A Q for all you breeding folk

[1588]

Will a mare who has run with a stallion but does not get in foal cause a nuisance to the rest of the herd come foaling time.

I had heard that barren mares should have been removed before the foaling season.

thanks

 

[trelawnyhorses1]

ummm depends on the mare my broodmares are still running with barren mares

 

[eventrider23]

The biggest problem with barren mares being around when foals are being born/still very young is that the barren mare can be a carrier of the Equine Herpes Virus or the mare/foal might be shedding it. This and other similar viruses are generally why people tend not to run barren mare/non breeding stock in with their mares in late pregnancy up until the foal has managed to develop its own immunity sufficiently.