Colts and mares

Casey76

Casey76

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In a couple of weeks my friends mare will be coming back home. She is currently keeping a neighbours horse company while his normal field mate is away for schooling.

My colt is 9 months old. Will it be safe for them to share a field?

He has only been weaned a week, and still freely does "baby teeth" at his gelding field mate at the moment, and hasn't showed any "coltish" behaviour.

Having had a recent feel, I don't think his testicles have descended yet, but I would hate for there to be the possibility of an unwanted pregnancy.

If they can go in together, for how long will it be "safe"?

many thanks :)
 
Really wouldn't like to say. My friends colt went out with my mare up to being 14 months, but as she was 14.2 & he was around 8 hands it wasn't an issue, he spent more time playing with a gelded baby, never showed any interest. Could you not get him cut?
 
Its really hard to say, this mare could be a complete tart for example.

My colts are now coming up for 11 months old, just this week one of them has become completely hormonal and doesn't know what to do with himself, the other one is not too bad. It seems the warm weather and sun on their backs has set them off. I shall be phoning the vets for their best prices to geld a couple of colts on Monday... They are out with 2 fillies the same age, one of whom is very feisty and always duffing them up, the other one is more passive. I bring the boys in to their stables every night, hopefully minimising "opportunities". I am amazed at how quickly it came on... One moment they were fine, now it's got a bit tricky.

I think you would need to get them together and then decide. My understanding is that as soon as both testicles have dropped, you can geld, I'm sure your vet could advise you on this.
 
Thanks :)

The mare in question is 19yo and is not flirty at all. She doesn't "show" when in season, and has acted as auntie to young horses in the past.

She can see my colt from the field she is in, and has shown a protective interest in him up to now :)
 
Mine is 8 months old and very interested... in his field companion, a gelding. He doesn't get to play with my mare for obvious reasons, although he is 11 ish hands and she is 17 hands, so it's unlikely he could reach - although I've heard of stranger pairings :p

Apparently colts can get mares in foal from 6 months old, so I wouldn't risk it if I were you :)
 
I wouldn't even consider it.

I've just weaned my two ten month old colts from the rest of the youngstock - before they can get colty, or the weather warms up!

Your colt may not be capable yet, or he may. It would not be ideal to find out by discovering that the mare is in foal.
 
My two colts - eleven months old one traditional one partbred - were turned out with a rising 2 filly. Both were fine between 6 - 9 months, now partbred colt will mount at any opportunity despite filly double barreling him. This happened overnight (not Actually over night, they're out in the day)

the p/b colt is now out with the geldings but the traditional colt still goes out with the filly and hasn't shown any signs.

Please bear in mind, they are turned out when I am on the yard and I keep an eye on them, I wouldn't risk turn out with colts and mares at any age unattended.
 
Casey76 said:
If they can go in together, for how long will it be "safe"?
Click to expand...

I don't think there's any answer to that other than until he covers her... It's a big risk to take...

Ours is 10mths...due to be gelded this month as the turnout is mixed herd and he can't join them until he's done... There's a young filly and a maiden 19yr old pony in the herd so pregnancy is just not an option...
 
I have my 9 month old colt out with my mare at the moment! He is still very much a baby around other horses. His testicles have not yet dropped I have the vet coming later this week to discuss having him gelded but am fairly confident that he cant father anything just yet! I didnt really have much option tbh he had to go out (had been stabled 24/7 all winter as was semi feral so needed handling work first) as he was driving me crazy. He hasnt shown any signs of being interested in her and he too still does the foal teeth at other horses.
 
Foaly mouthing is no indication of whether they will cover or not! My 20 month old colt (well gelding as of lunch time today :D ) still does that at older horses or anything he perceives as more dominant that he isnt used to. Wouldnt stop him covering a mare though! He was removed from mixed grazing at coming 10 months old for trying to cover a mare who he regularly mouthed at....
 
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