Breeding a Mare

[TinyTexasCowgirl]

K horse people, need opinions. My made FINALLY dropped her colt this morning. Am planning on breeding her back in her foal heat. Got 2 questions.

First, she was an extremely easy breeder this go around, as a maiden mare. What's the likely hood that she will be just as easy since she now has the colt beside her?

Second, both the mare and stud have only ever been pasture bred, and the stud will not hand breed, what are the chances he will kill the colt because it's not his?

Trying to decide if t would be better to wait till I wean in the fall or if everyone could handle now?

[arrowbar]

Wait

[hogdog9]

WAIT

[djhogdogger]

 If you choose not to wait. I would suggest penning the foal while the mare and stud are together in the pasture.

[aladatrot]

 I must say that I have always been a proponent of AI even when both stallion and mare are on site. I personally believe it is easier and safer for all involved just to collect the stallion and inseminate the mare. You can get multiple cycling mares bred at once, and no chance of the stallion being injured from a well placed kick.

However.... I have had the fortune to get to see show horses - the kind which could not walk past the breeding dummy at the lab without getting excited about "her" - breed in a pasture situation. We had a harem of mares, and allowed our older stud to live out his years as nature intended. He was present through breeding, foaling, and rebreeding for the years he had left. Not one time did the stallion ever injure or harm a foal, and I dare say that any of his actions in the pasture setting were instinctive since he was born and raised as a show animal, living as far from the way nature intended as possible. Stall kept, doted on, rarely bred a live mare, he was always collected. At 19, he was finally allowed to be a real horse. We had excellent conception rate in the pasture, 100% foal success, and a very fulfilled stallion who was finally able to interact with species of his own kind. The mares ran the roost, and all was well. Even had a couple geldings out there too.

If I were going to pasture breed though, I would have a group of mares, not just one with a foal to focus his attention on. Give him five or six - even pregnant ones will help keep him in check.
Cheers
M

[cur-dog]

If the stud is in a pasture with mares already don't put your mare and foal in with them.  If he is alone you could try it, but I wouldn't let him get around your foal.  Keep the foal in a seperate pen.  I've found that it's best, when pasture breeding, to put mares together and then put in stud.  Even your pregnant ones, let them foal outside in the pasture.  Alot of times, especially an older stallion, will reject some mares and kick them out.  If you decide to try, becareful your mare is probably going to be protective with a strange stud around her foal.

[hogaholicswife]

I would be careful of new mares around your foal, a dominant mare can sometimes be way worse than any stud and the baby may be subject to getting caught up in the confusion if they are not all established pasture mates.

Good luck and lets see some pictures of that new baby!

[TinyTexasCowgirl]

There isn't another mare on the place, just the stud. I have decided to just wait and breed next spring. Don't think an august colt would be to great for it or Momma.

As far as pics, here they are. The mare is nothing special to anyone but me, she doesn't have any papers or anything, but she was an awesome mamma jamma when she was young.

The colt has a line down his bak, and one rear white foot. Ironically, it the only white foot his momma is missing.



http://s1016.photobucket.com/albums/af282/Tinytexascowgirl/?action=view&current=134f4125.jpg

[TinyTexasCowgirl]

Dunno what happened with the last picture.

[cur-dog]

August colt?  If you breed your mare right now on her foal heat she will domino around the end of Feb.

[cur-dog]

Maybe I misunderstood you?  Not trying to be rude.

[TinyTexasCowgirl]

Cur-Dog, no offense taken. If I bred her in August, which is about when I would wean that colt, fast forward 11 months, that's July. Now I know your a man, and couldn't possibly understand, but no female, be it animal or human, wants to be HUGE pregnant in the middle of a 110 degree Texas summer, nor do you really want a newborn to have to deal with that so soon. Lol

[cur-dog]

OK, now I understand.  I thought you wanted to breed her right now on her foal heat.  Your colt is cute.  I always liked dun horses.

[TinyTexasCowgirl]

Cur, I had played with the idea of breeding her back on her foal heat, but just decided it's not worth the risk of getting the baby hurt so I'll wait till spring.

[curdogs3006]

 If you choose not to wait. I would suggest penning the foal while the mare and stud are together in the pasture.

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