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Post by barbhorses on Jan 9, 2011 18:46:59 GMT -5
I am planning on breeding my mare again to a different stallion this year. I am wondering how old the foal should be before being able to safely (both physically, emotionally, as well as immunologically) travel from the San Diego area to Cedar City, Utah?
Or is that out of the question?
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Post by stormyranch on Jan 9, 2011 21:01:18 GMT -5
I would say 2 months.
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Post by Michelle Clarke on Jan 9, 2011 21:23:13 GMT -5
Personally, I would not, especially that far. I will also say that I don't leave my mares even at the vets anymore; I bring them back and forth daily. If they have a foal, I AI at home. Once I left a mare and her month old foal at the vets for AI. Later after they came home, I began noticing that the filly never really had that free flow movement anymore. I did not think much of it, she was not lame and figured she was growing. Did not put two and two together from being at the vet. Over a year later when the vet was visiting, she saw the filly and asked if she had grown out of her sillyness. Then she procceded to tell me how she flipped out of the stocks and landed on her back. On the concret. But she was okay. I was so stinking mad!
Then I left Madonna and Desi (who was nine days old) at a breeding facility and later found out they used her to train the teasing stallion. That foal could have been killed; even if the mare was just in a stall, she could have kicked right out and caught that foal.
So, for whatever its' worth, I would not. I'd wait until next year if you have to live cover and transport far.
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Post by DianneC on Jan 9, 2011 21:33:56 GMT -5
I had a mare go to a stallion one time, never again with a foal. They were to bring them back to me and being that they were experienced breeders I thought that was fine, it was only 20 minutes. They tied the mare in the trailer and "got lucky" when they pinned the month old filly to the wall and wrestled her into the trailer.
I think there is a big advantage to only breeding a mare every other year, especially in this market. I like to leave the foal with the mare over winter and let the mare do a natural weaning. Some mares will wean at 5 months, some at 10 months. The foals benefit from the comfort nursing they do and the extra protein. If you do wean earlier that's OK too. You'll have more time to ride the mare before she is bred again.
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Post by barbhorses on Jan 9, 2011 23:30:34 GMT -5
Wow... I am really happy that I asked this question! I think I will opt out on breeding her then with a foal at her side. I was worried about it and didn't know how other people do it. Apparently, there is too much risk in doing so.
Both of your experiences would have me unglued in anger!
I am a bit panicky to breed Victoria just because she is 15 years old this year and this year's baby will be her first purebred. So, I am anxious to have her contribute more to her breed. However, doing so at the risk of this year's foal and her health and well being just plainly isn't worth it!
Again, thank you!
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Post by gotkiger on Mar 14, 2011 21:11:32 GMT -5
I have a friend that took her mare to the vet to be bred with her one month old foal at her side, The foal was already halter broke and very well behaved. The foal came back with rope burns on her neck and butt. NOt only did they manhandle the foal but the mare as well. And she even left them a halter for the foal and told them that it was halter broke
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Post by elikiger on Mar 15, 2011 17:51:30 GMT -5
I knew of a foal who traveled with mom at like 1-2 months or so, the trailer had an accident in route and the baby actually would up breaking it's neck (no one knew) and it had to be put down at like 6 months due to the damage that had been done at so young an age. Too risky in my opinion.
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