How soon after parturition can a mare be bred?

Question

I need to know the EARLIEST time. And I need to know a source to your information. (And no, I am not planning on actually breeding a mare. I just need to know this info for a horse quiz I have to take.) So don't tell me not to breed my mare so soon or not to breed it at all.

Answer 1

A week or less.....then again at 30 days....lots of times owners want to get those "early" colts, so they catch up by breeding back on the 3 day heat...If someone is wanting to "catch up" for an earlier foal next year, I would suggest letting them pass up the foal heat (foaling complications may have occurred that you aren't aware of) and then just use harmones to shorten the cycle to the next heat period.

Answer 2

Its not reccomended to breed on foal heat but its been done successfully.  I have had mares show back in heat as early as 4 days and as late as 14 days but average is approximately 9 days after foaling.  We seldom bred on foal heat unless it was a desperate owner at the end of breeding season.

Answer 3

About a week after foaling, mares come into estrus, 'foal heat'.   In the wild, the mare would be bred back at that time.  Many breeders follow that same policy.

Answer 4

Often some mares breed better on foal heat than others.  Typically you would breed on day 9.  However to maximize chances most breeders try day 7, 9 and 11.

Edit  

I do believe there is a success difference in breeding on foal heat between various breeds.  According to my father this was standard practice with work horses and it almost never failed.  He said it was much more reliable.  However I will here modern breeders of one breed praise foal heat while those of another condemn it.