How many

[springfallstud]

foals would you take from one mare and do you ever give them a year off?

 

[mat]

We would keep breeding until the mare starts to struggle either with weight or labour etc. We give Mares a year off every 3 yrs x

 

[vicijp]

Same as above with regards to how many.
As for a year off, they generally work those out for themselves.

 

[henryhorn]

Ours have had up to three then a year or two off.
This year one mare will be pts, she's getting on, and her old injury from a kick as a four year old is obviously troubling her more. She's often had a year off when covered by outside stallions and she hasn't caught...
two others who are regular breeders will both have a year off and two more are being sold.
If you look at humans no-one ever suggests they have a year off do they? !!!
Though in their case perhaps they don't conceive again quite so quickly...

 

[volatis]

We tend to breed every year with a break every 3 or 4 if we feel the mare needs it. I didnt cover one of my mares this year as her foal was not born till June and I want to bring her forward a bit as as this was her 4th foal I thought it was a good point to give the winter off. With the older mares we never set a limit in terms of time for retiring them, but let them dictate it, if they struggle with their condition or are difficult to get in foal then they will be retired.

One mare puts so much into her foals that she is an every other year mare.