People who've bred foals, need your advice please!

SNORKEY

SNORKEY

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Hi, my mothers mare is only 10 yrs old and has been retired a year now from having two area's of kissing spine.
We are thinking of putting her in foal, as she looks so board in the field and we would like to keep it afterwards.
Anyway we have no experience with foals, or getting a mare in foal.
Firstly once we have found an attractive stallion for her, do we take her to him, or should be go down the Artificial insemination route, however that works??
Once she's in foal, do we have to keep her seperate, or is she ok with the other mare and gelding until near the time.
And finally how do we help her foal, what if something goes wrong?

Lots of questions I know!, and answers are much appreciated.

:)
 
I personally wouldn't breed from a mare with KS. What does the vet say her chances of passing on her spinal conformation/problems to her foal are?
 
The vet said she would be fine, her old owner spent a lot of money having it investigated with her, she didn't opt to have her operated on as she only had a 50/50 chance and the insurance wouldn't cover it for some reason.
Ive also asked my own vet as I thought it may put pressure on her back, but she said she couldn't think why she would have any problems either.
 
I'm afraid I'm another who wouldn't breed from a mare with KS, I would be too worried about the genetics (passing on the condition or a weak spine) and about putting a strain on her and causing pain when close to foaling - anyone who has ever given birth knows how much it affects your back and the way a horse is made up means there must be SOME strain caused.
 
sorry, in reply to your questions, whether you take her to the stallion or use AI depends on your preference and whether the stallion does natural coverings or not. If you choose AI this can be done either at the stud or you can have straws sent to a local AI specialist vet who can 'do the deed' at home. Our mare ran with her field mate (sire of foal but then gelded) up to the birth and after the first few weeks, she came in with foal for a few weeks because it was so cold (April) whilst he went away to be started for 3 weeks, when he came back they went straight back in together. I would have kept her separate for a while though if he hadn't gone away because she was very foal proud and protective.
 
Im not going to comment on the kissing spine problem.
However if you do decide to breed from your mare once you have decided which stallion you would put her to, im sure that the stud will give you a lot of the information your looking for. They will advise on how best to look after your mare during and after foaling. Dependant on weather the stallion is based in this country or which technique the stud use will depend on weather they do AI or not..My mare i wanted her to know what was going on as it where, so had a traditional covering. Which was fine the stallion was very gentle.
I'm sure if the field companions she has are quiet enough and she is settled i see no reason why she couldn't stay with them until maybe a month before she is due. As for afterwards i kept my foal with my mare for 7 months and then they both went back to the stud to be weaned only because i wanted my foal to bond with other foals before she got separated from her mum . They were completely separated for about 6 weeks and they have been together ever since with no problems at all.
Breeding is not all its cracked up to be sometimes ..so make sure you are prepared to deal with all the possible outcomes.
 
Thanks for the replys guys, I must admit the only reason we havn't thought about it until now is because we thought it would hurt her back, but when two vets and a back lady says she'd be fine, then it got me thinking.
I think il do a bit more investigating as to wether she would be ok with the kissing spine.
 
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