competing a pregnant event horse?

[Krose]

I’ve seen older posts talking about competing pregnant dressage horses until the 5-6th month. But what about any jumping, etc? I have a very nice mare, very good temperament, good mover, etc that I’m considering breeding next year. I’ve been completing her for about 10 years up to prelim, and then dropped back down to training level last year as my work didn’t allow me to keep her as fit as I’d prefer to ride a prelim level course. Competitively anyway.

She has pretty much been in constant, steady work this whole time other than a couple days off after competition and then maybe a 10 day stretch off over the winter each year.

I’ve wondered what impact breeding will have on competing her. I’ve asked a few people, my trainer, one vet who is a friend of a friends from out of state that I saw at a horse show, etc.

I’ve heard everything from stay at home for 40 days after breeding to ensure all is well, and then after that do all that you do now up until about the 5-6th month…jumping and all, to the other end of the spectrum of flat her only at home once bred, and something in between such as dressage ok, maybe showjumping too, but no cross country.

My mare travels well, and again is used to trailering once a week pretty much year round, either to a lesson or a show. I keep her at home with a pony mule BFF. Obviously spending the time and money to breed her I want to be smart, but I want to be realistic too, in understanding if that means I won’t be competing her at all next year, or half the year, or most of the year. I compete from about March to early Oct, and I’d be looking to breed her in April ideally, so she doesn’t foal in the dead of winter the following year, but definitely before it gets hot. And she wouldn’t be in her last few months in the heat of summer either.

[acottongim]

I competed (or had her competed to be more precise) my maiden mare, Sera Veneziana, during the first 4 or 5 months of her pregnancy and then she did a summer camp with her trainer. She was started under saddle in Oct/Nov and ran her first (unrecognized) HT in Jan. She then went (recognized) BN to Training Level while pregnant (she was bred right around the first recognized HT she went to). Pregnancy was fine and she conceived on first dose of fresh semen. I honestly could have rode her longer but we opted to bring her home after camp.

I think you have to look a the individual mare some have no problems and some are more sensitive.

[melhorse]

I would not risk it, especially if she is maiden. Breeding is high risk enough to lose a mare on its own. What do you have to gain from showing her while pregnant? You could lose both if anything were to happen-something to think about

Ride her and keep her in shape but keep travel/stress and showing to after her foal is weaned.

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

I gave my maiden mare 60 days after conception before travel and then moved her to a working barn with an indoor (which I do not have). She did really well in training for a couple months, it was great, but then towards the end of month five she began showing signs of being uncomfortable under saddle, particularly at the canter. She is showing a little of her pregnancy at this point. It could be enough that saddle fit has changed, or it’s possible that she had or was developing ulcers too–the turnout situation was not good and deteriorated. Or maybe she found out I had signed her up for a dressage clinic in a couple weeks (joke) ;). Regardless, the trainer and I agreed that it was time to bring her home.

She’s been home for several weeks and seems pretty normal, although she is definitely crabbier towards her pasturemates. So maybe she is still a little uncomfortable (moving fine though). She scared me half to death with her first (mild) gas colic two weeks ago. Her mom had the same issue mid pregnancy (and only then). Ugh.

So I would say keep your plans flexible. I don’t know that I would plan on traveling. YMMV. Your mare sounds like she is older and a maiden? Something to consider there too.

[AKB]

What about embryo transfer if money is not a concern?

[butiwantedapony]

You will probably be stuck at home more AFTER the goal than before - I think for most mares that are used to working and showing you can keep doing that through most of the pregnancy, maybe knock her down to novice. She will tell you when she’s had enough, just make sure you are listening. But after the goal you’ll be stuck at home for at least 3 months, or longer, depending on when you wean the foal.

[Krose]

Thanks so much for the feedback…I wish there was a more clear cut answer! And yes, my mare is maiden.

Money is a concern to a point. I can plan and budget for vet bills and stud fee, and I’m likely using a local stallion, which means very fresh semen LOL, but embryo harvesting, another mare, etc, adds a whole other element of cost.

I don’t have a problem being aware of when my mare would feel different…I’ve had her so long and ridden her so long. It was more an issue of doing something that caused her to lose the foal or hurt herself…just simply by riding or jumping. I’ve read some things to have me paranoid that if she even gets a little hot and sweaty she could randomly abort.

I have a friend with a young horse I could ride in the interim, but I don’t have time to ride two most days…and one thing everyone does seem to agree with is to definitely keep exercising the mare until she starts acting uncomfortable (all other things being normal), as that helps a lot in terms of birthing, etc.

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

[QUOTE=Krose;8420979]
Thanks so much for the feedback…I wish there was a more clear cut answer! And yes, my mare is maiden.

Money is a concern to a point. I can plan and budget for vet bills and stud fee, and I’m likely using a local stallion, which means very fresh semen LOL, but embryo harvesting, another mare, etc, adds a whole other element of cost.

I don’t have a problem being aware of when my mare would feel different…I’ve had her so long and ridden her so long. It was more an issue of doing something that caused her to lose the foal or hurt herself…just simply by riding or jumping. I’ve read some things to have me paranoid that if she even gets a little hot and sweaty she could randomly abort.

I have a friend with a young horse I could ride in the interim, but I don’t have time to ride two most days…and one thing everyone does seem to agree with is to definitely keep exercising the mare until she starts acting uncomfortable (all other things being normal), as that helps a lot in terms of birthing, etc.[/QUOTE]

Regarding “hot and sweaty” my vet did advise me to wait something like 45-60 days after conception for that reason. I forget the development reasons, and someone one here could probably give more info.

Of course then you hear about the horse no one realized was in-foal suddenly having a baby after showing the week before and always being in work.

[acottongim]

I was always told that you don’t want to do NEW activity with a mare in the first 40 days as the stress could cause her to abort. If your mare is used to being in work and doesn’t stress out easily then continue to work her - just pay attention to it all. She WILL tell you when she is ready to not be ridden anymore LOL.And you are correct, it does seem to help them in labor if they stay in shape.

I have bred/foaled out mares that do nothing all day but be pregnant and I’ve also lately keeping my mares in work and it seems to work out either way On a side note, I did breed a mare the same time that I started her under saddle (as in the same week) and she conceived with one dose and had a great pregnancy with no ill effects, but she is a type that doesn’t stress either. And both of my riding mares were worked normally as if they weren’t pregnant at all - and the event mare’s last HT was in July in GA so yes, she sweated :).

It is just something that is definitely dependent on the mare and what is comfortable for her. JMHO

[elizabeth_Callahan]

You want to avoid increased body temps in the first 30 days- have been associated with increased embryonic death. I would avoid anything that would really increase body temp( CCI , competing when very hot)
Also infectious diseases - rhino and EVA are concerns if having contact with others .
Some mares get very ungainly with pregnancy, others don’t. If your mare develops a bigger abdomen, it may affect her balance or jumping style, plus girth fit.
Riding is fine, just use common sense. There have been mares that raced the day before delivery( accidentally bred). Who did just fine…

[Fred]

I wouldn’t do it.
I feel that while light riding, hacking around is fine, (and yes, we always hear stories of mares competing or racing ) IMO you don’t want to stress the mare.
Making a baby is an important job - why should she have to do more? and why risk the pregnancy?

[Dressagelvr]

What Fred said.

[Centuree]

Pregnancy takes a toll on the mind and body. Light riding is fine, but eventing, showing, traveling, that is asking a lot when the body is already working double time.

[drkarins]

You’ll probably get a variety of responses here, all well meaning and thoughtful, so might be best to talk to the vet who would be doing the repro on your mare. Personally, I like to ride mine for as long as they will let me but I do not haul unless I must and no jumping during pregnancy.

Also, can be a little more challenging for a quite “fit” mare to get pregnant so food for thought, too.

[BBowen]

When I bred my mare, she was an older maiden and we competed in eventing at the lower levels. For the first 60 days, she did very little other than light riding to keep her moving a bit. After that we resumed regular work but, I did not take her off the farm as I felt exposure to disease was too real at horse shows. Did not want to risk it. I kept her in regular work including jumping, but jumps were kept below 3 feet and only once a week. Small fences later became canter poles. Each step of the way, she let me know when any activity was getting a little difficult. When she didn’t pick up a canter right away (not her), we went to walk/trot and a lot of walking on trails around the farm. Even after I moved her to a foaling barn, I would hop on her bareback to walk around and she was good with that. I wanted to keep her in work throughout her pregnancy because I felt delivery would be easier on her if she was fit. She had a big, healthy filly and thank goodness, everything was text book. I just wasn’t willing to take any undue risk with her. Good luck. It is a wonderful experience.

[Krose]

You all have convinced me! I’ll keep hacking her, but keep her at home, and not jump. My dressage will just get really, really good over the first few months I guess, before she starts getting big and we just go to walking/trotting!

[Lisa_Cook]

Huh. I bred my mare on a Wednesday, competed her at Groton House the next weekend, did a few more events that summer, hauled her down to Georgia (from New Hampshire) for the AECs in September, then she did a C2 pony club rating and was in an eventing clinic at Equine Affaire in the fall. No worries, everything was fine. Having been pregnant myself a couple of times, I don’t get the whole “don’t do much with them for 40 days” part, to be honest.

[Lisa_Cook]

Huh. I bred my mare on a Wednesday, competed her at Groton House the next weekend, did a few more events that summer, hauled her down to Georgia (from New Hampshire) for the AECs in September, then she did a C2 pony club rating and was in an eventing clinic at Equine Affaire in the fall. No worries, everything was fine. Having been pregnant myself a couple of times, I don’t get the whole “don’t do much with them for the first 40 days” part, to be honest.