Breeding Virgin

[ktj1891]

Okay so my long story cut short, first pony of 4 years last year broke her knee so vets recommending putting her down. Me being SO attached to her, decided to keep her going even though vets said she would probably not have quality of life.

Anyways she now as fully recovered as she could be, almost sound and living out, happy as larry, bar the fact she seems a bit bored being used to being ridden daily.

So I have advertised her as a broodmare, which my vet has completely backed me up on, however, no interest? Which I can understand why, but surely there must be a market for her to be bred with something.

Anyways, I have thought I may possible has the money to put her into foal myself next year, which may in return increase her chances of being taken on by someone else as a broodmare, once shes not maiden.

This is where I want the help of all you experts. How do I even go about putting her into foal, who do I speak to first vet/ stud?

The run down on costs if all goes well throughout pregnancy and birth as I know there can be complications ( I know all costs will be varied, depending on mare, situation, stallion stud, possible complications), but saying all goes well, the average cost of putting, keeping and birthing a foal?

All your responses will be much appreciated as long as there answer the above thankyou so much in advance x

 

[dianchi]

Um sorry to say but as you say she is almost sound doesnt sound like a good bet for a broodmare as your going to stress their body anyway and if she isnt 100% it might not be best idea.

As for breeding costs how long is a piece of string
All depends on how you choose to breed, (natural or AI) plus stallion costs etc.

I've finally got the chance to breed this year have a log at my blog for an over view of what its taken to get to 3/4 of the way there!

Good luck if you do chose to breed

 

[ktj1891]

Um sorry to say but as you say she is almost sound doesnt sound like a good bet for a broodmare as your going to stress their body anyway and if she isnt 100% it might not be best idea.

As for breeding costs how long is a piece of string
All depends on how you choose to breed, (natural or AI) plus stallion costs etc.

I've finally got the chance to breed this year have a log at my blog for an over view of what its taken to get to 3/4 of the way there!

Good luck if you do chose to breed

Yeah as ve said though vet has said shes fully capable of breeding from as shes a lot sounder than they ever expected. Shes almost sound, but i know of lots of unsound mares used as broodies. Okay ill look at blog, thankyou.

 

[emlybob]

My mare is 21 and she is lame and has been for the past 8 years. Not crippled just a little bit unlevel. She is exceptionally well bred, has had 5 foals and it as happy as she has ever been. Carrying the extra weight on her legs makes no deifference to her. I am not saying it is right to put lame mares in foal but she lives a great life, is a great mother and has thrown me and her old owner some seriously good foals

Costs can be extortionate but can also be reasonable, but with breeding it is the risk you take!! She hardly cost me anything to put in foal this year except stud fee and 3 scans as i AI myself so easier that way

Don't be put off but please don't just put her in foal so she has a job to do, please make sure she has the quality to throw you something really good, there are too many unwanted and average horses in this country

 

[Alexart]

I'm not really surprised no-one has been interested in her to be honest - she will be very prone to arthritis in the injured leg at an early age so will cost someone extra money to keep at a later point, plus with the extra weight on that leg being in foal it could make it worse, there is no guarantee she is fertile or a good mother, or that she will pass on her good points - there are tons of mares out there available that are 100% on all of the above and are still selling for peanuts!
Putting her in foal and trying to sell her on is still not even going to cover any of your costs and not really going to make her any more sale-able or guarantee her a good home for life - they may keep the foal and sell the mare on god knows where as they won't have the attachment you have to her. Plus there is still no guarantee to a buyer of a live foal or it turning out as they want so I wouldn't do that unless you are planning on keeping her regardless - it's usually the wrong sort of people wanting this sort of horse in foal for next to nothing so beware!

Agree with Emlybob - don't just put a mare in foal because she can't do anything else! You have to ask yourself - is she good enough to breed from - the market is flooded at the moment so adding to it is not a good idea!
The choice of stallion will be determined by what disciplines you are aiming to do with the foal, the stallion needs to compliment your mares weak points to give you the best chance of breeding them out - not always guaranteed, you need to think of the worse case and ask yourself would it still be a useful horse - if a mare has more than 3 major faults then I wouldn't breed anyway.
Then you need to get a breeding exam done by your vet along with her swabs and blood tests, if you are using live cover then a strangles swab will most likely also be needed. Then you can start visiting potential stallions and its then up to the stud to discuss with you what they offer - ie AI/Live, terms and conditions etc.

You also need to think do you have the facilities to foal a mare down, good grazing, safe fencing and a large foaling box, also having one foal on it's own isn't ideal at all, they need a buddy to play and socialise with and also be weaned with - sending her to a stud to foal and live until weaning is an option though. When it comes to weaning you need to keep mare and foal well away from each other for at least 2 months so she dries up and the foal gets used to being with its buddy without mum, so separate grazing will also be needed.
It's also VERY time consuming - have you got the time to keep checking a mare every 1/2 and hour day AND night sometimes for weeks on end when she is near her due date, bearing in mind they can go upto 6 weeks over it - that's alot of time staring at a mares butt!! Things can go very wrong in a very short space of time, so you need to watch them like a hawk - not all mares show the obvious signs and even the most experienced can be caught off guard! If you loose the mare can you afford the time and money it takes to bottle feed a foal?
Also as with breeding any animal - what happens if you end up keeping it if no-one wants it/it has an injury/didn't turn out as you wanted - can you provide a forever home for it? Also put aside money for its passport/microchip/gelding etc.
Cost wise it is far cheaper to buy a baby than breed one, we always tell people to put away at least £2500 before even thinking of breeding - and that is if all goes to plan - just to get the foal on the ground!!!
Read From Foal To Full Grown by Janet Lorch and Foaling Simplified by Sue Caldwell - these are great starter books and give you some vague idea of what you are letting yourself in for if you do decide to breed!!

If I were you I'd buy exactly what you are after and use her as a buddy and nanny and just keep her as a pasture pet, it will give her a job, and that way as well you are always going to know she gets the care she needs and no-one is going to try and do god knows what with her!

 

[Muchadoaboutnothing]

100% agree with alexart on this one im afraid.

I'm sure your mare would love to be auntie to a new horse.

I never thought my horse would adjust to being a field friend but he loved it. I always did make a big fuss of him and used to take him for outings inhand including taking him to shows just to tart him up and see the sights.

Please think long and hard as to if you really want a foal from your mare rather than putting her in foal just to give her something to do.

Best of luck with whatever you decide.