Posted 2016-04-03 4:44 PM Subject: RE: After foaling
Brains Behind the Operation...
Posts: 4543 Location: Arizona
You will often have people tell you to "let a broodmare be a broodmare" and not ride them at all, but all my mares have been riding horses as well. I think it helps them bounce back faster from pregnancy and also helps training the foals. I usually begin ponying my babies from their mothers. The soonest I start riding back is about 3 weeks after foaling, beginning with short 10-15 minute rides around a turnout & letting baby follow freely. I might even just ride bareback the first week. Gradually increase the workload from there. By the time the foal is 4 months old I'm usually doing circle work up to a lope, & I will start taking the mare out on rides away from the baby (it helps if the foal has a buddy to hang out with while you're away) for maybe an hour or so at a time. Your mare may act a little silly the first time or two you go out alone, but once she realizes you come back again it's no big deal. The biggest thing is making sure she is getting enough calories to do both jobs. Some mares get really drawn down while nursing foals, so obviously adding more work for a mare like that wouldn't be a good idea. But for mares that remain sound, perky and in good weight there is nothing wrong with riding them while they have babies at their sides.
After foaling
