In the old days, the only time a veterinary was called was in cases of diseases or problems. Nowadays, the way many horse centers and stud farms operate is that a veterinary is consulted to prevent problems from occurring. For this reason, most large horse breeding facilities have a more or less permanent relationship with a veterinary. His or her job is to carefully monitor the health of stallion and mare and the quality of the semen produced by the stallions standing there at stud as well as to carry out routine tests on the mares to be served. Once again, it should be reiterated that the veterinary being consulted for a gynaecological patient can only do his/her job when the mares are being teased and the veterinary is provided with the necessary information, i.e., how the mare has foaled, time after which the afterbirth was released, the age of the mare, if the mare was served the previous year, etc. After all, your veterinary isn't psychic!

Methods
A veterinary's most important instruments are still his hands. The anatomy of the horse is such that the human arm and hand can be inserted into the horse's rectum in order to palpate the mare's reproductive organs, What's more, an ultrasonic scan can also present a picture of the reproductive organs. With this information, it is possible to obtain a complete image of where the mare is in her reproductive cycle and the state of health of her reproductive organs.
Note: The rectal examination of mares has become so routine that almost nobody thinks of it as a risky procedure. Nevertheless, it is not out of the question that such a procedure can damage or even tear the horse's rectum. Although methods of treating such an injury are somewhat better than they used to be, there is still a considerable risk involved. For the safety of both man and animal, therefore, it is important that this examination take place under the best possible conditions, i.e., in a special examination stall (perhaps equipped with barnacles) that is located in a quiet place. Using a holding strap is less suitable. Foaling without taking precautions is downright dangerous.

Findings
During a rectal examination, the veterinary first searches for the uterus, examines it, and then examines the ovaries and the Cervix. The ovaries are examined for their activity, the presence of a follicle and the maturity of the follicle. The size of the follicle can be determined with the hand or ultrasonically. The most favourable size for a follicle is between 3 and 5 cm. Experience has shown that small (less than 2 cm.) or very large (over 8 cm.) follicles seldom result in a pregnancy (after insemination or covering).
The softness of the follicle suggests how soon ovulation will take place, e.g., if very hard, there will be no ovulation for 2 days but if very soft, ovulation could take place within a few hours.
Veterinarians often have their own codes for noting their findings, but the computer is also becoming increasingly important.
The uterus can display differences in size, shape and tension (tonus). The mare in heat will display a uterus that is at its slackest point and will be fairly shapeless. When the mare is pregnant, tension increases and the uterus starts to change shape (curling). After a few weeks, a protrusion can be felt on a pregnant mare's uterus. An ultrasonic scan will show the thickness of the wall of the uterus and possibly the presence of fluid in the uterine wall as well as contents.

The Cervix
The Cervix is examined to see how relaxed it is. A mare not in heat, or a pregnant mare will have a stiff, hard Cervix (it's like feeling a pencil). A mare at the peak of her heat will display a relaxed Cervix.
It is important that the observations being made concerning teasing, ovaries, uterus and Cervix are arriving at the same conclu-sion. If, for example, a mare display.- typi-cal heat behaviour, produces lots of cloudy urine, has a 4-cm. follicle, and displays a soft relaxed uterus and a relaxed Cervix, the conclusion to be drawn is that she should be covered today. If, on the other hand, the mare displays a follicle of the right size but does not display sufficient behaviour typi-cal of heat, or her Cervix is closed, she should not be serviced!

Vaginal examination
The vulva is examined to see how relaxed it is (read on). If desired, the Cervix can be viewed by use of a speculum and light. The Cervix of a mare in heat will be fully relaxed (like a limp rag); a mare not in heat will display a Cervix that looks like a nozzle. The vagina is examined for fluid (urine) and for any signs of infection, redness, a spotted look, pus, etc.

Additional tests
If a mare is suspected of having a uterine infection, taking a mucous sample can augment the routine exam. Using a special tool, a bit of mucous is removed on a slip of gauze. This mucous is then used to cul-tivate any of the bacteria that might be present. A healthy uterus should harbour no bacteria (except during foal heat when there will always be bacteria present). Laboratory tests can also determine the nature of any micro-organisms found as well as their sensitivity to antibiotics. This will make it possible to provide the right treatment.
Another method is to look for the presen-ce of leukocytes in the uterus. A healthy uterus should contain no leukocytes cells. Mares with a long history of uterine infections can also undergo a biopsy involving the removal of a bit of tissue from the uterine wall. After staining this tissue, it can be viewed under the microscope to determine the seriousness of the abnormality and the chances for recovery (and/or pregnancy).

Diagnosis
The vast majority of mares are examined for the purpose of arriving at advice concerning live cover or insemination. Never the less, possible abnormalities should not be ignored in doing so. Some mares, however, are being examined because they are definitely displaying certain abnormal symptoms. The most commonly heard complaints are the mare isn't in heat and the mare doesn't become pregnant (she comes repeatedly into heat). Many of these complaints are caused by a uterine infection. Less frequently, they are caused by problems involving the vagina, vulva and ovaries.

Treatments
Uterine infections can be treated with antibiotics applied by means of douching These treatments are sometimes supplemented with injections. In some cases, injections only are given. It is vastly preferable to treat these problems correctly, i.e., with an antibiotic to which the microorganism involved is sensitive instead of vaginal Hushing or injecting with just any antibiotics. When treating an infection without conducting a sensitivity test, you run the risk of causing the bacteria to become resistant to the antibiotics. Over time, you will be faced with bacteria that are no longer sensitive to these agents Good results are also obtained by using vaginal flushes containing a Betadine-iodine solution.
Depending on the pathogenic organisms found, the chance of cure can range from quite probable to very unlikely. If, for example, streptococci are found (which happens quite frequently), the chance of cure will be good, but the chances of curing a fungal infection are very unlikely.
Hormone preparations are commonly used in a wide variety of ways.
Surgical procedures occupy a modest place in the treatment of sterility problems. It is fairly common, however, to have part of the vagina sewn up when it is suspected that air is being sucked into the vagina. There are also other surgical procedures used to combat this problem. Occasionally, one comes across rare abnormalities such as a tumor of the ovary that should be removed surgically.