[Zypheir's Ring]

I've had 5 people in the past week and a half tell me I should breed my mare. They are all equine professionals. (2 instructors,2 farriers,1 breeder thats been breeding for 15 years)

I asked why and the instructors say she has a wonderful temperament,and love the fact that she has done all of these disciplines successfully, wining ribbons (reining,cutting,English pleasure,English equation,barrel racing,drill team,western pleasure,western equitation.)

The farriers say she has amazing feet, that they are strong,and big, they even thought she was part mustang. They said that would be a good thing to pass down.

The breeder says she has pretty good conformation and paired up with the right stud could make an amazing foal. She also says she has really good bloodlines. http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/ss+beyliner

The only thing is she is 21 (recent- Feb,15th) and is a maiden mare as far as I know, She *Might* of foaled once. However, I've had a lady, who is studying to be a vet tech, tell me if she were to get pregnant, she thinks she is healthy enough to carry full term.

I don't know what to do. I LOVE my mare and would love to get a foal out of her to carry on her 'legacy' but, I normally think buying is better than breeding.

What do you think? Should I? If I have her fully checked out by a vet and the vet gives me an ok?

Oh, and before you respond lets say I have enough money for vet bills,stud fees,mare care,and if anything goes wrong, and am going keep the foal.

I want POLITE responses please. You can state your opinions but, do it respectfully. Thank you.

[Gallop N Gal]

If you feel like you could do great things with her foal, go for it! If you would rather adopt, thats a good choice too. Just remember there is always a risk of losing either or both! She sounds wonderful!

[RiddleMeThis]

She is really old for a maiden at 21. If you could do embryo transfer I would say yes, but if not then no. She could catch easily but I feel that its more likely that she wont and will just cause heartache

[Zypheir's Ring]

Originally Posted by RiddleMeThis

She is really old for a maiden at 21. If you could do embryo transfer I would say yes, but if not then no. She could catch easily but I feel that its more likely that she wont and will just cause heartache

Well know of a breeder, that if she doesn't catch the first time, will give me one free breeding. I would only breed her if I talked to 3 vets and at least 2 ok it.

Thanks for responding

[Zypheir's Ring]

Originally Posted by Gallop N Gal

If you feel like you could do great things with her foal, go for it! If you would rather adopt, thats a good choice too. Just remember there is always a risk of losing either or both! She sounds wonderful!

I think I could because I've already done amazing things with my mare.

[bnttyra]

See what a vet thinks. That is quite old for a maiden but it doesn't mean she couldn't do it. I mean women today are having kids in their late 40s early 50s! It is amazing what science is capable of.

[Miss Neigh]

if you get the ok from your vet and she is a healthy/fit 21 yr old then i believe she'd have no trouble producing a healthy full term baby.

[bnttyra]

I just looked at her bloodlines. She has lots of stuff similar to my Quarab and I was told my Quarab mare had great Arabian bloodlines. I bred her as a maiden mare at the age of 10 and had a beautiful healthy easy delivery of a colt.



Follow you heart and I am sure you will make the right decision for you and your mare!

[Zypheir's Ring]

I want to follow my heart, but brains are just as important! I know she'll pass eventually, so should I breed her and have a baby to 'continue' her life, or just spend the rest of her years with her till she passes?

She is very healthy for a 21 year old and is in show/competition shape. I guess as long as a vet says its ok then I could breed her...but I just think what if something goes wrong? I would feel responsible.

[Shannon]

Personally I wouldn't do it even if my vet said it was OK. It's risky to breed a maiden mare after age 12...why even consider it if she's almost double that age? Even if she looks to be completely healthy to you, that doesn't mean her reproductive system is healthy. Without a thorough examination from a vet who is extremely experienced with reproduction, I wouldn't even think twice. Keep in mind that most vets really don't know their stuff when it comes to equine repro...

And if 2 out of 3 vets said she was OK to breed? I wouldn't, because that third vet said no!

Keep in mind, this is all pending that she's even still cycling!

I really think you would be better off buying a foal with similar breeding. You'd be giving a homeless foal a great life