What is the oldest mare you’ve ever bred (intentionally or not), and what complications/extra precautions were there?
ETA: What is the oldest you would consider breeding, if the mare is in good health and not showing any adverse effects from her age? (aside from regular arthritic changes, etc)
i had a 23 year old maiden QH and she delivered fine. Tiny udder, but we milked her out and the foal thrived.
[QUOTE=SPRINGBORO;8074142]
i had a 23 year old maiden QH and she delivered fine. Tiny udder, but we milked her out and the foal thrived.[/QUOTE]
SPRINGBORO has me beet for a maiden. I bred one that was a 21 year old maiden and she foaled fine at 22. 
Age 21. Frozen semen. Caught on one straw. Lovely filly by Boleem. Bred her back at 22. Her ultrasounds hid twins (this was 16 years ago)… and lost them both at 7 months.
When I was a kid, we had arabian mares still producing foals in their early 30s! :eek:
My 21 year old mare will be bred this year (proven broodmare, not a maiden). I’m not doing anything special or differently because of her age. Now if she’d just start cycling this year… she’s giving my heart palpitations with all the waiting!
Depending on the mare, they usually hit the “too old, shouldn’t be bred” point sometime in their early 20s. Now whether that age is 20 or 25 all depends on the mare, her health, and her reproductive status.
I really think the “stats” from repro experts say that an older broodmare, if kept “open” too long, may not settle again. If the repro organs are kept “active”, they tend to be able to breed longer.
Sounds horrible, but I do think that is the science.
The mare I bred at 21 and 22, was a Ster Dutch mare (with an acclaimed competition record horse herself), was approved Hanoverian and also GOV. An accident in temporary stalls in Upperville retired her. So…she found a new career.
With her bloodlines, approvals and and performance record, that was a wise thing to to. I leased her from my dressage instructor (who competed well at GP). I was a good decision. All of her foals to my knowlege (including mine) were uber correct conformationally and very athletic (meant to be performance horses).
But I must say, as she got heavier to term when , it really bothered me to see her hobbling around the pasture on that bum leg. She got lots of TLC from me. :o
Oldest intentionally: 21/ foaled at 22. Was retired at that point/ got the replacement filly I wanted and she would get in foal easily but had placentitis her last 3 foals. Unintentionally : foaling any time now/ is 25. Here is the story: mare has no apparent repro issues but quit getting in foal at 19. Her last foal is 6 now. 5 years ago our stallion was no longer getting along with his gelding buddy / got too aggressive with him so put the old lady out with him. She put him in his place right quick. And she has been out with him for the past 5 years. At first I monitored her for pregnancy. Nope. After a while I quit . She was good and barren. Well… This spring I noticed the old lady looked fat. After FIVE years … A yep .( this will be her 6 th foal).
Bred at 23 and foaled at 24. Regumate was needed for whole pregnancy and She was also on a Thyroid supplement. That was her last foal for me. She had 3 and was bred every other year.
She was a TWIST line Thoroughbred mare and produced me 3 colts. Was really hoping for a filly. No health or delivery problems at all.
I always joke that I’m currently running the geriatric herd here…our youngest is 17 this year. We have 1 at 23 that just foaled a gorgeous filly and will be rebred this year, we have 2 at 22, one bred and one open but both will be bred this year, 1 at 20 that also just foaled a big, beautiful filly and will be rebred and the last will be 17 this year…also in foal and will be rebred. Keeping my fingers crossed for successful pregnancies and foalings for them all!
Not my mare but I used to ride her as a child.
I also have a 20yo Hanoverian who’s had 11 foals without issue, mostly from frozen. Last year she didn’t take and is now empty. I will try again next season but she may have just retired herself. Love the old girl.
I preface this by reminding you of the saying about opinions…
That said, I quit breeding mares after they’re around 16 or 17 years old because to me the quality of the foals decreases with the age of the mare. I also feel that after giving me a foal year after year, the mare deserves a good retirement while she can still enjoy romping around my hills.
Love my old girls!!
Wow! This gives me hope. I have a (coming) 22 yr old Arabian who has had 5 wonderful foals for me. I haven’t even tried breeding her in 6 yrs but prior to that she always caught first cycle and foaled without a problem.
Last year that nice black WB stallion moved in (sire is a proven GP dressage horse by DeNiro & dam is a full sibling to Verdade) and the owner has offered to give me an extremely affordable breeding. AND she’ll do LC. AND I don’t get charged unless she is pregnant. So I’m going to give it a whirl.
The stallion is not approved because he suffered an injury as a yearling and will not stay sound u/s. But he’s very nice, his pedigree is solid and since the foal will be registered as a half-Arab it won’t matter as much.
So next to some of the mares mentioned in this thread, my gal will be a spring-chicken!
Most of my mares had performance careers first and didn’t start breeding until late in life! If I were to stop breeding at 17, most of mine would not have had more than 1 foal
I’m interested in hearing about these mares and how well they are doing. I have one that is 22 this year and is due to foal shortly. She lives with my stallion - they tore the gate down between them several years ago so I decided to let Romeo and Juliet co-habit. The cross is a good one. But I’ve wondered if I’m doing harm by letting nature take it’s course and allowing her to get in foal again this year.
[QUOTE=SportArab;8080663]
I’m interested in hearing about these mares and how well they are doing. I have one that is 22 this year and is due to foal shortly. She lives with my stallion - they tore the gate down between them several years ago so I decided to let Romeo and Juliet co-habit. The cross is a good one. But I’ve wondered if I’m doing harm by letting nature take it’s course and allowing her to get in foal again this year.[/QUOTE]
Personally I don’t think so as long as the mare has no health issues. Sadly an update on my mare above: her foal was stillborn with an umbilical torsion. A sad end result but totally unrelated to her age. Just one of those things that goes wrong once in a while. The filly was huge too… So at or near full term. Sigh.
I’m sorry to hear about the foal, camohn. Hope your old girl is doing well after that.
Camohn- I’m so sorry to hear about your filly! 
I hope the mare is doing well.
Mom had a large vaginal hematoma ( scared me thinking she prolapsed
Something…one of the few times a vet can tell you " it looks worse than it is"! ) but other than that she is fine and after two days that is looking much better already . She’s just on prophylactic abx and banamine for the hematoma swelling.
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