Towcester Equine Breeding Services

20/04/2026

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13/02/2026

Getting ready for the new breeding season?

Check out our latest Breeding Services Brochure via our website
https://towcester-vets.co.uk/equine/services/breeding/

01/12/2025

𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠...

𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐚𝐥?
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥? 𝐀𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭? 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥?

Weaning is known to be one of the most stressful events in a foal’s life.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐬𝐨 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭?
Stress can…
🔹have a detrimental impact on the the foals brain development and learning capacity, potentially effecting future trainability
🔹⁠trigger the development of stereotypic behaviours (repetitive with no goal or function) such as crib biting, box walking, wind sucking, weaving
🔹 ⁠lead to elevated cortisol levels, which in turn can have detrimental effects on the immune system and maturation of the gut microbiome

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 ?
There is thought to be a roughly linear relationship between age and weaning stress, so we can minimise this by...
🔹⁠weaning a little later, where possible weaning when foals are 8-9 months old
🔹⁠⁠implement gradual weaning, over several months, where possible
🔹 ⁠rather than move the foal, move the mare away so the foal remains familiar with its environment/surroundings
🔹 ⁠provide an adult or nanny prior to weaning so for the foal/s to buddy up with that stays with them when weaned

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐠𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧?

🔹 reduce stress as much as possible for both mares and foals
🔹 ⁠provide turnout
🔹 ⁠feed a high fibre, high fat but low starch diet

For any advice on breeding or weaning foals please reach out to Gemma Kirk BVetMed MRCVS our experienced Lead Repro Vet at Towcester Equine Vets.

You can also download our latest BREEDING GUIDE via our website via the link below.

https://towcester-vets.co.uk/equine/services/breeding/

17/11/2025

British Breeding Futurity

We are excited to share news about our Weekend of British Breeding on Friday 6th and Saturday 7th February 2026, at Arena UK, Grantham. Put the dates in your diary, and we hope to see you all there!

19/03/2025

Have you spoken with our Lead Repro Vet Gemma about your horses 'Breeding Journey' yet?

Contact us to receive our BRAND NEW digital brochure which showcases all our Breeding Services available, reach out to our friendly team by emailing [email protected]

New and existing clients welcome to enquire TODAY...

22/11/2024

Are you planning your 2025 season?

25/10/2023

26/04/2023

Another new edition to the world 💗 Bramble Stud

09/03/2023

𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨𝐨𝐧!
Our experienced Veterinary Surgeon Gemma Kirk has provided these useful top tips for owners who maybe new to breeding this year.

"With the foaling season impeding (or already upon us for the foals braving the colder weather) we thought it would be useful to share these fact sheets for the foaling mare and the new-born foal. These are in table format and are designed to be very simple so that they can be referred to quickly before, during foaling or once foaling has occurred. The intention of these quick reference documents is to outline what is normal, what is not and when to call for veterinary assistance. We hope that all expectant Mothers find them useful!".

Find out more about our services here
https://towcester-vets.co.uk/equine/services/breeding/

10/03/2022

Check out this interesting article in the Feb issue of the British Breeder mag! Link to the online version here https://british-breeding.com/magazine

Our reproductive vet Gemma Kirk is here to assist you this coming stud season. If you have any questions or would like more information on our breeding services please email [email protected]