help all you breeders

[marmite]

we are thinking of breeding fionas daughters pony next year but i was just wondering as she has never had a foal before and she is 14 woud this be a really stupid idea someone at the yard told me she wouldnt be able to be bred from but i cant see why not i have known broodmares alot older than her.

I was just wanted to know as my knowledge on breeding is very little i know what to do with them 6 months onwards but the actual breeding process i know diddly squat about.

 

[Helen010382]

IMHO 14 is too old for a first foal.

I personally wouldn't do it.

 

[marmite]

right ok is there a general reason for this or is it based on more complications ect i mean dont get me wrong we will consult vets ect too.

 

[minesadouble]

My mum breeds riding ponies & section Bs and gets a lot of mares when they have finished a career under saddle, she's bred from maiden mares up to 15yrs & not had any probs. so if the mare's worth breeding from & is healthy I wouldn't see there being a problem.

 

[MillionDollar]

My 2 mares are in-foal for the first time at 14 and 15 (will be 15 and 16 when foals are born). As long as the mare is healthy it is completely fine. I've known maiden mares of 18 have perfectly healthy foals. My friend breeds palomino ponies and they are putting a mare in-foal next year for the first time and she will be 16.

 

[varkie]

It is generally accepted that mares can have their first foal up until they are in their mid/late teens, however I have known a number of mares now who have struggled to conceive a first foal then. As long as your vet clears your mare as being physically fit & in good health, there is no physical reason not to try to get her in foal. Do be sure you want to do it tho - I always used to want to put my husbands big mare in foal, and then we began breeding natives, and I saw just what a toll it can take on a mares body - I made the decision then not to actually put her in foal.

 

[magic104]

I recommend you get her scanned 1st, as we had 2 mares at our yard that did not take due to water in the uterus. Tan is 18yrs old & had 3 foals when she was younger but they could not get her in-foal this year. Mo has unknown history but believed to be about 12yrs she is due to have her 1st foal next June. So long as the mare is fit & healthy & the scans show no problems I do not see a problem, though your vet is the best person to advise. Good luck we are having lots of fun with this years little monster!!

 

[Tempi]

im going to be putting Bloss in foal not this year but next year and she will be 14 coming up to 15 so nearly 16 when her foal is due. It will be her first and only aswell. i might put her in foal this year but its not yet decided, ive got to save some money first.

Anyways, i digress.........as long as the horse is fit and healthy then there shouldnt be any real problems. ive discussed things with my vet and Bloss had test this year and it all came back ok. obviously she will have them again when the time comes.

 

[KateStartin]

14 should be fine as long as she is healthy, it can be difficult for a maiden mare of this age to concieve due to aging of the endometrium and yes fluid retention can be a problem. However we used to scan mares then inject with (hormone that i have completely forgotten the name of!) to get rid of fluid if needed and had very good conception rate even in older mares.

Would advise starting early and getting the help of good breeding vet (some non-secialists not so helpful), timing is everything, oh and be prepared to spend some money! Good Luck!!!

 

[Tia]

[ QUOTE ]
i have known broodmares alot older than her.

[/ QUOTE ]

Absolutely. Broodmares can be bred for as long as they are able to conceive providing they are in good condition.......however this mare is NOT a broodmare; she is a maiden mare; big difference.

If she is 14 now, then she will be bred at 15 years old and will foal at 16 years old......no I think that is asking for trouble and I personally wouldn't do it.

I deliberated long and hard about whether to put Cloud in foal. She will still be 13 when she foals and she is not a maiden mare........however it was 10 years ago when she last foaled so I basically treated her as if she was a maiden.

 

[amandaco2]

i wouldnt do it if you dont know anything about breeding, its very risky to those who do!
its much safer to buy one.
the mares age is fine for a foal, although it could be shes more likely to be difficult to get and keep in foal and may have more problems foaling and post foaling.
its not cheaper to breed than buy it usually costs around #2,000 to get your foal on the ground and to 6months old.
my mare was 15 and concieved fine first time(shes also a maiden) carried fine, foaled-needed vet as she had a few difficulties at 1am!, rejected foal and needed 24hour supervision for 3 days until she settled(or we would have to hand rear-feeding every hour!) and mu filly cost me around 3k from sending to stud to a month old.
especially as your mare could delivery a dead/'faulty'(or not as you wanted foal whom you then have to sell) foal, your mare could die or both could die.mares dont often have complications i must say but it IS a risk even if you have all the scans and vaccinations etc done and take the utmost care.
i would say if you DO want to breed to look into it in ALOT of detail first find out what you are getting into.practical experience is best.
also if you are breeding for your daughter, bear in mind youngsters can be challenging to an adult and arent the best horses for children.and you have to wait until they are 3 before you can even start to get on their backs lol!

 

[BuckingHorse]

My old competition mare had her first foal this year aged 18. She conceived on the first attemp and had no problems with pregancy or birth and looks better than ever.
I do agree with amandaco2, do loads of research and remember it is not a way to get a cheap horse!

 

[marmite]

hey guys please dont think i have been ignorant thanks for all the advice.