Courtesy of Damrock Farm

Today, I am going to talk about twin pregnancies and why responsible breeders do not let them continue past 14-16 days post breeding. We had three mares bred this year and that we ended up with three sets of twins. Some might say we hit the jackpot, 6 for the price of 3. But no, it's the furthest thing from the jackpot that is possible as far as I am concerned. And, I'm going to tell you why after receiving a couple of messages asking why we don't just let the mare have twins.

We got lucky on the first two twin reductions, keeping the second foal. Not so with the third. Our mare, Mula, did as we feared and aborted the second foal along with the one we were trying to remove. Not a surprise, but definitely a disappointment. They were just too close not to damage both in the quest to remove only one.

For those of you who are questioning why we don't leave well enough alone, here are the facts. Mares are not made to carry two babies, plain and simple. It's VERY rarely successful. Sure, you occasionally see pictures of cute twin babies that the owners did not know were there and were born healthy enough to stay alive. In most cases, they only stay alive with lots of extra care and huge financial investment. In reality, the numbers of twins who survive to get their pictures plastered all over Facebook is only a small percentage of those who are produced. In most cases, either one or both foals will die, despite heroic measures. It is also extremely risky for a mare to try and deliver twin foals, putting her own life, as well as the foals, at high risk.

The answer is to reduce the pregnancy to one viable fetus, leading to one healthy foal and a normal delivery for the mare carrying it. Is reduction a perfect science? Absolutely not. Should it be done? In my opinion, absolutely yes! Most times, if a mare gets pregnant with twins and it's either not discovered or the owner elects to try to "let nature take its course" both foals will be aborted naturally by the mare, hopefully before they are big enough to injure the mare in the process. If they survive until normal delivery time, usually one or both of the foals will die and the mare is at great risk of death or serious injury herself trying to deliver them.

Read more: Why Do Horse Breeders Terminate a Twin?

In today's episode, Dr. Colton Thacker shares his knowledge of ultrasound and imaging. Dr. Thacker will discuss his experiences working at yearling sales and how he uses his expertise in imaging to evaluate potential purchases for his clients. He will also share his insights regarding the value of imaging during lameness exams and how ultrasound can help pinpoint the root cause of lameness in horses.

Read more: Rood & Riddle Stallside Podcast: The Importance of Ultrasound with Dr Colton Thacker (26:33)