How long after having foal to ride?

LaurenB

LaurenB

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How long is the reccomended time to leave a mare after having a foal to ride again?
I will be producing a 4yr old who is due to have a foal in July. How long before I should start doing bits and bobs with her?
Very excited about her (owner only bought her today) and the baby is also meant to be very special :)
Thanks in advance!
 
i would wait until the foal is weaned, so 5 to 8 months depending on circumstances, mare, foal. so you will be bringing out a 5 yr old next season! enjoy your foal, and give the mare time to enjoy her motherhood and foal too. please dont rush this. anything rushed with horses does tend to go t*ts up!!!!
 
Knowing how I felt about going back to work after having my daughter I'd say to leave her as long as possible, and definitely until after the foal is well and truly weaned. As someone else has said, anything rushed with horses usually seems to go wrong. Good luck and look forward to seeing foal pics. :) x
 
Thank you! Not had a foal to help bring up before so very excited. Only ever had 4yr olds to bring on. I will make sure she has plenty of time, in no rush and want to do it properly.
 
Our mare foaled on 28 December. When the foal was about 8 weeks, my daughter started hopping on and having short bareback rides around the paddock.

At about 3 month sold she tacked the mare up and took her for a ride around the arena, and paddocks. The mare was quite happy, not bothered at all and the foal either trotted along or stood in the middle of the arena watching.

The foal was a bit bewildered by the whole thing, but not at all distressed. As long as mum was nearby, and in sight she was okay. She will be ridden again today.

Mum went over a couple of low cavaletti/jumps and the foal followed over once or twice.
 
It was perfectly clear jeeve. Flying solo was being sarcastic, as is the norm on this forum it seems.
Nothing wrong with the gentle work your mare is doing, indeed very educational for baby providing both are relaxed and happy with situation.
 
Just to add. On OP's question I wouldn't advise starting the mare until foal is weaned as the process will be totally different to having a bit of a ride on a previously ridden mare. The unbroken mare needs to concentrate on what you are
asking her to learn which is unfair and probably unproductive whilst her priority is her baby.
 
ribbons said:
Just to add. On OP's question I wouldn't advise starting the mare until foal is weaned as the process will be totally different to having a bit of a ride on a previously ridden mare. The unbroken mare needs to concentrate on what you are
asking her to learn which is unfair and probably unproductive whilst her priority is her baby.
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Yes missed the unstarted bit, would definitely wean the foal first, and then start the mare.
 
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