Marchador mares - Breeding Tips

We believe the Marchador mares are very robust and natural in their heat cycles. Like some other ancient breeds, the Marchador mares hold on to their egg folicles much longer and their follicles get much larger. Many breeding vets start their breeding process with a follicle of 35 mm. With a Marchador mare, we often wait until at least 45 mm or 50 before we begin breeding. We have seen follicles of 52-60 mm without ovulation in our mares.

So, our advice is - when breeding with AI - wait a day or maybe two - more that what the textbook calls for.
Of course, every mare is unique and ultrasounding each of your breeding mares during their estrus cycle will provide valuable information to you on how to manage that mare.

Good luck!

I rode Bella today (real name Elba Cruzalta) just around the ranch property and marveled at our journey together. Such a sweet mare and willing to try to do anything - like walk by that blue tarp over the hay - even though I can tell she's very apprehensive about it. Perhaps, I think, we need to do some tarp and scary things training to help this old girl.

She went comfortably - just at a walk, at my request. Such a difference from the mare who would rush almost out of control if you ever loosened the reins. I am content and happy on her back.

So now that she is happy, we will move on to the finer elements of riding. I would love to get her to bend and supple, to give her head some and start using her back end a little more. (She's learned on the ground to do that, but under saddle, not so much). But, I think, we have time for that - and today we just enjoy the walk - the sunshine and fresh air, the feeling of eternity like time has just stopped and that this ride can last forever.

I will miss you Bella when your owners come for you. For the rest of my life. You are a special one, a spirit horse.