Is my 21 year old mare to old to put in foal?

Question

I have a 21 yr old thoroughbred mare who I want to put in foal. She is extremely fit and healthy, regularly ridden, and up to date with all health checks. She still acts like a four year old and certainly doesn't look her age. She has been in foal a couple of years ago but the yard came down with a virus and she lost it, a good few months into the pregnancy. Is she too old to breed from? Also, what breed stallion should I put her to? She's 15.2hh and I'd like to cross her with something a bit chunkier.

Answer 1

If the vet is happy she should be fine. I would put yours with something like an Irish Draught, the foal will then have the height and stockiness. TB x ID make great horses.

Answer 2

below is a message board to q&a such as this


(207.43.195.201)
Posted on Friday, July 06, 2001 - 02:44 pm:

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I just recently purchased a "smooth mouthed" grade mare for my grandkids. She's excellent with the kids and I'd like to consider raising a foal from her.

So, how old is too old to breed a mare?




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It depends on a number of variables. Is she in good physical condition? Has she been bred successfully in the past? When did she last foal?

If you do not have access to her past history, then a breeding soundness exam can be done by a veterinarian that is familiar with reproduction. In most cases, a mare that is in to her late teens, and has not been bred before, is very diffcult to get in foal. Once again, depending on the individual, it can be done it is just more difficult and therefore more expensive.

I have had a 24 year old maiden mare successfully bred, but that is an exception. It took a lot of work and probably more luck!!


Ebbie Van Horn (208.24.179.208)
Posted on Friday, July 06, 2001 - 05:13 pm:

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She currently is in less than good condition. She was in poor condition when I got her and I have had her on a high-protein and high-fat diet to put some more flesh on her. She is on good pasture. I hope to have her in condition by late August and that is when I would like to breed her. My thought is that she would have excellent pasture during the final months of here pregnancy. And the foal will have 4 to 5 months before the really cold winters come here in Missouri.


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Ebbie- I beg you not to breed this mare. Only the best of the best should be bred- she is older and a grade. Let her be a good pony for your grandkids. I don't care HOW good her temperment is, she is a grade, and therefore, should not be bred. Too many horses land on the dinner tables in Europe, don't make it one more.


Kelly (63.172.47.191)
Posted on Tuesday, July 10, 2001 - 09:33 pm:

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The following reasons are the only ones that you should consider in regard to breeding your grade mare:

#1. Would a pregnancy endanger the life of this mare or foal for any known medical reason?
#2. Can you afford the feed and medical cost of a mare and foal?
#3. Do you have adequate facilities for a mare and foal?
#4. Will you continue to care for and raise this foal once it outgrows the "cute" stage?
#5. Is this mare free of major conformation faults?

If you can answer yes to these questions, then you will be a responsible horse breeder.The fact that she is grade horse has NOTHING to do with landing on a dinner plate in Europe. After all, she may well have had papers in her past, you can't tell. I do know that papered horses have also ended up at the killers or have been sold illegally.

Answer 3

Since she's had a foal, or been at least pregnant before, I would say it's fine. But definatly have your vet check her out completely. I had found my mare had a cist on her uterus, and should not be pregnant again. So make sure she's healthly all around.
As to what to breed her to....
I would pick a nice Quarter horse or a paint. Appaloosa's are good too. They tend to be on the thicker side. You could also breed a small draft horse with her. Get some nice height from the foal.
Look around. Try Equine.com for studs ni your area. Check local tack shops, or feed stores for more options.
Good luck

Answer 4

If your veterinarian thinks she's healthy enough, and she's had foals before, there's no reason not do breed her again. We have bred mares up to about 23 or 24 years with success. I wouldn't breed a maiden mare that old, though.

Regarding your stallion: what kind of foal are you looking for? An athletic jumper? A fleet runner? A strong trail or pack horse? A graceful dressage mount? Breed for what you're looking for. Your thoroughbred mare is good rootstock for just about any crossbreed. Good crosses might be with Morgans, American Quarterhorses, Friesans or Tennessee Walkers.

Answer 5

It depends on whether she has had one before. I had a pony 14hh who had one when she was six, just before we bought her. She was such a fantastic pony that I decided to breed from her- at age 24! I put her to a stallion known to throw small foals as I was worried about her. I got a smashing foal who's now 15yrs old!
I've just lost my mare- she just made her fortieth year!

Answer 6

first.......your Vet should do a ck to determine her fitness for breeding. 21 is not to old since she was breed only a few yrs ago. You may look into quarter horse stud they make a good cross most time depending on personal charastics of each parent.

Answer 7

Get her vetted to see if she would be able to carry the foal first. I would suggest you use a cob built horse.

Answer 8

Have your vet take a look at her for a breeding fitness exam and no she should be able to be bred without much trouble and it is fine to breed them at that age.
As long as our broodmares were healthy we bred them into their mid twenties.