[Doll-Face]

Hey guys, got another question for you knowledgable breeders out there.

I have a great chance to breed (live cover) my mare this spring to a stud I ACTUALLY chose my self. (she is in foal right now to a non reg stud, she was bred before I bought her, unbeknownst to us)

It will be in her foal heat though, that I will be breeding her, if I do.

I have a breeding book that strongly advises against doing so, because of infection and such...and to only do so if she comes into heat like 2 weeks after foaling and has a very good reproduction tract.

So, I'd love opinions on it. If it worked for you, if it didn't, etc.

Thanks in advance!

[Acme Acres]

It can work. You'd have better luck to let her go through her foal heat and short cycle her though. With that said, we've bred a good number on foal heats IF 1. They didn't have any tears or rips on foaling, 2. Reproductive tract is empty and in normal shape, not still soft and retaining any fluids.

[Equine Repro]

Originally Posted by Doll-Face

I have a great chance to breed (live cover) my mare this spring to a stud I ACTUALLY chose my self. (she is in foal right now to a non reg stud, she was bred before I bought her, unbeknownst to us)

It will be in her foal heat though, that I will be breeding her, if I do.

If the mare has an uneventful foaling, no dystocia, does not retain the placenta, etc., AND ovulates at least 10 days post foaling, the conception rate is comparable to breeding on any other cycle. With that said, there is absolutely no way I would breed a mare on her foal heat live cover for multiple reasons, not the least of which is the risk to the foal. Additionally, there "is" still quite a bit of trauma to the reproductive tract post foaling and if the stallion is aggressive in his breeding, there is a higher risk of inflicting more trauma. And, many, many mares will not stand for a stallion with a newborn foal afoot.

I have a breeding book that strongly advises against doing so, because of infection and such...and to only do so if she comes into heat like 2 weeks after foaling and has a very good reproduction tract.

If you're going to breed live cover - wait. If you're going to breed AI, go for it so long as the mare is at least 10 days post foaling when she ovulates.

Hope that helps.

Kathy St.Martin
Equine Reproduction Short Courses
Equine Reproduction

[Tony The Pony]

i agree with equine repro. if anything you should do AI, but if it were me, id wait and give her a year off then breed her the following year.

[Doll-Face]

Thanks so much for the opinions guys, it was a lot of help. I felt leary about doing in the first place, and now have pretty much confirmed I will not be doing it.

The reason I was considering it is because my mare is turning 17 this spring and I wasn't really wanting her to be foaling as a 19 year old...

Also, AI is out of the question in this situation.

Thanks again!

p.s. Just thought Id say I really doubt I'd have problems getting her to stand for the stallion, she is the biggest hussy. Last week, AT LEAST 11 months pregnant, she was winking and pawing at the stall when her gelding buddy came to visit, lol. She has come into heat almost regularly her whole pregnancy...weird girl.