Help me please… breeding nerves

[Ladybird L]

I was hoping to put my Irish Sports Pony type mare in foal this year, as she had to be retired due to injury.
I had established that it wouldn’t be a terrible idea
(a) I’m keeping it
(b) she was a super pony and done and won a lot
(c) she has good conformation

She is 20 years old though.. and maiden. And she’s a bit lammi prone. (Easy kept sound/not lammi when in work though)
And it’d be my first time.
Talk me through everything. Please. I really wanted to do this, I have looked at stallions, youngstock livery, potential foaling livery, everything..
but as it gets closer to the time i want to breed her the more I feel out of my depth I’m having second thoughts…
Please talk me through this whole breeding process, from heat to breeding to foaling and help me decide if I’d be making a big mistake..

Thanks so much and sorry for bothering you all again.

 

[Xmasha]

Firstly shes getting on a bit for a first foal. Have you had her checked out / scanned and swabbed to see if there are any issues ?

Also being prone to lammi would worry me, the heavier the mare gets when in foal the more risk of lammi. Not a risk id want to take

 

[Ladybird L]

Yes these are things I’m worried about. Especially the lammi..

I haven’t had her checked yet (only if I decide to go ahead) but a very experienced breeder told me that she looks like she’d be ok. So that was what I’d be counting on, to go ahead with the checks.

 

[Xmasha]

All i can advise is to be aware that trying to get an old maiden mare in foal can be expensive, you maybe one of the lucky ones where she catches first time. But my experience with older mares is not to bother, it cost me a small fortune with a couple of older mares and no foal.
I certainly wouldnt count on anyones advise from just looking at the mare. You need a proper repro examination by a repro vet. They need to check if shes still cycling and if she is clean. Then go from there.

 

[Ladybird L]

All i can advise is to be aware that trying to get an old maiden mare in foal can be expensive, you maybe one of the lucky ones where she catches first time. But my experience with older mares is not to bother, it cost me a small fortune with a couple of older mares and no foal.
I certainly wouldnt count on anyones advise from just looking at the mare. You need a proper repro examination by a repro vet. They need to check if shes still cycling and if she is clean. Then go from there.

Ok thank you…

 

[TheMule]

I wouldn’t do it, personally. 20 is reproductively old, especially for a maiden so your chances of success are low. You're getting to the point in the year where you're only going to get a couple of goes at it to have a foal born at a reasonable time next year. The laminitis prone would definitely put me off ad could be dangerous for the mare, plus risk of dystocia increases with age so your chance of losing the mare/ foal or both is increased.

If you are intent on it then get a uterine biopsy done this week to more accurately gauge your chances of success. She will then need her swabs and scans doing asap to get going. Use fresh semen or very high quality chilled and use the best repro vet you can find.

 

[tda]

Agree, you definitely need to get a vet to scan and see what's going on in side, no one can tell from looking at the horse !

 

[HopOnTrot]

My mare is a similar age and to me she would be too old and precious to breed.

Could you look at using a surrogate mare?

 

[cariadbach10]

I tried AI with an eighteen year old mare- not a maiden- and failed. If you’re going to do it (and I do agree with others re. 20 being old for a first foal) go for natural cover.

 

[Ladybird L]

I think after reading replies, i won’t do it. I love her too much to risk stuff going wrong, I’d never forgive myself if anything happened. And I think, although she is lovely and would make a lovely baby, if I’m honest with myself, it wouldn’t be worth a surrogate mare. I could go out and buy a similar type weanling for half as much as that would cost…

Thanks everyone for coming to my rescue yet again.

 

[Cortez]

I used to run a studfarm and had a good reputation for getting "difficult" mares in foal. I have had success with precisely ONE mare over 20, out of probably 10 tries. Laminitis is a strong worry; there is such a thing as foaling-induced laminitis, and it's more common in older mares.

 

[TheMule]

I think after reading replies, i won’t do it. I love her too much to risk stuff going wrong, I’d never forgive myself if anything happened. And I think, although she is lovely and would make a lovely baby, if I’m honest with myself, it wouldn’t be worth a surrogate mare. I could go out and buy a similar type weanling for half as much as that would cost…

Thanks everyone for coming to my rescue yet again.

Well done, the best choicest are not always the easiest, but you're doing the right thing!