THE BAD NEWS
neither of the girls are pregnant :(
After all the effort (not to mention expense) this is extremely frustrating and disappointing. We're now at the end of the season so there's little we can do and the vets can offer little in terms of why we didn't have more success. We've used the best stud in the area for the boys and the most recommended amongst Luso breeding friends for the AI work but alas it was not to be. There are a few possibilities that I can think of, having discussed it with a number of vets and colleagues:
1) There was possibly some low level uterine infection present which would have made conception difficult. Our vets do not routinely do endometrial swabs (they will certainly be instructed to do so next year) and the absence of fluid is no indicator of itself as to the presence or absence of infection. However, Newmarket vets swab every cycle - ok this is related to live cover considerations but interesting nevertheless.
2) There was some problem with the AI process. The practice in question has a 60% success rate over the season.
3) There are some mares who typically only conceive every other year, and these are likely to be the very maternal ones. As it happens both girls are extremely maternal
4) They weren't good candidates for frozen semen. They were AI'd last year but fresh semen was used.
For next year we are going to install a dummy at home, do an AI technician course and collect the semen ourselves. The only good thing we have got out of it all is that the boys have been trained to the dummy. It will also mean that we can offer chilled as well as frozen.
Interestingly with the girls, the first vet who did their scans had to sedate Xacra, but the second vet didn't find it necessary. It was the first time I've been able to be at home for the scans but Noodle said the first one was quite impatient, which might explain Xacra's reticence. The second vet however was excellent. He also said often he finds horses are less well behaved when the owners are present, which I have heard before from the stud vet. As an owner I'd be mortified if that were the case. Both girls were excellent throughout.
THE GOOD NEWS
Q is back to normal :)
The vet who saw him last week was back today and the difference was immediate when he was turned out in the arena - trotted over to the mares straight away and with a quick free school was markedly better and back to normal in his paces
He's also lost some weight as a result of the following regime: out with the muzzle during the day, allowed to graze for an hour without in the afternoon and in restricted paddock with the least grass overnight, with a week's course of bute. We'll continue this for another couple of weeks (sans bute) and blood test again after a month to see what the inflammation markers are like. He can be back in work now too.
The farrier is coming tomorrow and the chiro next week.
So, disappointing re the mares but extreme relief that Q is back on track. The vet was very complimentary about him in terms of stallion behaviour, which was lovely.
And Sod's Law being what it is, both boys are now back in work and I have a lurgy. Splendid.
