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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
   
Location: Montana | Please don't flame me for this. I was reading a horse ad on CL that said the mare was checked in foal but also that she was legged up and ready to haul. Is it normally considered in good health to run a pregnant mare? I knew riding was okay, so they would stay in shape, but I always thought running them would be too much stress on their body while pregnant. What is the general consensus?  |
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 Keep those crap slapping tails away!
Posts: 8871
 
Location: Around here somewhere... | |
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 Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | My hubby would actually rope on his mare until she was about 6 months along. Kind of like people, it's a good idea to keep them at a similar fitness level to what they were before they got pregnant. At least that's what his vet told him. They rode her lightly until about nine months then, off until 11. Her very first colt, they didn't know that her brother had gotten to her before he was gelded at 2. He roped on her one day, couldn't figure out why she wasnt firing, and she had the baby the next. Everything turned out fine. I know people have a lot of mixed opinions. My main broodmare isn't broke so I cannot speak from personal experience. |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | some ppl think its fine, i wont do it, i spend to much money and time to get a mare in foal to chance loosing it..........my mares that foal are just mamma's and nothing else (i think thats a big enough job and stressfull enough for them to throw in performance is just to much but thats jmo)
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 The Worst Seller Ever
Posts: 4138
Location: Oklahoma | I had planned on running mine until she was 6 months along, but decided not to. I run her on lasix, which I couldn't use after 2 months, and she needed her hocks injected. So she is on a much needed break getting fat. This will be her first "break" since I started running her 8 years ago. |
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  Ms. Marine
Posts: 4641
Location: Texas | I don't think there's anything wrong with running a pregnant mare so long as you're smart about it. |
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Veteran
Posts: 238
| I ran my mares for years. All were kept fit, all were run before/during/after pregnancy. Most ran until 9-10 months and many hauled with their foals after 2 months old to run again.
Had vet permission and sold a lot of foals that way. lol.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1034
| Personally, no go for me. Too much $$ invested. Plus, I've been pregnant several times myself, and I know how crappy I can feel. I also run competitively myself, so I know how that feels too. I don't run when I'm pregnant, I can't see making my mare do it.
My mare gets the same consideration I do - rest, long walks, comfort, good nutrition. |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | I believe that if you choose to breed your mare, her job for the next 340+ days is to grow that baby. No stress of hauling and running. I don't even ride mine other than occasionally bareback at a walk.
You also need to check the Stallion's contract- some will VOID a live foal guarantee if the mare is even ridden, much less competed on.
Like others have said.. I spend way too much in stud fees, vet bills, etc to chance losing it because I want to ride and run her. |
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | I thought it a less than wonderful idea to compete on a pregnant mare, but was somewhat perplexed when I saw the ad. From what I understand it is a good idea to keep them in shape as it generally makes foaling easier on them. I can understand stallion contracts, though, too when it comes to breeding a mare. There are things much more important than competing when it comes to protecting life...to me any ways.
Edited by mtcanchazer 2014-07-31 8:34 PM
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Running a pregnant mare?