Best Age To Breed

[kigerkrazy]

I've been having some discussions with friends about the best age to breed a maiden mare. Some think the younger the better and some think any time before she hits the double digits. I've been toying with the idea of breeding Missy for a while, but don't want to put her in danger by breeding her when she is too old. I was thinking about waiting until she was about six or seven. What age do you think would be best for a maiden mare and why?

[DianneC]

First you have to ask yourself if you are ready to support two horses for the long haul. With people giving horses away its really hard to sell a horse until its grown and under saddle. Then you will not be able to ride her much the last trimester and the six months after the foal is born. People do ride them with the foal at side, but its an unbelievable hassle except on your own property. The dam is focused on the foal and not you too.
Since I figure you've already thought of all that I'd say under 10 is better, once a mare is older its harder for her to conceive for the first time.

[kigerkrazy]

Thanks Dianne. At this stage, it's still just an "idea". Mostly because I like looking at all the beautiful studs and imagining what a cross might produce =). If I do breed her, it will not be to sell the colt. I want another saddle horse and we are well equipped to care for both. Giving up riding will be the hardest part and why I haven't really gotten that serious so far. Plus I'm not sure how I feel about doing an a.i., and most of the stallions I like are out of the area.......or several states away. It's a lot to think about.

[DianneC]

AI is more expensive than using a local stallion as you have a couple of vet visits to time the ovulation, do the AI and then confirm in foal. But if you're going to do it, get what you really want is my thought. Kigers are pretty easy to get in foal but you don't want to wait until she's 17.

[kimk]

My old arab mare became a mom for the first time at 17. all went well and she was a great mom. though not ideal, it can and does happen.

[kigerkrazy]

Yeah, I agree about getting what I want, since it will probably be the only time I breed her. If I had it my way, I wouldn't do the AI. But if I can't find a stallion close enough to us, then I'd rather AI her instead of settling for a stallion I am not in love with.

Wow Kim, that's pretty impressive for the ol girl It's good to hear she didn't have any complications too. I know some people breed their mares into their twenties and have no problems. I'd be a little leery to breed her later in life even if it wasn't her first foal. Just because I know for myself having a baby is waaaay easier when your young It gets harder with age, but of course like people, each horse is different. Some mares have great pregnancies and easy deliveries no matter how old they are.

Now another question......... The last time I bred horses, we had them in foaling stalls with a camera on them. As soon as they went into labor, we waited quietly outside the stall in case she got into trouble. I never even dreamed of leaving her out in a field/pasture to foal on her own. However, I've now met and seen a lot of foals delivered this way, and my views have become less rigid.
How do you prefer your colts be delivered? In the field or in a stall? What do you think is easier on your mare?

[barbhorses]

I have heard actually that it is safer and healthier for them to deliver out in a paddock (as far as bacteria goes anyways). The obvious down side is that if the mare needs help there is no real way to aid her.

My mare will deliver in a sanitized foaling stall in May.

That is an interesting thought though. How old is too old to breed a broodmare?

[DianneC]

A vet told me the cleanest place is a a grassy pasture.

[lilnagy]

Two comments, I had a thoroughbred mare when I was young who was bred for the first time and foaled at 18 years old with no trouble. She went on to have three more in the next 5 years. Maybe not the ideal plan, but our vet was confident she would do fine, and she did.

As for mares foaling now, I agree with the health of pasture foaling if there is no concern for some other health reason. And my mare who was adopted at 12 would be seriously distressed to be watched while foaling. We came out of the house to see her last foal just after it was born, and she wouldn't nurse it til we all went back in the house. I guess a camera would help, but I think being stalled for foaling would also distress her. She foaled for a lot of years in the wild, and she is happiest out in the pasture I'm sure.

[DianneC]

Tia had Teanna at age 24, not a planned breeding as we had tried everything for a foal from Tia for four years. I am glad to have Teanna but Tia had a lot of trouble with arthritis toward the end so 24 is too late to start! LOL We had a lovely Arab in for breeding at 19. She was maiden and hung out with the herd for breeding for a couple of months. Nothing and the next year nothing. She could not be bred as her cervex didn't open even when in full heat.