Horse breeding is a viable industry in Pennsylvania. A large amount of money, time, and effort is invested in preparing mares for breeding, getting them bred, and maintaining them throughout pregnancy and delivery. In the mare, twin pregnancy is the most common documented cause of abortion. The introduction of ultrasonography in the 1980s to examine early pregnancy in mares has permitted the development of methods to manage twins early in gestation before abortion or neonatal loss occurs. Little has changed over the last 15 years with regard to management recommendations of the late pregnant broodmare.
Insufficient information is available about the control of other causes of abortion in horses.
Information obtained in this study will allow recommendations to be made on how to prevent these losses and may identify new areas of research in pregnancy loss. 382 West St. Rd., Kennett Square, Penn.