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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 411
Location: Smack in the middle of WA! | One of my broodmares aborted her foal last week at about 5 months along. She was current on vaccines and is healthy so not really sure why. Waiting on some blood tests so that may tell more. I guess I'm asking for those with experience with this, have you bred your mares again or just be done with them? I know these things do happen I just have never experienced it. This mare will be 19 next year and her last foal was in 2008. I sold her in 2008 and just got her back last fall so I have no idea what went on with her in that time. I'm not super interested in all the expense of keeping her on horomones next year to keep her in foal. Curious if this has happened again to people that have rebred mates that have aborted. |
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 Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12708
  
| I have a 20 year old mare that slipped last fall. I think she got shot in the shoulder and had a bad wound that ended up need a small surgery to remove bone chips, but she'd slipped by that time. I rebred her in May 2016 and she is definitely pregnant now and looking great.
Sometimes things happen. The foal could have had something wrong with it or the mare stressed over something. Sometimes it's the hormone thing. It's hard to tell which reason they slip, but plenty of younger mares slip too. I took the chance that it was the stress hormones from my mare's injury that made her slip and (knocking on wood) it seems that I might have been right.
IMO only, see what the test results tell you and then reevaluate her situation. If the bloodwork says all is well with her hormone levels then I would go ahead and breed next spring. If she slips again then that will tell. I understand the time and expenses involved in waiting and trying again! But there is no guarantee in breeding, even with spending big $$$'s on vets controlling all phases. |
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  Ms. Marine
Posts: 4642
Location: Texas | My mare aborted a foal when she was 9 years old. Had tests done, didn't show anything was wrong. Sometimes it just happens. We haven't rebred her as of yet as circumstances have changed. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| I've always heard the wise tale - "A mare who aborts is 50% chance to die the next foal". I doubt its a scientific thing, but I've seen it hold up as true one too many times for my peace of mind.
Of course, this is something that should be discussed with your vet and make an educated decision based on your specific mare and her health. 19 isn't young though (although its not 'old' either), and being open 8 years is going to be hard for an older mare. |
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 Guys Just Wanna Have Fun
Posts: 5530
Location: OH | We have had it happen but we have never had a repeat offender. |
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 Strong Willed Woman
Posts: 6577
Location: Prosser, WA | I think I mentioned the mare that I had that aborted her foal 1 1/2 months early. That was her first pregnancy. I ended up getting 3 nice foals out but she did die this year after foaling. Not sure if this year had anything to do with the 1st one she list. IDK but I'm sorry. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 411
Location: Smack in the middle of WA! | kakbarrelracer - 2016-10-19 5:52 PM
I think I mentioned the mare that I had that aborted her foal 1 1/2 months early. That was her first pregnancy. I ended up getting 3 nice foals out but she did die this year after foaling. Not sure if this year had anything to do with the 1st one she list. IDK but I'm sorry.
I do remember you mentioning it. Just putting a lot of thought into which mare I want to bring to you in the spring! I know these things happen but just am curious of others experiences |
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 Champ
Posts: 19623
Location: Peg-Leg Julia Grimm | FlyingHigh1454 - 2016-10-19 5:08 PM
I've always heard the wise tale - "A mare who aborts is 50% chance to die the next foal". I doubt its a scientific thing, but I've seen it hold up as true one too many times for my peace of mind.
Of course, this is something that should be discussed with your vet and make an educated decision based on your specific mare and her health. 19 isn't young though (although its not 'old' either), and being open 8 years is going to be hard for an older mare.
I've never, ever had a mare die just because she may have aborted a foal at some point. Many times mares abort because they are mildly infected, they have twins the vet may have missed or there is something wrong with the fetus. It doesn't mean it will happen again or regularly. Sometimes it does happen regularly and this mare is a high maintenance mare. If she's good enough it's worth the trouble, you go the extra mile for her.
I have had two mares die from ruptures and a broken pelvis during foaling. It's part of the game.
To the OP: I wouldn't let a one time occurrence stop you from rebreeding. I often buy mares that I want that have had problems with their first pregnancy or first foal dying. They go on to foal without problems and had nice babies yearly when I had them. Horses are not known for their great reproductive abilities. The average reproduction rate for horses is about 50%. 50% of the mares bred have a live birth. If a mare routinely has problems foaling or carrying to term, that's more concerning. But you're not there.
There are a few things you can look at to help you decide what you need to do. Your vet can help you with determining what those are and if you need to worry about them or not.
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Expert
Posts: 3147
| You might also have a biopsy done of her uterus. Was she sutured or does the vet think she needs a Caslicks ? I'd be more interested in checking the uterus for infection than blood work. |
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