Braodmear problam?

Question

JOKE JOKE.....

But seriously I have my mare at stud being covered by a great stallion (AI). She is 19 and we are sure she has foaled before but not in the last 10years. She has some cysts but no large ones as far as I am aware. The vet has assured me she is 100% sound to be bred.

My question is how much trouble do you think she will have conceiving and carrying a foal to term?

She will be going back to the stud which the vet owns to deliver the foal so that any complications will he handled by experts. The reason I am breeding her is because she has excellent conformation and temperament, has won every show I have entered her in and the stallion has had the top priced foals at Irish sales for the past few years and is a world renowned, NOT so I can have a khuuute Kulured fole! So no rants about not breeding horses for the sake of it, please.

Thanks in advance for your personal experiences and knowledgeable answers.

Answer 1

If she is in good body condition and good health i.e. blood work is good/ ultrasound evaluation of the ovaries are good/ uterine biopsy shows healthy uterus for breeding.  Then once this evaluation is done it is totally you and your veterinarians call.  If you are truly worried about problems with pregnancy, then you already know the answer, however, if she meets the criteria set by your veterinarian I don't see the problem in continuing her blood line.

Answer 2

Ha Ha....

I was just about to start ranting at you!

I am not an expert in this field so I will leave the detailed answers to someone who is.... GOOD LUCK

Answer 3

The problem with AI and older mares is that the s***n is diluted quite radically so the stallion owner can get more "shots" from one ejaculation, and I have had personal experience here in Germany with my now 27 year old (must add RETIRED) broodmare. She had not concieved for many years with AI and was therefore not a viable proposition for the owner to keep. (Sorry to say here the breeders will put down a horse quite readily when it is unproductive.)

But to cut a long story short, I took over this mare at 21 and because she had theeee most fantastic pedigree and I really wanted a youngster out of her to keep, after consultation with my Vet, I had her covered (naturally) by a super stallion from the National Warmblood Stud of North Rhine Westfalia. AND she "clicked" immediately. That was in 2002

I must say she went through the pregnancy really well, only suffering from swollen pasterns at the very end (like ladies with their ankles!!)

The foal and Mum were absolutey 100% ok and I still have both today.  I was offered 9000 Euros for the foal (6 weeks old) at the foal show, but I turned the offer down because this was the old ladies last foal, and I bred the filly to keep.

Good luck with your lady and have a wonderful time next year with the foal.

Answer 4

Well...she has proven that she is worth her weight in gold by her confo, temperament and her show stats.

The stud (whom I seen you want to breed to) is top dollar all around.

I can't see why you wouldn't want to try...especially since you had stated before that you will be keeping the foal as your own to continue on with your show career.  I know I'd want to.

Have them try the first few times then see what your wallet says to keeping her there for a year (and even up to 1 1/2) and have them keep her under lights.

If I had a horse that I was very very impressed with and had the perfect sire plus MONEY...I'd try.

We had a little horse, grand daughter of Colonel Freckles....she would not take under AI.  Try and try she wouldn't take.   Live cover and BAM...she took first time around.

Many of the brood mares were in their late teens to 30 years old.  Some were younger but the majority were late teens and twenties.  Only one had problems because of cysts.  She just could not get pregnant.  For 2 years she was boarded at the stud's farm and under lights.  Nothing.  As far as I know she still will not take.

So...this is something to discuss with a good vet that is well exposed to the trials and tribulations of breeding and also with the stud farm...and your pocket. :)

This is your decision.

Answer 5

You sound like you have taken all the consideration into account.

As with everyone who breeds they should know before hand the chances of loosing the mare, the foal or both. You are covering her every eventuality by foaling down a the vets stud (very good idea).

If the stud owner/vet says A-OK then it should be.

We have to trust our vets other wise what is the point of paying them the repayment on the mortgage every time they visit!!! Good luck.

Answer 6

Older mares are always a pain to get in foal.  Especially when they haven't carried one in a while.

Of course your vet's going to give her "shots" to bring her into season, then cover her.  It's pretty late in the year to have her foaling next.  IF she takes in July, then you're going to get a June foal (rule of thumb), etc.  So, the later she takes, the later the foal will be.

I had a 17 yr old TB mare who we started breeding in Feb and she didn't take until she came into season under her own power in May, BUT when she took, she tried to kill the stallion.  

Bottom line is, it takes as long as it takes, but be prepared for her to be there several months at least.

Best of luck.

Answer 7

If its an old mare, that is un rideable etc then they can't be standing around in a field for the rest of their life doing nothing, to have money thrown at them! We breed from all our older hunt horses. We have a 21 yo shirextb mare that is at stud atm. As long as she is fed well, with a decent feed (even while their is plenty of grass), she will stay in good condition. Our mares get half a bucket of oats, mix, stud mix and chaff twice a day, as in the winter they tend to loose weight due to the weather, it being cold, and a limit of grass. The fatter they are dureing the summer, the better off they are during the winter. If she has been kept going until fairly recent and is in good condition, she should have no problem with the foaling, or carrying it into full time.

yeh you can throw money at your horses, but like i say they might as well be doing something. If she produces something rather good, and with prefect conformation then it may be your horse in the future. At the moment i have way to many 3yo's and can't get my head around which ones to break in 4 myself, and which to sell on.

And for everyone that says its not a good idea.... is it your horse? no! so there you go just my opinions.

Good luck

Answer 8

RedRoan_4 said it all for me. Thumbs up for you RR4

19 is too old for the first foal in a long time. (as well as everything else mentioned)

Answer 9

He didn't ask if he should breed her or not people! He asked if there would be trouble concieving the baby. He wants to do it, it's just he needs to know if there will be trouble come foaling time so don't tell him he should do it or he shouldn't.

I am sure there will be usual common complications as with any foaling but I am sure it will be fine. You culd try to get references and such to see how well her foaling has gone over her lifespan.

Do what you feel, talk to the vet about foaling or a friend who breeds horses for a living and can examine your horse.

Hope I helped!

~Dreaming of Horses~

Answer 10

I have had some of my top brood mares continue to foal into their early twenties.  AI is usually not as reliable of conception rates as live cover (depending on many factors).  Provided you have an experience AI tech and good quality s***n, she should conceive fine.  

As someone else stated, getting an older mare to conceive is the hard part.  Once she conceives, carrying the foal to term generally isn't much of a problem provided she remains well cared for.

Answer 11

This is just my opinion but I wouldn't have the horse bred.

I wouldn't take the chance, because of her age and I realize mares older than that have been bred.

So my question is; "Why do you want her bred?" Sounds like a very expensive venture and if the vet has the stud what is he getting from this? Some vets are very business oriented....

How many foals has she had in the past? How much of her history do you know? Has she carried a foal to term before? Has she been successful a number of times> Is she a proven mare? How much trouble she may or may not have depends on her history. If she has been unsuccessful in the past she may have problems now.

Good Luck.....

Answer 12

I would think the main problems would lie in conceiving, not carrying the foal.  In my experience, that is the main issue.

I won't touch upon whether or not I think a 19 yo mare who hasn't been bred in 10 years ought to breed or not...I'm just saying, depending on how much you're paying for your stud, you may very well have to breed her several times in order to get her in foal.

Answer 13

The reason I am breeding her is because she has excellent conformation and temperament, has won every show I have entered her in ....... And you reward her by breeding her at 19 years old.....nice. Keep in mind that as a mare ages she is often prone to more complications in the birthing process and may experience dystocia. As a mare ages it can become difficult for her to carry a foal and nurse it as well, as her nutritional requirements change and her body ages. These are things that you need to keep into consideration when breeding the older mare. Usually at that age you have them on a senior diet, and are generally taking care of them to avoid strain on the joints.

Now if this is something you have your heart set on then thats your choice. But if it goes wrong and she has complications...or worse,  are you ready to say that you did it knowing she is an older mare that hasn't been bred for 10 years?