Breeding a foal. How easy/dangerous is it?

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dozzie

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I would love to put both my mares in foal.

But tbh Im scared! I would hate to lose either of them just because I wanted a foal! I keep hearing about people losing mares/foals and it worries me lots!

Both are well bred, particularly my Sec B who also has excellent conformation and very old breeding lines. So I wouldnt be breeding rubbish.

My chestnut had a foal at 4 but the sec B would be a maiden.

I have my own facilities and loads of grazing, but along with that goes no experienced people to advise me on site. I do have knowledgable friends but wouldnt want to keep bothering them!

Not intending to do anything until Ive done a lot of homework so please dont shoot me down! Thats why Im asking!
 
Stats are complications in 1 in 10 births. However at the stud we foaled down 25 mares and didn't lose one mare or foal.
 
I would be happier to have them foal at stud as there would be experienced people on hand who would know if something was wrong. I would also want to be there to see how it should go! But then I'd feel as if I was in the way! Also as it can happen so quickly it cant be easy to get to see your own mare foal at stud.
 
Well you have 8 or 9 months to decide. It's not a decision that anyone takes lightly and you do have to think of all the pros and cons, but as SM says, the risks of complications are generally fairly low. Most mares carry and foal without any problem whatsoever, but you do need to assess the risks of your particular mares.

I spent some time deliberating over breeding our little pony mare - in the end the pros outweighed the cons and I left her in with the stallion and let nature take it's course. From the word "go" it was plain sailing the whole way through and I don't regret having done it now. Right up to foaling though, my mare was THE most important thing to me, so had any complications arisen, then the mare would be the one I would be trying to save......thankfully none arose.

Having your own place is a major bonus when breeding though - it makes life so much easier not only for you but also for the mare being in familiar surroundings. There are loads of people who can answer most questions for you, there's a fantastic help-network on here, you can familiarise yourself with all that goes on through books, there's a tonne of books out there which will give you great knowledge, albeit in theory.

It might help you to read some of the people on heres blogs - I know Becki did a great blog about the breeding of her mare Hannah. All of this is gaining knowledge and giving you a good insight into what you might let yourself in for.

Best of luck whatever you decide - theres no rush as you've pretty much missed the breeding season this year. Take your time and think about all eventualities and you won't go far wrong.
 
Thanks for that Tia. I cant even consider it until my old boy has gone to heaven as if I had a colt he would kill it! So it wont be just yet! He's 31 and has outlived his expected age by 10 years so far! So Ive got plenty of time! Can you suggest any really good reading material?

I read all of Beckis blog! Its part of the reason I thought I might have a go myself!

Im just one of those people who likes to cross all the T's and dot all the I's before I take such a decision.
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I don't know the names of any books which would be useful to you but if you put up a post then I'm sure there are plenty of people on here who read/used trusted books.
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Probably best to do that, no disrespect but some of those stats are due to lack of knowledge re. foaling and could be prevented. Of course there is nothing nicer than foaling down your first mare. I don't see any reason why they wouldn't let you watch, just make sure you pick a close stud as it can happen in a flash!

We did have a nasty episode a few years ago when a foal presented through the anus, not nice at all!
 
My maiden mare foaled in April and went back to the stud to do so. I do not have the experience or expertise to even begin to think about foaling her at home. I asked them, at the stud, at what point do you call a vet and the answer came "probably when it's too late". Things can go irrevocably wrong very quickly. My mare foaled without any real problems although they had to help pull the foal out. Now, what would have happened if she'd been left to foal herself? Would I have lost the foal? I don't know, but I know that the "foaling fee" of £180 was worth every penny for peace of mind.

Have to you read Bossanova's tragic post on this Forum?

I was at the stud this morning where my mare still is (trying to get her to cycle properly so she can be inseminated again) and they were telling me about someone they know who had 3 brood mares, all due to foal this year. They decided that they would foal them at home. There were problems with the first two and the vet did not get there in time and they lost both the mares and the foals. They sent the third one back to the stud as they knew what they were doing and what to look out for.

Put your mares in foal by all means but I would be sending them back to the stud to actually foal.
 
I have lost 3 foals and 1 mare in 68 births. I know that that number would have been higher if we hadn't kept the mares under 24/7 observation. We have had several other differcult foalings!

I had a similar situation to Bossanova last year, but because I was there the whole time, I saw presentation wasn't correct when the first foot appeared and the second one didn't, I got my glove and had a quick feel and there was only one leg and then the head, so I put my arm in and managed to push the foal back abit (its very tough to do) and uncatch the other leg and pull it forward and foal the mare, both mare and foal were fine.

I echo forester, if you don't feel that you will be able to deal with a situation, its well worth paying someone experienced to foal the mare for you, things could still go wrong but you know that the people are used to dealing with foaling situations and probably the vet used will be highly experienced and the expert will have a direct number for the vet on call and won't have to go through an emergency line.
 
Thanks for that Forester and Horsegroupie! Thats just how I feel. I wouldnt know if something was wrong and could end up losing my girls through my own ignorance and that is not something I could live with. Whereas at a stud, irrespective of the cost, the people on hand would quickly know if there was a problem. Well, quicker than I would! And that could make all the difference.
 
When I first started breeding my friend gave me a little book called Mares, Foals and Foaling - A Handbook for the Small Breeder by Friedrich Andrist, which is a good starter book, its not an 'all mod cons' book, it just a good starter book.

When you get more involved in breeding I recommend Equine Reproduction and Stud Medicine by Jonathon Pycock and Equine Breeding Management and Artificial Insemination by Juan Samper, these are more advanced books, but the Pycock book has lots of when thing goes round scenarios with pictures which really helps you spot problems before its too late though it can also make you paranoid so not for the faint hearted
 
Mares, in very simple scientific terms, are breeding machines. They have a uterus, ovaries and so forth for one purpose - to reproduce. So on the one hand, it's not as if you're asking something of your mare that is not natural, in having a foal. However, as by choosing which mares to breed from, and which stallions we use, we have intervened in evolution and survival of the fittest, modern/domesticated mares may not be the most suitable for carrying a foal. If you want to have a foal, play it safe by having the mare checked for reproductive soundness. If it seems that she is large enough, conformationally correct (child-bearing hips), and mentally mature enough, then use AI (to prevent the risks of tearing etc.) together with careful monitoring. Feed her well, and keep her safe during gestation. Bring her into a stable in plenty of time and monitor her 24/7 - keeping a vet on standby/having one close-by, who is ready to help if help is needed.

If you take care of the mare, then the chances of losing the mare is very small. But, as with everything there is a risk; at least by allowing her to have a foal, you are letting her be a mother, which is what she is designed for, and what nature intended.

Jamie
 
Firstly, I hope my Blog didn't bore you too much. There were some emotional entries in there that I had forgotten about...

I am a first time breeder and there were several people (not on here) that tried to put me off because I had no previous experience. However, when I went to look at the stud where I was considering sending Han to be inseminated, the owner said to me that everyone has to start somewhere, and if you are willing to ask for advice and listen to those more experienced then you should be able to cope with it all.

I have asked for advice all the way through Hannah's pregnancy, birth and the four months following it. However, no advice could have prepared me for the actual process of Hannah foaling, it was so emotional for me that is something I will treasure forever.

Foaling is a risky business, just reading the experiences of people on here will make you see how many times it can all go wrong, whether that be a fatality or just people finding out their mares have aborted etc etc. However, if it goes right it is the most rewarding experience and something you will always be glad you have done.

As Tia has said, you have plenty of time to decide. The best book I bought was From Foal to Full Grown by Janet Lorch. It was my bible and was with me at all times when Hannah was coming close to her due date. I know it more or less inside out, and it is one thing I would certainly recommend should you even think about breeding. It has so much infomation in, offers you the worst case scenario and how to respond to this.

I hope this helps a little... please feel free to PM me, as I was in your shoes once!
 
Do you know if we all dwelled on what could go wrong we would all be extinct!! Of course things go wrong, but such is life. I & my mares "touchwood" have been very lucky, I know the risks, I also know not to dwell on them. We take risks every day we get into a car, or cross a road or even get on a horse. Having seen my friend have her 1st foal, seen what a great mum she is, I am glad I took the chance. I will second becki2003's choice of book "From Foal to Full Grown by Janet Lorch". And nothing beats foal watching, (well maybe your own offspring) & seeing their characters develope.
 
Sorry I have not responded! I have not been ignoring you but was a bit upset by a recent loss of a mare on this forum. This is what worries me and would put me off. However i do feel if I could let my girls foal at stud I would be doing the best for them. No disrespect meant to anyone but I have no experience of foaling and no confidence in my ability to identify a problem. Probably would be fine but... not willing to risk it!

Thank you to everyone. I will get some books to read during the summer. It is def something I would like to do but I want to make sure that I take every precaution I can to protect my girls. Sorry, anally retentive!!!

As I said to Tia I am not in a position to do anything yet but may well be ready next year. Watch this space!

Thanx again.
 
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