How long would you keep pregnant mare in work?

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Peacelily

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I'm contemplating putting my mare in foal, she's getting on a bit and I want another foal from her. She's 16 (eep!) but she's not a maiden as previously had a foaly about the age of 5. She's currently competing at around intermediate level and looking very well etc... I'd like to keep her in work and as fit as possible as having a foal is not marking the end of her career and I'd like to think it's healthier keeping them in work and toned etc...but how long would you keep working for during gestation?

thanks
 
My mare is in foal and due next May. We are only happy hackers, but all being well, I would like to work her up until about Christmas or a bit longer if she is happy with it.
 
It depends on the horse mostly. you can do only very light work like hacking out. but i would stop around five months before she is due to be on the safe side.
 
Year before last I rode my quarter horse mare up till end of november and she foaled 12th may. Intend to do the same again this year before she foals early may 09
 
you can keep her in work as long as she is happy and the mare is not to big many peoople on the forum kept there mares in work until approx 8months and just ride them as normal
 
i rode lightly until 9 months as she fretted when not in work so vets gave all clear to ride up until then
i think it depends on the horse whatever keeps them healthy and happy. but i would always check with my vets
 
Down to the mare & how happy she is with it. Just one thing to remember though & that is to keep an eye on your saddle, as she changes shape it will effect the fit.
 
I was speaking to a very experienced breeder the other day and he was saying that they had a mare to foal down there whos owner had been riding her a bit too much and the horse was quite muscley and tonned and he said it was very hard for her to get the baby out and the baby was small.
He thinks that the last 5 months should just be left to get bigger and.... i cant really think of the word he said..... not wobbly.... but something like that!! To let baby grow and everything a bit looser to get it out lol
 
General light hacking etc is fine but not work as such as I have seen many a mare worked up until 3/4 months till due date and not been able to relax enough ready to foal and have seen and dealt with some serious problems due to mare being too muscled up etc. This year I have seen a mare in work up until Nov then foaled early Feb/March and you wouldn't have known she was in foal. Mare fine but foal had some real leg problems straight away, due to not enough room, which resulted in alot of work and expence for owners. Not every mare is the same but if you are going to the expence of putting your mare in foal then I would be on the cautious side.
Mare and foal fine now but foal is still having remedial farriery to correct a couple of things but shouldn't be a long term problem. At intermidiate level personally I would stop at least 5 months before and then maybe let down lightly but seeing as she's not a maiden you may be able to work slightly longer. It just depends on how you feel she is looking. If in doubt please speak to someone who breeds for a living as they would be more than happy to help.
Good luck with your mare and I am sure everything will be fine.
x
 
Thanks for this everyone - it's really encouraging to hear that people are quite happy to keep them in light work - my mare isn't stressy at all but does enjoy her work and having fun and less worry with not being maiden - tbh if she was maiden i don't know if I'd consider letting her be covered at 16....
if there's more opinions please keep commenting as I'm happy to hear as many as poss
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x
 
I have ridden my mares until they were about 6 months (Light work just gentle hacking) But will take them for a walk inhand up to 2 months before they foal, they seem happy to go for a walk in the evening especially in this hot weather.

It does give them a change of scenery which they like.
 
My mare is 4 months pregnant and a maiden. vet gave the all clear to carry on with her regular work which is just riding club type stuff like dressage, jumping lightly and schooling. She has a scan in August and by then she'll be 5 months, I'll chat with my vet again about it then and maybe stick to light work at that stage but the trouble is if they aren't being worked they can become tricky to handle so if you keep your horse at a yard where other people handle your horse, it's tricky.
 
My mare was worked and competed Elementary dressage until she was just over 6 months. After that she started finding it a bit more difficult so we just stuck to hacking for a further two months and then after that I left her to just chill out and relax
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I listened to her more than anything else, and while she felt really up for working until just over the six months mark, I knew when to stop
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