and complications during or after pregnancy.

Overview
1. General anatomy/Anatomy of the reproductive tract - Parts of the horse, directive terms and general terms, gaits, how to choose a stallion that compliments your mare / physiology of reproduction, puberty, estrus, mare reproductive tracts
2. Parasites - Types of parasites, parasite risks to breeding stallions, pregnant or lactating mares, and foals, fecal exams, parasite control, deworming programs
3. Physiology of reproduction - Artificial insemination techniques and natural service, breeding soundness examination of stallions, semen collection principles, semen shipment techniques
4. Breeding soundness for mare- Uterine cultures, endometrial biopsies, speculum examinations
5. Gestation and diagnoses of pregnancy - Palpation, examinations, using ultrasonic equipment, length of pregnancy, enforcing labor
6. Digestion and illnesses of the digestive system - Best feeds and hay for pregnant mares and breeding stallions, colic, choke and the risks they pose
7. Vital signs and first aide - Taking vital signs, when to call the vet, basic first aide, four injection types - intramuscular, oral, intravenous, and subcutaneous, vaccinations for mare and foal
8. Estrus - heat detection methods
9. Advanced reproduction/pinching techniques - Embryo transfer, cloning, and how and when to enforce abortion
10. Birth - birth of a foal, first steps, nursing, maiden mares, handling, birth defects


Students should be able to:

• Recognize the general anatomy and gaits of a horse
  
• Recognize the anatomy of the male and female reproductive tract
  
• Understand puberty/estrus
  
• Recognize the types of parasites, know the risks they post to breeding, understand what a fecal exam is, and know basic parasite control and deworming programs
  
• Know the artificial insemination techniques, know what a breeding soundness exam is, and know semen collection principles
  
• Know the basic parts of ultrasonic equipment, know the basic length of gestation
  
• Recognize the dangers of feeding bad quality feed and hay to pregnant or lactating mares and breeding stallions, know the risks that colic and choke pose to pregnant mares
  
• Know how to take vital signs, understand when to call the vet, and know basic first aide and the four injection types and vaccinations for the mares and foals
  
• Know how to recognize heat
  
• Understand the basics of an embryo transfer, cloning, and how and when it’s best to force a mare to abort
  
• Know how to properly handle a pregnant mare, a foal, and common birth defects

Students will be informed of a test a week in advance. Quizzes will be oral and done in a verbal question/answer system. Lectures will be fairly often, though often done in a debate-type fashion. Students are strongly encouraged to speak up and participate in class. Classes will be conducted in a ‘college-like’ style. Roll will not be called, students are expected to be responsible and show up on their own. If a student doesn’t show up three times without a valid excuse then they will be removed from the class. Homework will be assigned as needed. Late homework will not be accepted. Students are encouraged (though it isn’t required) to attend class at least three times before deciding whether or not they want to drop the class.


Lesson Requirements/Rules

• Long hair must be pulled back
  
• Wear appropriate footwear (no sandals... sneakers or boots only)
  
• Wear appropriate clothing (no shorts, no tube-tops, no belly shirts, no extremely loose clothing... t-shirts, appropriate tank tops, and jeans are acceptable)
  
• No strong smelling perfume or spray that might bother the horses
  
• No outrageous jewelry (small hoop and stud earrings, one or two rings, and small necklaces are fine)
  
• Bring pencil, pen, and paper with you

Each student will assigned a mare that is either going to be bred or is already pregnant. The mare will be the students responsibility. Each student will have the opportunity to experience the foaling of his/her own mare.

Students are advised and encouraged to ask for help if they begin struggling in class.


Enrollment
Fill out the form below and post it as a reply to enroll in this class.
[u]Students name:[/u]
[u]Students age:[/u]
[u]Requested mare:[/u]
[u]Reason for wanting to take this class:[/u]

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[Ω-Admin-Cara-Ω]

Students name: Cara-Jean Kitchi
Students age: 15
Requested mare: Midnight Glory
Reason for wanting to take this class: I'm a vet student and feel that taking this class will help expand my knowledge of horse care.

[lottii]

Students name: Callum Razamuth
Students age: 18
Requested mare: Sea Schell (owned by Yazmin Holmes - he has permission to from her)
Reason for wanting to take this class: I hope to work on and eventually own a Thoroughbred stud farm. Equally because I think it will be a good learning experience and a way to expand my knowledge of horses.