How young can a female horse get breed?

Question

How young can a female horse get breed?

Answer 1

A young foal does not become a horse until it is 4 years old.  Thus, a filly does not become a mare until she is older than 4.  That is the age when you can begin to consider breeding her.

Answer 2

I remember some one in a group of people talking about breeding a two year old.  The prevailing feeling was even though you can breed at two you shouldn't because the female isn't grown up herself.  I would keep your filly safe if you want a long term animal.  Four would be a better age.

Answer 3

four is the youngest anyone shoud breed them, but they can breed at two.

Answer 4

They shouldn't be bred until they are fully developed and completely done growing, which is usually around 4 years old.  Though they can get pregnant at 2 years old, that would be quite irresponsible and hard on the horse.  

Answer 5

A female may be capable of getting pregnant at two but most responsible horse people won't let them breed until they are in their teens or even twenties (they can easily live to their 30s and 40s with good care and modern vetrinary knowledge).  In the racing world a three year old is ancient but that would explain why so few survive their first or second race.  I've known a lot of people with horses that refuse to even begin saddle training until a horse is 3-4 years old to make sure that they are fully developed first much less take a rider or breed.  

This is definitely one of those things that it's better to be safe then sorry and to err on the side of caution.