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Stud colts can breed as early as six months and I have heard of mares foaling out in their late 20's. I personally don't believe horses should be bred before 4-5 at least and until they have a show record AND they are broke. JMO. there are just tooooo many unwanted horses to make more horses that aren't spectacular!
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An owner might test breed a few proven mares to a good stallion prospect when stallion prospect is 2 or 3 years old, and then continue on showing and promoting the stallion prospect-- if the "test crop" is not up to par, the prospect can be gelded before alot more time and money is invested into a show career and advertising as a stallion prospect-- if the test crop looks favorable, the stallion's career and promotion can continue and there will also be some early offspring growing up that can begin their show and competition careers, and show prospective mare owners what the stallion is siring.
Mares are capable of being bred at 2 or 3, but most people wait a few more years. Some people want the mare to have a successful career to prove she is worthy of reproducing-- others are OK with the mare having proven close relatives.
Breeding always has risks to the mare, and some risks increase as the mare gets older, but with proper care and feeding and appropriate vet exams and care, it is not unreasonable to see mares producing into their 20s.
Edited to add-- colts and fillies are sometimes physically able to be bred as young as 6 to 10 months-- but obviously just because their little bodies are capable does not make it the best choice. 2-4 years is considered the youngest to "safely" breed, with 2 not being acceptable to many people as still too young.
Mares are capable of being bred at 2 or 3, but most people wait a few more years. Some people want the mare to have a successful career to prove she is worthy of reproducing-- others are OK with the mare having proven close relatives.
Breeding always has risks to the mare, and some risks increase as the mare gets older, but with proper care and feeding and appropriate vet exams and care, it is not unreasonable to see mares producing into their 20s.
Edited to add-- colts and fillies are sometimes physically able to be bred as young as 6 to 10 months-- but obviously just because their little bodies are capable does not make it the best choice. 2-4 years is considered the youngest to "safely" breed, with 2 not being acceptable to many people as still too young.
Very good point. I still believe that a stallion should at leat be critiqued by the breed's judges before even siring as a 2/3 year old. AND if it turns out to be a terrible "experiment" crop...really...what happens to the foals? feedlot? they just become part of the unwanted horse population....sigh...i am not an animal rights activist and i believe that everyone should have the right to do what they want with their animals...but i also believe in common sense
Besides....unless he is stunning quality at a 2/3 year old he shouldn't even have an "experiment" crop of foals...especially for someone inexperienced....JMHO...not trying to ruffle anyone's feathers:wink:
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There are no specific age requirements, it just depends on what shape the horse is in and it's health but you obviously wouldn't want to be breeding a very young...anything, you ESPECIALLY do not want to breed a young mare, I would never breed a mare under the age of 5 and probably wouldn't breed a mare past 20. I think mares should always be checked by the vet before being bred.
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>>>>> Very good point. I still believe that a stallion should at leat be critiqued by the breed's judges before even siring as a 2/3 year old. AND if it turns out to be a terrible "experiment" crop...really...what happens to the foals? feedlot? they just become part of the unwanted horse population....sigh...i am not an animal rights activist and i believe that everyone should have the right to do what they want with their animals...but i also believe in common sense:grin:
>>>>Besides....unless he is stunning quality at a 2/3 year old he shouldn't even have an "experiment" crop of foals...especially for someone inexperienced....JMHO...not trying to ruffle anyone's feathers:wink:
Actually I agree with everything above-- Thats why in my post I said "GOOD stallion prospect" and made sure to mention that he would already be on the way to being shown and promoted. But since OP asked about age for breeding, not quality for breeding, I was intentionally being pretty general as far as applying any quality judgement beyond the little I did offer-- more just trying to answer the question asked--- since we could post pages about breeding quality all by itself.
>>>>Besides....unless he is stunning quality at a 2/3 year old he shouldn't even have an "experiment" crop of foals...especially for someone inexperienced....JMHO...not trying to ruffle anyone's feathers:wink:
Actually I agree with everything above-- Thats why in my post I said "GOOD stallion prospect" and made sure to mention that he would already be on the way to being shown and promoted. But since OP asked about age for breeding, not quality for breeding, I was intentionally being pretty general as far as applying any quality judgement beyond the little I did offer-- more just trying to answer the question asked--- since we could post pages about breeding quality all by itself.
>>>>> Very good point. I still believe that a stallion should at leat be critiqued by the breed's judges before even siring as a 2/3 year old. AND if it turns out to be a terrible "experiment" crop...really...what happens to the foals? feedlot? they just become part of the unwanted horse population....sigh...i am not an animal rights activist and i believe that everyone should have the right to do what they want with their animals...but i also believe in common sense:grin:
>>>>Besides....unless he is stunning quality at a 2/3 year old he shouldn't even have an "experiment" crop of foals...especially for someone inexperienced....JMHO...not trying to ruffle anyone's feathers:wink:
Actually I agree with everything above-- Thats why in my post I said "GOOD stallion prospect" and made sure to mention that he would already be on the way to being shown and promoted. But since OP asked about age for breeding, not quality for breeding, I was intentionally being pretty general as far as applying any quality judgement beyond the little I did offer-- more just trying to answer the question asked--- since we could post pages about breeding quality all by itself.
lol....another very good point...i will keep my mouth shut more often:wink: OP...are you considering breeding and if so what are the horses actual ages?
The horses Im considering is a SE Arabian Stallion that will be 3 in May and a SE Arabian Mare that is 15 in June. Im thinking Im going to just pay for her to breed to another stud and what on my 3 year old though. And Im planning on only breeding her once or twice and buying a couple more SE Arabian mares that are around/between 5 and 10. (and I like yalls additions on quality!)
Yes, there both under my horses there the only ones that arent sold. I want to show them, well im wanting to start a breeding/training/showing/boarding farm for mostly SE Arabians. She has had 3 foals before and 1 of them was premature because she ate to much hay=( and one of them is on my page as Penny.do you have pics ?
Has the mare had a foal before? 15 is a little up there for a maiden mare,but lots of people have done it.....
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