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Veteran
Posts: 220
Location: Conroe, TX 77304 | I know it is probably not thought of, but this mare is worth it and I want to try and bred her. Don't want to just retire her I have never bred her before now because she is stilll running and running strong.
She has never had to be injected and maintained in any way except chiropractic and the normal stuff.
I know that it is almost impossible, but it is possible.
On top of that I found out she has an infection, so will need to have her clean out before breeding.
Can anyone offer in possitive advise? |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 554
 
| I got one infoal after several tries and a flush first. I made sure she had good tone and was fed well. Use a good repo vet and I found my mare took better with live cover instead of shipping the stuff via FedEx. Good Luck!  |
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Veteran
Posts: 220
Location: Conroe, TX 77304 | Can you give me a rough estimate of how much flushing cost and did you have to do it more than once.
Also thank you for the encouragement.
Most of the vets I've talked with think I am crazy. |
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  Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
 
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | There are going to be people that disagree with me, but the only way I would attempt to breed a 24 year old maiden is by ET. If she still cycles, if she isn't pooling urine, if she is getting proper nutrition, if her uterus isn't boggy, etc.....you might have a chance. Many mares can conceive under many of these situations, but the cards are stacking against you at this point and you don't want to get 9 months into a pregnancy only to have her abort. |
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Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | If money is an object, I wouldn't consider it either. |
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 That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
| Sounds expensive. |
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Veteran
Posts: 220
Location: Conroe, TX 77304 | Yes, money is an issue, but she still cycles and has always been a terrible witch in heat. She is however my pride and joy and should have bred her a long time ago, but it hard to get off the good ones. She is well worth trying and even if she or the foal do not make it, then what is the other alternative? Just letting her sit in the pasture. She is not injured and if I lost her or the foal or even both and least I would have tried. |
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Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | Even if she still comes in heat, it doesn't mean that she is cycling appropriately. Medications to attempt to make her cycle appropriately will cost too.
You just have to decide if the cost is worth the risk. |
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 Northern Chocolate Queen
Posts: 16576
Location: ND | If you love your mare I would NOT risk breeding her at her age. I just retired one of mine from breeding at 24. There is so much risk having her carry a baby & foal. But even more so, nursing pulls them down bad. I was pooring the feed to my mare & she looked like a rescue when I weaned her foal early at 3 months. I love that old mare to much to ever ask her to raise another. |
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 Texas Taco
Posts: 7499
Location: Bandera, TX | I have a 24 year old mare and she had two foals. The last one 8 years ago. She was a great mom and easy to get in foal, however I would not even think about breeding her again at this age. I love her dearly and she can sit in my pasture and enjoy her retirement for hopefully many more years. |
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Veteran
Posts: 220
Location: Conroe, TX 77304 | Thanks everyone for your responses. Either I bred her or I keep running her. I am 70 years old so I will probably be in the 3D, but that is ok. Right now my daughter is running her and she is in the 2D with her, but maybe she will slow down for me. The problem being is that I really wanted a baby out of her, but my daughter wanted to keep running her. She is soo much fun, but is beginning to slow down some. |
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 Bulls Eye
Posts: 6443
Location: Oklahoma | She may also have a lot of uterine cysts. If you are considering breeding her have a breeding soundness exam done and go from there. |
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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | If it were me, I would do an embryo transfer on her. It is expensive, but I think you would be more likely to get a resulting foal and be less likely to put your mare in harm from the pregnancy/foaling process. |
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 Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | If you want a baby, then do an embryo transfer....otherwise, you're just tormenting the old girl. Sounds like she's been a gem for a long time, she deserves better than that. |
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 Expert
Posts: 4121
Location: SE Louisiana | Wow. Just like the movie... For safety sake, If you want a foal that bad go with ET. |
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 Chatty Kathy
Posts: 6635
Location: In Ky following Barrel Races & Walker hounds. | I tried to breed my mare 2yrs ago at age 20, it would have been her first foal in about 15yrs, I had no luck. I think of it as a blessing in disguise because after that year winters have been SO hard on her. I would LOVE a baby out of her but I think I am just going to trail ride her, love on her, and enjoy her while I have her. Maybe find one bred similar to her later on. |
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Veteran
Posts: 220
Location: Conroe, TX 77304 | Guess, I just have to accept that it ain't gonna happen.
Thank you all! |
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 A Gopher's Worst Nightmare
Posts: 5094
Location: Southern Oregon | We live covered our 23 year old maiden mare. Took the first time. Having a foal at that age took it's toll on the poor old girl though. Just like it does when we are older. She broke down a bit in the fetlocks which were never an issue before and threw her back out pretty bad during labor. She had a healthy foal, a little on the small side. She is still alive and well to this day |
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 Ms. Poutability
Posts: 2362
Location: In my own world | My now 24 yr old mare had a foal at age 11 and age 21. Took on the first try both times. I used the same vet and wouldn't hesitate again other than I do not like what she produces. An excellent repo vet is a must. I'm glad I have one not far from me. All that being said the older the more risky and yes you will need to do some things like meds and have a pre breeding exam done. It costs $$ so be prepared!!! I can sign a check with my eyes closed, a necessary skill in the horse business!!! Lol
Edited by livinonlove&horses 2015-01-21 6:22 PM
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Tried and True
Posts: 21185
Location: Where I am happiest | LRQHS - 2015-01-21 2:34 PM
There are going to be people that disagree with me, but the only way I would attempt to breed a 24 year old maiden is by ET. If she still cycles, if she isn't pooling urine, if she is getting proper nutrition, if her uterus isn't boggy, etc.....you might have a chance. Many mares can conceive under many of these situations, but the cards are stacking against you at this point and you don't want to get 9 months into a pregnancy only to have her abort.
^^^ This ^^^ Other wise, I agree with your vets. You also have to realize, older mares and yes yours fits the almost extreme older mare's have exponiently more difficult deliveries IF they carry to term and their mortality rate is sky high compared to younger mares. Personally, I would not chance her carrying a foal and trying to deliver at her age being a maiden mare. Your chances of killing her are sky high and you may lose them both. Is it worth that? My advice, is try to flush an embryo or forget it. Sorry for the bluntness but I've never been good at blowing butterflys and rainbows up someones skirt. |
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 Toastest with the Mostest
Posts: 5712
Location: That part of Texas | chiquitamagic1 - 2015-01-21 2:33 PM
Most of the vets I've talked with think I am crazy.
Have you talked with an equine vet or equine repo vet about her? Have they done an actual exam on her or just answered your question in general? I know most of my local vets would probably give the same answer on the sly but they aren't the most knowledgible on reproductive issues with horses. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 600
Location: Oklahoma & Texas | The only way I'd do it is E.T as well...too many risks...by the time it's all said and done you'll have 5k in her trying to breed in flushes and chute fees and vet fees...its 5k for an E.T and that includes the recip...and then its guaranteed...AND no risk to your mare and you can keep running her...win win....i say save yourr money til thats feasable even if it means breeding next year instead otherwise it'll be a lot of money wasted...
Edited by BBrewster 2015-01-21 9:57 PM
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 Livin in the Dinosaur Age
Posts: 1993
Location: the other T-town, Oklahoma | Pasture bred my maiden mare at age 22, bred if not the first day, the second day. Carried and had her without any trouble. My mare was very strong and healthy but retired from roping/barrels because of some arthritis. Baby was small and had to wean her at 16 weeks because my mare wasn't making much milk. But she is a built like a tea pot, short and stout at 4 years old this year. I lost my mare that following year with nothing connected to the preganancy or birth of her filly. I am glad I did it. I consider myself very blessed!!! |
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Veteran
Posts: 220
Location: Conroe, TX 77304 | I have had her checked and she has an infection in her uterous. So already I know I have to spend at leastl $500 to clean her up, and it is not guaranteed she will clean up the first time.
That is why I posted this because I really wanted to breed her but am afraid of the numbers. Just trying to see if it is even feasable. |
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 Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | a maiden mare at 24 there is alot of risks.. and you mentioned if you lost them both at least you tried..quote "She is well worth trying and even if she or the foal do not make it, then what is the other alternative? Just letting her sit in the pasture. She is not injured and if I lost her or the foal or even both and least I would have tried
is it worth the risk of losing her ??Id let her sit in pasture IMHO
Edited by Bibliafarm 2015-01-22 11:09 AM
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 433
Location: The Lone Star State | I had a broodmare that was 27 when she gave birth. She was easy to get in foal and birth out but she was not a maiden mare. Unfortunately I lost her the August after we weaned her baby due to colic. I think in the end it was all just too much for her. She was a baby machine however. Good luck on your Maiden! |
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24 year old maiden mare