Management of the high risk mare

For many mare owners late pregnancy is a time of nervous anticipation and expectation. While greater than 90% pregnancies are healthy and result in uncomplicated deliveries, there are however mares whose pregnancy poses a health risk to them.1,2 There are also mares that develop life-threatening medical and surgical problems during their pregnancy, and problems that put the mare’s pregnancy at risk.2 Mares that are presented with a history of pregnancy or fetal loss, or that have serious medical conditions, which may compromise the desired outcomes of pregnancy, such as: birth of a healthy, term foal, and a healthy postpartum mare are considered ‘High Risk’.3 Commonly 5% of pregnancies are lost after 100 days of gestation.3 The foals arising from troubled pregnancies may result in the birth of foals that are non-viable, or that require intensive care ...