A recipient mare is a female horse used to carry the embryo of another mare. This reproductive technique involves transferring a fertilized egg from a genetically superior or otherwise valuable mare (the donor) into the uterus of a healthy, reproductively sound female. The recipient mare then gestates and foals the offspring, acting as a surrogate mother.
Employing this strategy offers significant advantages in equine breeding. It allows valuable mares to continue competing or producing more eggs without the physical strain of pregnancy and foaling. Furthermore, it facilitates the production of foals from mares that may have difficulty conceiving or carrying a pregnancy to term due to age or health issues. Historically, this technology has greatly enhanced the ability to propagate desirable traits within specific horse breeds.