Posted 2018-09-05 12:02 PM Subject: Opinions on riding a mare while she is in foal
Speed All The Time
Posts: 4646
I have a 10 year old mare that was bred in April. She has been ridden fairly consistently after she was checked in foal. She seems to be her normal self, just a little more lovey. I’m curious what everyone’s thoughts are on how long it would be safe to show her. She has been to a couple shows and that doesn’t seem to bother her either.
Posted 2018-09-05 12:25 PM Subject: RE: Opinions on riding a mare while she is in foal
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 595 Location: North Dakota
The barn that I have been at for over a decade is owned by a woman who used to do a lot of breeding. She would breed all of her mares every year. Those were the same mares she competed on every year. Her mares were used until a month or so before they had their foals. One of her mares won the aqha world in open team penning in November 2008 and had a colt the first part of Feb 2009. The mares never put a fuss and no adverse effects were ever seen on the foals. This allowed them to get right back to work after the babies were a few weeks old as they hadn't had too much time off. I grew up in this environment so as long as the mare is sound. I am in full support of mares continuing to be ridden while pregnant if that is what you want to do.
Posted 2018-09-05 1:19 PM Subject: RE: Opinions on riding a mare while she is in foal
It Goes On
Posts: 2262 Location: Muskogee, OK
Vet here... While theoretically it is safe to continue riding the mare, I always recommend against actively showing any mares that are in foal. Sure, they can *probably* handle it for the first trimester or two. However, in my mind the risk is not worth the benefit. If they are truly one that you do not want to pause competing on to breed then I recommend embryo transfer.
There are a lot of mares out there that are bred, owners compete on and they go on to have successful pregnancies. There is always a risk with doing so and to me, it is not worth losing a pregnancy.
Posted 2018-09-05 1:32 PM Subject: RE: Opinions on riding a mare while she is in foal
Expert
Posts: 2489 Location: somewhere up north
We've gotten to where most of our broodmares are our competing mares. I competed on my mare last year bred to Slick and she had an awesome year. I made sure she was in shape before and during pregnancy. She was bred in May and I competed on her through October. Other mares I have bred I have competed on only until Sept. It just varies on the horse and also how big they get. This was one run a day. I am not running multiple times and they were both in good shape first. Also, be sure you get the okay from the stallion owner that they will offer live foal guarantee knowing you are competing and riding your mare.
Posted 2018-09-05 8:32 PM Subject: RE: Opinions on riding a mare while she is in foal
Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12704
Light riding seemed to be very enjoyable to my first broodie. She would pout unless I got her out and took her for a stroll, even within a few weeks of foaling. I rode her bareback most of the time. NOT competition anything. I bred one of my competition barrel mares and kept racing her until one show in August (bred in May) she wouldn't run. She was a 2D mare and finished out of the money in the 4D. I took that as a message and turned her out for the duration. I've read about show mares continuing on but can't imagine them not getting grumpy toward that 3rd trimester when their innards are being pushed around by the fetus.
Opinions on riding a mare while she is in foal
