Would it be fine to breed from a 17 year old mare?

[horses for life]

My mare is 17 years old and I was just wondering wether it would be fine to breed from her. She is a strong mare but hasn't had any foals. Just wanting to know whether I should breed from her.

 

[Pinkvboots]

Depends its a bit old cut off of age for maiden mares is early teens normally and just because you can doesn't mean you should.

Is she sound?

What's her conformation like is she good enough to breed from?

 

[TheMule]

Physically fine, but may be harder to get her in foal so optimize your chances with an excellent repro vet

 

[ycbm]

Physically fine, but may be harder to get her in foal so optimize your chances with an excellent repro vet

And, going by what a friend used to do, fresh semen not chilled and especially not frozen, preferable from a young stallion??
.

 

[ycbm]

Depends its a bit old cut off of age for maiden mares is early teens normally and just because you can doesn't mean you should.

Is she sound?

What's her conformation like is she good enough to breed from?

If she isn't able to be ridden any more, what's the reason? An accidental injury wouldn't stop me, very hard work when younger and unsound now might be fair enough, but not standing up to work at a youngish age would be a risk I wouldn't take.
.

 

[Goldie's mum]

Personally I think that's too old. First foal before 10years is the usual rule round here.

 

[tda]

A friend of mine bred a first foal from a 16yr old mare, she coped very well and foal was born easily.

 

[Snowfilly]

Breed comes into it to. A 17 year old pony mare could still be almost in her prime of life, a big 17 year old warmblood could be well into veteran stages in terms of condition.

A fit healthy mare still in work, I’d have no issues with trying though.

 

[tda]

Breed comes into it to. A 17 year old pony mare could still be almost in her prime of life, a big 17 year old warmblood could be well into veteran stages in terms of condition.

A fit healthy mare still in work, I’d have no issues with trying though.

Agree, friends was a pony mare

 

[Errin Paddywack]

After I left the RS I worked at my old boss put a late teens mare in foal, she had a cracking filly and went on to have two more. All were live cover not AI. If yours is fit and well at 17 I would be tempted to go for it.

 

[horses for life]

Depends its a bit old cut off of age for maiden mares is early teens normally and just because you can doesn't mean you should.

Is she sound?

What's her conformation like is she good enough to breed from?

She is sound

 

[horses for life]

She is sound

She has good confirmation