Posted 2018-07-10 10:43 AM (#7401965 - in reply to #7401957) Subject: RE: What age do you start breeding a mare?
Peecans
If they are broodmare only due to non genetic issues or injuries breed at 3 foal at 4.
Some people will breed at 2 foal at 3 successfully but I prefer another year of growth and maturing before being asked to labour and give birth is for the best.
Posted 2018-07-10 12:57 PM (#7401983 - in reply to #7401957) Subject: RE: What age do you start breeding a mare?
Take a Picture
Posts: 12088
Personally, I like to do something with them so they have some sort of performance record. I sell my babies and they just sell better if the mare has some sort of record. If they got injured or something they better have a stellar pedigree. All my mares have earnings on the track except one. She by LEAVING MEMORIES out of a daughter of STREAKIN SIX. She got cut badly as a baby and was unable to race. If she had a racing record she would have been way out of my price range.
You can breed them as young as 2 but you need to be aware that pregnant mares need good nutrition. If you are going to breed and just throw them out on pasture, you might wait until 5 or 6
Posted 2018-07-10 3:15 PM (#7402004 - in reply to #7401957) Subject: RE: What age do you start breeding a mare?
Ms Bling Bling Sleeze Kitty
Posts: 20421 Location: LouLouVille, OK
So it's kind of where I thought on all accounts :) I tend to think more towards youngest at 3 and baby at 4 but not out of range on waiting till 4 or 5, if the mare is a nice mare (of course ) Thanks for everyones input! I have never bred one at 2... or 3 for that matter... Im not even sure on 4 lol.... But when they are nice I totally get it!
Posted 2018-07-10 11:31 PM (#7402028 - in reply to #7401995) Subject: RE: What age do you start breeding a mare?
Neat Freak
Posts: 11024 Location: Wonderful Wyoming
We have one, the only one by our late stallion. She has a hind ankle injury resulting in ring bone. She was bred this year as a 3 to foal as a 4. Just like cattle so much depends on how you feed them and how they mature. Feed those heifers and they will have so much easier calving (and bull as a ton to do with it). Our filly is very mature and looks as good as any 5 yr old that came here.
Posted 2018-07-11 5:39 AM (#7402029 - in reply to #7401957) Subject: RE: What age do you start breeding a mare?
Expert
Posts: 2613
Earliest I have ever done it, or are comfortable with, is 3 to foal at 4, but this mare was 16hh and 1200lbs at 3 so the size was not going to bother her one bit.
Posted 2018-07-11 12:55 PM (#7402086 - in reply to #7402028) Subject: RE: What age do you start breeding a mare?
Champ
Posts: 18999 Location: Peg-Leg Julia Grimm
wyoming barrel racer - 2018-07-10 9:31 PM
We have one, the only one by our late stallion. She has a hind ankle injury resulting in ring bone. She was bred this year as a 3 to foal as a 4. Just like cattle so much depends on how you feed them and how they mature. Feed those heifers and they will have so much easier calving (and bull as a ton to do with it). Our filly is very mature and looks as good as any 5 yr old that came here.
This ^^^
I read a study done a while back. They determined that fillies bred @ 3 had the longest most productive broodmare career.
I bred a daughter of my stud that I raised with the plan to keep as a broodmare. Because I really like her and her mother and most people won't sell them back to me once I sell them. She's 3. I bred her A-I to my young stud to get one on the ground from both of them. I'm planning to send her out this summer to be broke just in case life happens and she needs to be sold as a saddle/barrel horse.