Earliest spring heat cycle

[skeenan]

I'm just curious... what is a "realistic" date/month for an early spring heat cycle (maiden mare as well), being that we live in a cold, northern climate? Anyone have success with lights?

Just trying to pin down a fairly accurate timeframe...

Thanks in advance!

[myheartsezyes]

I'm just curious... what is a "realistic" date/month for an early spring heat cycle (maiden mare as well), being that we live in a cold, northern climate? Anyone have success with lights?

Just trying to pin down a fairly accurate timeframe...

Thanks in advance!

We start bringing the mares in under lights December 1, including maiden mares. They came in late January and then again in about the 3rd week of February. Bred February 20 that would have given me a Jan 28 Baby. She slipped so I agree with the lights I think that they help

[skeenan]

Do you use flourescent lights...? I thought of buying one regular "garage" style flourescent light but using full spectrum bulbs, like you can get at pet stores for lizards & fish. Our stalls are open overhead, as we have a half loft, so I can suspend it just over her stall. I already have a timer...

[aurora]

I used to think that incandescent lights were the only thing you should use but my vet says flourescecnt will work too. I hang a brooder light in the stall w a 200 watt bulb and it gives plenty of light. Brooder lights are used for chickens. Flourescent's can get dim if the temperature in the barn gets extremely cold during winter. I start the mares out on Nov. 15th or as late as Thanksgiving and they are ovulating in January.

[madelyn]

I had a bunch that never went out this past year, bred one Jan 31, Feb 19, March 4 (3 mares), etc., then a bunch transitioned in March and didn't get back in till May, but they are now all in foal. It is quite heavily dependent on the weather and heat plus light sources... but the mare that was in raging heat on Jan 31 was never under lights... not even in the barn. We brought her in to trim her feet and she nearly took the farrier's head off when he touched her to get her back feet. We were surprised, but she was a maiden so we thought, well let her get bred even if just for the experience and wham she took.....if you are very far north, your mares will be more light reactive and probably would have their first natural heat around the end of April..

[skeenan]

Well, north enough to be deprived of daylight through most of December! Ugh... hate that time of year, minus that it's the holidays... start to feel like a vampire!

This has all been helpful! I know the "big" farms use lights, but didn't know how that'd work for one mare in a small barn... we're not very sophisticated!

[doublete]

I've always just stuck a 'brooder' light with a high wattage bulb hanging usually up in the corner above the grain bucket and put that on a timer. I used lights for my show horses to get them to shed out earlier. I start it in November, and I'm in Maine. We have to start these things earlier than most. LOL

[myheartsezyes]

Do you use flourescent lights...? I thought of buying one regular "garage" style flourescent light but using full spectrum bulbs, like you can get at pet stores for lizards & fish. Our stalls are open overhead, as we have a half loft, so I can suspend it just over her stall. I already have a timer...

we have two set's of lights one on the left side of the stall in the corner, (you can buy this silver dome and it clips where ever you want, put one of those higher watt bulbs that twist I don't know what they are called. When I go to the store I will let you know, and on the other side we have those garage lights that are square and yellow backing that have the Halogen bulbs. I put the timer on from about 5:00 to 12:00 am.

[myheartsezyes]

Well, north enough to be deprived of daylight through most of December! Ugh... hate that time of year, minus that it's the holidays... start to feel like a vampire!

This has all been helpful! I know the "big" farms use lights, but didn't know how that'd work for one mare in a small barn... we're not very sophisticated!

It will work put them on a timer and you will be fine,

[aurora]

Ideally, you are supposed to have the mare in the barn before dusk and turn the lights on so she will get 16 hours of light. The mares aren't supposed to detect that it is getting dark in the evening.

This won't work for me since I have to work for a living (to support the horses!) so my mares don't come into the barn until about 7:00 - 8:00 pm and I set the timers to come on at 2:00 in the morning. The girls get fed in the mornings and turned back outside before I head out for work. My work hours are flexible enough that I am turning the mares outside after the sun comes up during the winter.