Can you breed from a mare after colic surgery?

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I was just wondering whether anyone knew whether a mare could have a foal after having colic surgery? I am not talking imminently after it, but in a few years time?
 
You'd obviously need vet advice on your particular mare as each are different but if she has shown no further signs of being susceptible to colic and is healthy in all other aspects I don't see why not; I've known several mares that have foaled successfully after colic even if they haven't had surgery. If it was me to be on as safe a side as you can be, I'd use a smaller stallion than normal (even by AI) that is known to throw smallish foals and make sure she doesn't get too heavy while carrying. Unusually for me, I would also advocate hacking her (at walk!) up to the last month to make sure she is fit enough for the birth.
 
Hi,

I did.

Four times. Healthy mare and foal and easy deliveries each time, Also went on to hunt, and long distance, and train to race again.

It really does depend on your horse and obviously go with what your Vet will advise. My mare had major surgery at Rossdales with lots of bits of gut taken out and she was fine, as she also had tendon trouble we were advised to put her in foal and turn her away for two years.
 
Thanks... she did not have anything removed, it literally was just that she was opened up to check everything was where it should be as her small colon was very distended with gas
frown.gif


The problem is she is a 17hh mare anyway, so she would be going to a stallion of a similar height as it would be a foal for me not to sell on... I was thinking Jazz as he is a horse I think would compliment her greatly...
http://elitedressagestallions.co.uk/stallions-jazz.htm

Ideally I would like to continue competing her once she comes back into work, but I would like to breed from her in the distant future when she is 14/15 sort of age (she is 6 at the moment).

Rebecca x x x
 
I will speak to the vet when I next phone up... but just thought there might be someone who had some experience with a mare who had undergone colic surgery in the past.

I would still like to breed from her in the future... but as she is 7 next year I was thinking more when she is 14 or 15 at which point I would think the scar would be non existant.
 
It's not that the skin scar is a weakness, but the underlying muscle layers which have been sutured. In both humans and horses the muscle layer is sutured with a non dissolvable material such as nylon, therefore even in years to come it is still there. A lot may depend on the position of her incision (do they do a midline under the tummy or is it on the side?)
 
We did, we now have a healthy weanling filly and a healthy mum too.

Only thing was where she had had her stitches and she was a month or two away from having her foal there were lumps on her belly from where she'd had the op - looked a bit strange but she was fine.
 
You would have to consult your vet, but I have worked with mares that have had colic surgeries (more than one - though years apart) that have carried on breeding - even in the same year!
 
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