Foalies!

M

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Just some questions, as my knowledge on breeding is non-existant.
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Sooo... What is the youngest and oldest a maiden mare can be to safely have a foal? How old can an experienced brood mare be?
 
I'm no expert, but I do know that if your mare is healthy she can have a foal well in her 20s. I know of a naughty yearling getting a 27 year old mare in foal. all went well!!
 
You can breed them from whenever they start to come into season, often around 1 year - 18 months old.......however I NEVER would, and no right-minded person would.

4 years old is my preferred age to start breeding from - they will be 5 when the baby is born.

The oldest I personally would breed a maiden is 14, giving birth at 15.

Seasoned broodmares can be bred (so long as they are fit and healthy) right up until they stop having seasons, often around 25 or older. Mind you one of mine is 19 and she has stopped having seasons.
 
I agree with Tia. I would love a foal from one of my mares, but she is a maiden aged 21, I would hate to risk her.

A friend of mine bred a foal from a maiden aged 20 and she had a mad panic and broke her leg and they lost her. Of course lots of people are successful.
 
LOL!! I wouldn't put it past them, although knowing what the tarty mares are like.....I expect she just crouched down to let him in!! The mares are far worse than the stallions most times.
 
I think 3yrs is better then they foal at 4yrs, & are ready to continue their ridden career, because there is no reason not to start them at 3yrs in early pregnancy. If they go on to be sucessful then they can safely be put back in foal (if necessary) later in life. Also if you want to get the mare graded she will have offspring which will give a better indication of what she can breed. My mare had no problems when she graded 1 with the then HIS because she had a foal at foot. Plenty of people put their mares in foal at 2yrs, but I feel this is too young, but as already discussed in other posts this is common overseas.
 
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