Breeding

[SevdaTVF]

What the oldest you think a mare can safely be bred? Just it just depend on the individual health?

[Lindsayanne]

It totally varies from horse to horse. A horse broke at two, ridden poorly most of their life, currently in questionable health or freqently lame, and had a few foals in her life might be unsuitable as a broodmare at 14 or 15, mares ridden in frame or kept solely as broodmares, in good health and sound can canceive and carry well into their twenties. I have an 18 year old being bred this year- she's in the latter camp, spoiled little broodmare all her life. :o

[theprancingpony]

what about a mare who has been ridden and pretty well taken care of but hasn't been bred before?

my mare is around 9 or 10 but we're not ready to breed her, but we want to keep the possibility open.

[parformissy90]

I have a friend who bred their 16 yo mare in 2004 for the first time. In 2005 she produced a huge healthy foal and the mare was just fine. So, I will say it is possible to produce a healthy foal from an aged maiden mare. The problem with aged maiden mares producing is, that it can be difficult for them to concieve as they age. There is a common sense cut off date for an aged maiden mare. So please take this into consideration before waiting to much longer to breed your mare.

[mizzrooth]

I agree -- if a mare is in good health, you can breed her "forever." That is, until she stops conceiving. BUT you must be ever-so-careful to pamper her a lot the older she gets. It's hard on the old ladies! But the old mommies know how to raise foals! I read somewhere that the odds of getting a truly great foal decline steadily as the mare produces. (Well, DUH!)

[mizzrooth]

I bred my mare for the first time when she was 9. I had a chance to breed her to an international champion for not-many-dollars, so I jumped at the opportunity. She settled on the first service, had no trouble carrying the foal, and delivered without any trouble. The foal was wonderful -- he had weak pasterns for a day or so, but they came up fine. I never rebred the mare because after a super stallion, everything else would be a let down! My mare's mother was a treasure -- she produced a foal every year for most of her life, and she was a good mommy-mare. I miss that old girl!