Breeding your mare every year

[Sabino_Farm]

I feel that the mares retain their reproductive health better if they are bred every year. Typically, the mare will tell you when she needs a year off.

THIS! Every mare is different. I have a mare that is 17 and does wonderful getting pregnant, staying pregnant, foaling, and recooperating. My other mare really seems miserable toward the last trimester so she gets a year off here and there. She has a longer back and gets huge which contributes to her discomfort. It is very important, however, that you support their physical and mental well being with fantasic nutrition, turnout, vet and farrier, care, turnout buddies, exercise. etc…
Don’t push it…if you are on your 5th try getting her pregnant this year and she doesn’t take maybe she wants/needs a year off! Barring no infections or weird stuff!

[RiverOaksFarm]

I don’t have a problem with breeding a quality mare every year, but I have a problem with breeding a poor quality mare ever.

I think some people see the problems of unwanted horses, abused and starving horses, liquidations of low-end breeding programs, and the cases of rescues having to go in and clean up after low-end breeders go belly up, and they start thinking ALL breeding should stop or be limited, but they sometimes fail to make the distinction between breeders producing quality horses versus the people breeding just to breed.

I’ve seen mares who probably should be given 25 years between foals… But I’ve also seen (and owned) mares who were worthy of being bred every year.

Or maybe it’s a case of anthropomorphism? I wouldn’t want to have a baby every year. Luckily I’m not a broodmare.

[ticofuzzy]

My broodmares and riding horses are treasured members of my family, however, my philosophy is this:

My horses live far better lives than many people on this earth. They have plenty of good food, warm clothes, shelter, no expense is spared on their medical bills, they are treated fairly, and they are told they are loved daily. I work my butt off to give them a wonderful life and in return, they have jobs too.

I breed my mares every year unless there is a specific reason to give them a year off (their body is not in condition for whatever reason and they need time to recuperate). I have one broodmare who is on her 10th pregnancy in a row. I keep looking for any sign that she needs a break but so far she hasn’t given me one. I figure, when she stops getting pregnant on the first try, then she can have a break

I have one career broodmare who I retired a couple years ago due to pregnancy being so hard on her body. She is miserable - lost and purposeless. She has fallen from the alpha mare to the omega. I gave her a weaned foal this fall to watch over and told her she had a very important job in caring for him. The change in her was dramatic!! She instantly adopted him as her own and was lively, animated and in charge again.

I think it is possible to manage your broodmares with a healthy balance between the need to run a productive business and compassion for them as living, breathing creatures.

[Sunnydays]

Eliza - well said.

[EquusMagnificus]

[QUOTE=ticofuzzy;6284174]
My broodmares and riding horses are treasured members of my family, however, my philosophy is this:

My horses live far better lives than many people on this earth. They have plenty of good food, warm clothes, shelter, no expense is spared on their medical bills, they are treated fairly, and they are told they are loved daily. I work my butt off to give them a wonderful life and in return, they have jobs too.

I breed my mares every year unless there is a specific reason to give them a year off (their body is not in condition for whatever reason and they need time to recuperate). I have one broodmare who is on her 10th pregnancy in a row. I keep looking for any sign that she needs a break but so far she hasn’t given me one. I figure, when she stops getting pregnant on the first try, then she can have a break

I have one career broodmare who I retired a couple years ago due to pregnancy being so hard on her body. She is miserable - lost and purposeless. She has fallen from the alpha mare to the omega. I gave her a weaned foal this fall to watch over and told her she had a very important job in caring for him. The change in her was dramatic!! She instantly adopted him as her own and was lively, animated and in charge again.

I think it is possible to manage your broodmares with a healthy balance between the need to run a productive business and compassion for them as living, breathing creatures.[/QUOTE]

Where’s the clapping icon? Very well said. :yes: