I am looking to find a pasture home for my 22 year old mare who we raced until this year. She got some weird thing in february and now she turns circles and walks crooked. There is a person wanting her for a broodmare. Has anyone ever bred a maiden mare that old? I am not sure I want her to go there
I wouldn't do it if she is a maiden. They can have lots of problems with inflammation after the breeding and they can either abort the fetus or die from it, along with other complications. I had a friend who did this with a mare she adored and it had to be put down. If your horse has given birth prior to this it might not be an issue.
Posted 2014-05-07 5:50 AM Subject: RE: breeding older mare?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 383 Location: Sweet Home Alabama
A few yrs back, My friend bred her maiden 20 year old mare & both she & the colt died at birth. She was a heck of a barrel horse, would've been an awesome baby. I personally wouldn't. I bred my HS rodeo mare for the first time last year & she foaled in March at age 14. I've owned her 10 years & she has never had any health or soundness issues, just a really hardy horse, but having that baby sure threw her for a loop. Scared me to death, I walked out to the barn about 30 mins after & I thought she was dying. Took her a while to get back on her feet & every time she peed for the next few days you could just see the pain in her. But she & the baby are perfect & healthy now :) Maybe the person wanting her will consider ET?
Posted 2014-05-07 8:10 AM Subject: RE: breeding older mare?
Swiffer PIcker Upper
Posts: 4015 Location: Four Corners Colorado
I bred a maiden 16 yr old last year and a 22 yr old. The 16 yr old took first try and the 22yr old took the second. The 16 yr old foaled out a beautiful filly and had no complications and the 22 yr old is due any day.
If she were mine I'd breed her. eta: missed her problems. I'd find out what was causing them first.
Posted 2014-05-07 8:43 AM Subject: RE: breeding older mare?
I have a 23 year old maiden mare i'm considering breeding. My vet gave me the all clear but i am still riding and this mare even still gets hauled to barrel races and clocks 1 second off! And she looks like a 15 y/o not a 23. I'd get the vet clearnace first...
breeding older mare?
