how old for a first foal

[jennywalsh]

we have a super jumpinhg pony who will be 18 next year she hasnt had a foal before but we would love to breed from her what do you think

 

[GTs]

If she is healthy - go for it!! 20 for a maiden is the upper limit, and 24 is not unheard of if she has been put into foal.

I would speak to your vet about getting the tests done, and what not, but do be warned there is a high risks for complications. So make sure you have a bit of extra spending money, cause you might need it.

 

[jayvee]

Talking from ones own experience, and I only done this as liked the idea of my beloved horse being replaced by a progeny of hers for me to continue with, as I love her to bits.
I sent my 18yo mare to stud this summer for natural covering. She had and showed text book cycles and covering manners. So thought it would be a pretty good sign things would go to plan. But by end of summer and after all those attempts she never took! Yet she loved every minute with the stallion!! The stud could not explain why nor the vet. I decided to bring her home as I wasn't prepared to throw money at finding out why in detail. The only conclusions I came up with were
a) she is simply too old and guessing she may have never foaled prior to my ownership?
or b) Was not compatible with the stallion chosen (or vise-versa).
Have been offered a different stallion from the same stud next season, but how I feel at the mo it is unlikely I will go for it.
Reason... If good things don't want to happen now, and if she did take next time (being the grand age of 19) I dread a complicated gestation/birth or poor foal.???
Prob not the answer you were hoping for, but I too would be intrested to read replys to this post. It may lift my hopes again?

 

[Tia]

For me, I wouldn't consider having a maiden mare covered after 13 or 14 years old.

 

[PapaFrita]

My mare was 16 when she had her first foal. Got knocked up immediately and it was a very smooth pregnancy and foaling

 

[SirenaXVI]

Agree there Tia, 14 max for a maiden mare.

 

[AmyMay]

My mare is in foal for the first time and is 17. If they can conveive they can breed. Simple as that.

Good luck

 

[monica123]

good luck, at my friends yard, there is this old mare, over 20 i should think - about 24 i think she said......she was in foal

 

[Theresa_F]

If she is fit and healthy then I would consider it. Our arab had a foal at 20 and had no problems with her pregnancy and we found the foal in the morning so no problems giving birth.

Foal was born with part of the brain missing, but this was nothing to do with the age of the mare and could have happened to any mare.

 

[miss_bird]

My mare foaled this year for the first time at the grand old age of 19, she flew through the pregnancy and the birth. The foal is prob one of the strongest and she is just a fantastic mum.
If they are fit and well and are coming into season, then they are able to concieve and carry a foal.

 

[kerrylou123]

my mare is maiden, and will be 14 next June! Hence why being put in foal next year and no later! But i suppose its personal preference as everybody had their own thoughts!

 

[cariadssogreat]

I personally am getting a little scared at the thought of putting my 9 year old mare in foal for the first time!!!!

 

[MillionDollar]

IMO if she is fit and healthy go for it! You'll regret it otherwise. My 2 mares are 14 and 15 and in-foal for the first time.