another stupid question

Hi guys
Iv got a friend who wants to breed her mare next year but he is hesitant as an "experenced' horse friend said she seen several mares who after they have had foal develope horrible temperments and after foaling are terrible to ride and handle. I have never heard this but admittedly havnt been involved in mares and foals that much. Does anyone no anything about this so I can help my friend out??
Thanks

In my experience that is a load of crock!! None of my mares' personalities have change afterward weaning. While caring for a foal I have had two that got very protective, but once weaned everyone was back to normal.

Yeah that's what I thought

If there is extreme incorrect handling of the foal in relation to the mother I.e removing the foal from her sight at random times then I have heard that it can have a long lasting psychological effect on the mare. However, for this to happen I would think (unless the mare is a psycho horse anyway in which case unsuitable for breeding) that it would have to be someone with no background in horses whatsoever and little common sense! It is true that some mothers do become more protective than others but it should not really last longer than weaning; many will actually start to lose protective interest a little before weaning.
However, I think a google search is in order to get other opinions just in case!

This mare is a lovely horse. She is prone to lamness which is sad becasue she is a lovely horse she had string halt from which she was just recovering and then got a hoof absess so it is doubtable if she wll ever be able to be riden in the way my friend wants to (full on work jumping dressage) so she thought she would put her into foal.
Thanks for all your opionions any more are welcome

GOOD IDEA!!
Lucky you got a mare otherwise if a gelding got lameness you would either sell it as a lawn mower/pet or have to put it down

CHEERS

I've never had problems with personality changes in mares. With the possible exception of them being protective of the foal. But that goes away once weaned. I've actually had mares become more friendly after being bred. Possibly because of not cycling monthly. I will say that if the lameness is a genetic defect I would not breed her. It is just possibly passing on a defect to her young. If the lameness is due to an injury only it shouldn't be a problem. You might want to consider that if the mare is too lame,(whatever the reason) the weight of a pregnancy may be too stressful for her.

She hasnt got genetic lamness she had stringhalt and after wards though it cleared it up she has been prone to lamness every since she is fine if you don't ride her but if you do she becomes lame. So I don't think she would be to lame to have a foal as it does not afect her unless ridden regularly and in moderate work

Being pregnant is A LOT of work and is physically very hard on mares. Imagine having a 100lb person on her back 24/7. (the weight of the baby, placenta, amneiotic fluid, and extra blood weighs over 100lbs) Could she take that? If not, then I wouldn't breed her. If she could, then I would be very cautious and watch her. You wouldn't want to have to put her down and lose them both.

I agree with everything that has been said. None of the mares we have ever bred changed after becoming a mum. Except for becoming a lil' bit protective - but that's understandable, and most mares are definitely ridable after having a foal.

- I agree. Which makes it really quite stress free to wean!



Tally-Ho.