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Too Old to Foal?

2K views 4 replies 5 participants last post by  SunnyDraco 
#1 ·
So, my girls been having it rough lately- she's really been trough a lot of less fortunate events, all due to circumstance and murphy's law- the only time she injures herself is when she's in her stable.
Anywho, for a while i've been looking at breeding her, because she has the greatest personality, is super hard working, and is great at dressage, jumping eventing and she adheres very well to the breed standard.
(And of course I would choose a very appropriate and well-merited stallion, so the offspring would always have a good shot at life, even if the time comes that it must be sold for whatever reason)
However. My mare was born in 1999, and i 'met' her when she was 4- so i doubt that she was bred before that.
Thus, I'm going to assume that if I do decide to breed her, it will be her first foal. So my question is- is she too old to have a first baby?
 
#4 ·
I had my maiden QH mare bred at 11 years old. First, I had my Vet palpate her to check that her reproductive organs were in good condition. I got my mare when she was an 8 year old and my Vet knew her from the time she and I became each others. She did very well throughout her pregnancy with no problems. I had her bred by a TB stallion and she only a bit of a time of it delivering the foals shoulders and withers. Which is a common occurence sometimes. I then did have her bred again at 13 years old by a cutting bred QH stallion. She had no problems whatsoever foaling that 2nd time. We got such a nice filly I bred her back at 14 years old to the same QH stallion and again no problems at all. Now as a 25 year old my mare is as heathy as she was in 1995 as an 8 year old.
 
#5 ·
My sister bred her maiden mare last year and has about 4 weeks left in the pregnancy. Her mare will be officially 18 years old soon (my sister has had her mare since the moment of conception, still has has her 27 year old dam too). But the sooner you breed a maiden, the better, you will reduce your risks when they have their first foal when they are younger.
 
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