Maiden Mare - to old?

[tinastephenson]

Because of Charity suffering from navicular and as a result she is only being ridden very gently in walk on the roads, Stacy is wondering if it would be possible for her to have a foal?

Charity has excellent show jumping bloodlines, has stunning confirmation and manners but the navicular has to be taken into consideration plus the fact she is 13 years old and never had a foal!

Can we ask for honest opinions here? Do you think the navicular is a trait that would carry through and also is 13 too old for a maiden mare?

Stacy would be looking to breed her with a irish draught or similar that is suitable for the area and terrain where we live..

All advice really welcome?

[Debbie]

Keep in mind I've never personally bred a mare, but I wouldn't think 13 too old for a maiden. Granted she may not catch first time out, but I still think she'd be able to.

My biggest question is over the navicular. And I'd say in this case have a good long chat with your vet over this. All the good conformation in the world won't matter if he doesn't think her feet will withstand the mating and carrying of the foal. Also I think navicular has many different causes, and I would want to be sure it's not genetic....I mean, why create a foal behind the 8 ball?

Just my opinions.. ;D

[khristyne]

I dont know anything about the genetic side of things, but from a veterinary point of view I am sure it can be done.

I have a maiden 9yr old, but I wouldnt. If I was a breeder I prob would! This is simply because Dorothy is a pet! i would be devestated if anything went wrong and i wouldnt be able to live with myself.

I would have a very long conversation with your vet and also consider if you have the money and premises to cope with what can turn out to be a very expensive enterprise!!

[NFK Dumpling]

My friend has just bred her maiden mare at 14yrs, incidentally she also has some showjumping wins under her belt.

However do you really want to add the stress of pregnancy & the weight of a foal to a mare whose legs are already suffering?

My friend's mare is 100% sound.

[tinastephenson]

Stacy would never breed from her if she thought for a moment that is would cause any more harm to Charity. The breeding is all just part of many ideas we are running around with. It is very very difficult as Chas is not really a horse who is happy just standing in a field, she loves to be doing something, but obviously now all her fun days are over..... what to do for happy comprimise???

[merlinalison]

As the others have said, her age may well not be a problem at all, but personally I would be very concerned about the navicular, the effects of a pregnancy on her feet and the possibility of breeding trouble/heartbreak if her navicular proves to have a genetic element to it.

[shiatsudales]

The debate over a genetic component to navicular is quite a hot one but there are enough people saying it can be inherited that I'd not breed from a navicular mare. If the mares conformation has predisposed her to this problem then any resulting foal may have the same problem.

It's a hard one though. At 13 she's not too old for a first foal but the chances of her getting pregnant are much reduced and the chances of complications are higher.

I'd have a good and detailed talk with your vet and use appropriate pain killers and some groundwork and/or clicker training to keep her interested in life. Most horses will adapt to having a quiet life if they have other horses as companions and are still handled regularly with cuddles and attention.

Possibly not what you wanted to hear, sorry

[mickey]

Also I dont think bute can be used in pregnancy but I may be wrong... Id be too worried to do it myself- from the point of it being possibly passed on, making the navicular worse and being unable to treat the symptoms of navicular...

[taffydales]

Perrywinkle will be 10 next year and I have been told that it should,nt be a problem for her first foal, not sure about navicular, but I,m sure bute can,t be used for mares in foal.

[PonyGirl]

My mare is 12 and in foal. Not her first foal. But, if you at all question yourself....ASK your vet.

[zeldalithgow]

I've tried that past 2 years to get Leia in foal she's 10 now but she hasn't taken, that was running with a stallion so maybe an older maiden mare might be better to be covered in hand

[mrsp]

My mare is 16 in June and a maiden and according to my vet. provising she is fit and healthy and still fertile(a scan will confirm) and I don't use a 17hand shire or something,he could see no reason why I shouldn't go for it.
My mare is currently unsound through an injury therefore no thing heriditary(something you would need to discuss with you vet) I was thinking of trying to breed a coloured but understand that breeding a non dales from a dales mare is practically a 'hanging offence' is this true???

Talk to your vet and I'm sure they will advise you on your particular mare.

[zeldalithgow]

LOL ;D not true. But as the Dales are category 1 critical on the Rare Breeds Watchlist most Dales mare owners who are thinking of breeding are using a Dales stallion - although Charlie Parker breeds some nice coloured cob crosses as well as purebred Dales

[mrsp]

zeldalithgow said:

LOL ;D not true. But as the Dales are category 1 critical on the Rare Breeds Watchlist most Dales mare owners who are thinking of breeding are using a Dales stallion - although Charlie Parker breeds some nice coloured cob crosses as well as purebred Dales

Ooooo That's left me all of a dither again.... realistically what are my chances of a coloured,using a balck dales and a pie stallion(yes I have seen one...) on the other hand 2 dales would be rather nice... oh what to do....

[maggie]

Charlie uses a Dales stallion over coloured mares to breed his nice coloured ponies. The Dales preserves the bone and feather, but adds quality. With the Dales pony on the 'critical' list, I personally wouldn't like to see a good Dales mare used to breed a non-Dales. Wouldn't it be a better idea to breed another gorgeous Dales pony?