Talk me out of wanting to put my mare in foal, please

[Shilasdair]

I have a 19yr old TB mare, had one (nice) foal when she was 4yrs old, without trouble, was ridden from 5yrs to 17yrs, and then has been off for a couple of years due to my work commitments.
I am now bringing her back into work, but keep having urges to put her in foal.
Please dissuade me.

S

 

[Bossanova]

It's expensive, risky and foals are definitely *not* cute.......

 

[KenRehill]

She's too old, you're in for a world of pain and expense.

 

[Shilasdair]

[ QUOTE ]
She's too old, you're in for a world of pain and expense.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's better...Boss was doing ok til she said 'cute', even negatively.
At what age is a mare too old?
S

 

[alleycat]

Foalie probably WILL be cute and that might seriously weaken your commitment to the Dark Side.


Whats her pedigree, then, so that we can say rude & discouraging things about her ancestors?

 

[dozzie]

It will make you want to have babies too!

 

[scotsmare]

I think at 19 she's a bit on the old side - especially as she hasn't been bred reguarly plus think how skint you'll be having to support a veteran mare and a possibly average foal.

Sorry Shils......

 

[Shilasdair]

[ QUOTE ]
Foalie probably WILL be cute and that might seriously weaken your commitment to the Dark Side.


Whats her pedigree, then, so that we can say rude & discouraging things about her ancestors?

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh, abusing her pedigree shows scope.

She is by Another Hoarwithy

out of a Meldrum mare....but is now so old that nobody probably even remembers who they were!

S

 

[Shilasdair]

[ QUOTE ]
I think at 19 she's a bit on the old side - especially as she hasn't been bred reguarly plus think how skint you'll be having to support a veteran mare and a possibly average foal.

Sorry Shils......

[/ QUOTE ]

I do have three already, so have embraced 'skint' as a way of life

S

 

[scotsmare]

Ok, so what were you planning to put her to then? oh skint one

 

[Three]

It's a LOT of money with no guarantee of a live foal, live mare or both.

My mare went to term with her first foal, all seemed well all the way through but it was still born.
Second foal is now a yearling.
This year we've had 5 attempts so far with still no foal.

My vets love me - I'm keeping the practice solvent.

(How am I doing??

)

 

[Shilasdair]

[ QUOTE ]
Ok, so what were you planning to put her to then? oh skint one

[/ QUOTE ]

That's a very good question. And one to which I don't have an answer.

Suggestions?!
S

 

[Bounty]

Tills had her first foal at 19...

 

[alleycat]

She sounds good! (Went & looked up Meldrum), Whats the dam line?

I'm not helping, am I?

 

[JanetGeorge]

[ QUOTE ]
Tills had her first foal at 19...

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah - it can happen. BUT - I have a now 19 year old TB who was a regular breeder until last year when we gave up after 5 tries. This year we started again - washout, Caslick's - the lot. She showed very little follicular activity in or between seasons and despite best efforts (and a £500 vet's bill) we have now given up and retired her. 19 IS old for a TB. By comparison my 18 year old RID got in foal first time around (as always!)

 

[Shilasdair]

But how do you know when one particular mare is 'old' or rather, 'too old' unless you try and fail?
S

 

[htobago]

Well, just to be really unhelpful, we had a 20yo mare to my boy last year - got in foal no trouble at the first attempt with chilled semen. Had a fabulous colt. Very cute!

Oh, and Another Hoarwithy was a very well-known and super sire! So we can't rubbish your mare's bloodlines!

I'm being no help at all, am I?

 

[KenRehill]

No, no help at all. She's 19, too old to start.

In these threads you always get the exceptions that think they prove the rule. They don't, they are the exceptions to the rule.

 

[Shilasdair]

Does anyone know of any stats regarding age of mare and likelihood of live foal, assuming she took (huge assumption, I know)?
S

 

[the watcher]

Seriously, what do you want to produce?

That would be the starting point for me, and given her age I would want to be looking at smaller or lighter stallions - would that suit you?

 

[CrazyMare]

Foals bite and kick and hurt. Sometimes.

 

[volatis]

they certainly hurt your bank balance.

 

[Shilasdair]

[ QUOTE ]
Foals bite and kick and hurt. Sometimes.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not mine. I don't allow it.
And as I said I have embraced 'skint' as a way of life.
Good try at dissuasion, though

S

 

[kanter]

[ QUOTE ]
She is by Another Hoarwithy

out of a Meldrum mare....

[/ QUOTE ]

If it's a colt you'll feel compelled to call it Victor Meldrum..

 

[Shilasdair]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
She is by Another Hoarwithy

out of a Meldrum mare....

[/ QUOTE ]

If it's a colt you'll feel compelled to call it Victor Meldrum..

[/ QUOTE ]

You are meant to be dissuading me, not making me laugh!
S

 

[Maesfen]

Well, I love Another Hoarwithy, cracking sorts usually by him so I won't be much help!
They cost lots, make you lose your hair and wear charity shop throwouts, you'll never have any time for yourself and they will always hurt you - but hopefully, only in the pocket.
On the plus side, they give you a massive sense of achievement and loads of love - if it all goes right.
Are you prepared for if, God forbid, it doesn't go right and you lose not only your foal but your mare too?

 

[Shilasdair]

I am thinking, that if she is not meant to have a foal, she won't take?
And I know any mare and foal can die...the risks being higher the older the mare.
I had heard that Another Hoarwithy stock had a reputation for being challenging rides? But don't know many...just mine.
S

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

If you want to put her in foal, then do it! Our mare had her first at 18, she was covered naturally over a three day period, and she took, carried and foaled no problem at all.

And you almost have a duty to carry on the Another Hoarwithy line!

Be realistic about her chances of getting in foal, as you've said she either will or won't, as long as you're cool with that then no harm done.

 

[delphipuppy]

Some mares of that age can get in foal but I think the biggest issue is what it will do to you.
1) You will be even more broke than you are now

2) you will spend the last 3 months staring stupidly at her stomach waiting to see the foal move

3) For at least two weeks you will be up every night all night waiting for her to foal down, this will turn you into a grumpy zombie

4) Foal has arrived and you now behave like a besotted idiot, boring the pants off everyone with endless tales of how foal fell over scratching it's nose and similar stories
5) Yours phone will be overloaded with images which you have to show to everyone!
6) You will never get any work done or have a social life as you will be in the field watching wonder foal eat, sleep and drink, whilst making stupid ahhhing noises.
7) worst of all you'll start calling yourself a grandmother

Hope this helps to put you off!

 

[charliesarmy]

Oh my god (Ken) I feel like a BAD owner now putting my 20 year old in foal it isn't her first (had one at 5)... but she's still 20 she caught 2nd AI attempt surely if she was too old it wouldn't have happened!!! but in fairness this horse was competing XC.HT.WH.SJ till she went to stud and I do beleive somebody should tell her how old she is cos she can be a tad CRAZY..please somebdy tell me I'm not a bad person!!!