The Recip Mare

Anyone who has flushed embryos out of a mare knows how tricky certain leased recipient mares can be to handle. Maybe there’s a way to make it a little better for all involved.

She’s only a recip. 

I get it. It’s a mare on loan. Something you had to pay a bunch of money to use, and she’s not very grateful to be there. She is probably hard to catch. She makes the rest of your herd a bit less settled. She bites, kicks, squeals, strikes and doesn’t like shots. 

Recipient mares come from many walks of life. Some were family horses. Some were destined for the kill pen. Some of them were born poor movers and poor thinkers, while others came across it by experience. They have a second shot at things because they are fertile and available to have embryos implanted at the correct time from a donor mare. 

You got her because your mare is too valuable to carry a foal. Or maybe because you wanted to get multiple babies out of her this year. Perhaps you bought an embryo through a sale or made a trade, and she was part of the package. Or maybe her mother is something you can’t wait to get back into the competitive ring with. 

She doesn’t have a name — just a number. Her collar fell off a couple of months ago so she’s even trickier to mess with than usual. She gets skipped over when it’s time to worm, and she doesn’t have her feet cared for like she should. She’s just a recip. 

Plus, she bites. 

I know, I’m weird. I have a heart for the recipient mare. And when I get a tough one, I ask, “Kel, what better way to challenge yourself as a horseman? Is there any chance you can make her your friend?” 

 Can we make her a better horse to be around so that in six months, she is a calm, thoughtful mother to your valuable baby? (Within reason, of course; don’t do anything out of your knowledge zone, and don’t risk injuries!) A mare makes a huge impression on her foal. If she is settled, friendly and sensible, you have a much better chance of having a baby with a similar temperament. And if something goes wrong, you have a much better shot of handling the mare and getting the foal into the proper care with less drama. 

Often, we source our borrowed gals from the best place we can, and we end up with gentle, quality mothers. And sometimes, we don’t. The breeding game is strong right now. Pickin’s are slim and plans need to be cemented early. It’s time-consuming. It’s risky. It’s frustrating. And it’s not cheap. 

So, I urge any of those who are cussing their horse-on-loan to help us make these recipient mares better ones. If you’ve got one in your care, take care of her the way you would hope someone would take care of your horse — whether she’s good, bad or ugly. If she’s kind, be thankful. If she’s not, try to make her better for the next guy. 

Much like relationships, pickups, and tough, overcooked steaks, going through a whole bunch of bad ones makes you certainly appreciate it when you finally get a good one. 

Take your time, find someone to help you that’s handy enough to make a touchy horse a little better to handle, and buy some cookies, maybe — or sweet feed. 

And try not to get bit.