[jacksydneyellen]

Hi
I am wondering as I have just rescued two horses that have been left to roam wild. They are relatively unhandled and they had fillies and colts out together along with the broodmares. A couple of the colts were as old as three years old and could easily have bred any of the open fillies.
One of the ones I have bought is a two year old filly and I was wondering what the chances of her being in foal are taking into account that they are unhandled at the moment and it may take me a while to get a vet to give her a pregnancy check. When do horses first come into heat? I am pretty sure that she is a coming two year old i.e. probably about 20 months as the two little old ladies that own these horses said that most of their babies are born in Jun/Jul.
I will eventually get her vet checked (I don't collect them for a couple of weeks) but I thought that I would ask you guys in the meantime.
Thanks

[Jenje!]

Yes, she could be pregnant... in fact it's pretty likely.

[Equine Repro]

Originally Posted by jacksydneyellen

Hi
I am wondering as I have just rescued two horses that have been left to roam wild. They are relatively unhandled and they had fillies and colts out together along with the broodmares. A couple of the colts were as old as three years old and could easily have bred any of the open fillies.
One of the ones I have bought is a two year old filly and I was wondering what the chances of her being in foal are taking into account that they are unhandled at the moment and it may take me a while to get a vet to give her a pregnancy check. When do horses first come into heat? I am pretty sure that she is a coming two year old i.e. probably about 20 months as the two little old ladies that own these horses said that most of their babies are born in Jun/Jul.
I will eventually get her vet checked (I don't collect them for a couple of weeks) but I thought that I would ask you guys in the meantime.
Thanks

Colts as young as 8 months are capable of impregnating mares. And, fillies as young as a year have been known to be cycling and capable of impregnation. While it's not common, it "does" happen. And, of course, the chances of it happening are directly proportionate to just how badly you do (or don't) want the pregnancy

Kathy St.Martin
Equine Reproduction Short Courses
http://www.equine-reproduction.com

Good luck.

[jacksydneyellen]

Originally Posted by Equine Repro

Colts as young as 8 months are capable of impregnating mares. And, fillies as young as a year have been known to be cycling and capable of impregnation. While it's not common, it "does" happen. And, of course, the chances of it happening are directly proportionate to just how badly you do (or don't) want the pregnancy

Kathy St.Martin
Equine Reproduction Short Courses
http://www.equine-reproduction.com

Good luck.

Well I have to admit, I don't want her to be pregnant. She is not breeding material and neither were any of the studs that were in the field with her. I know that there is a good chance that the three year old fillies that were there are likely to be in foal but I just wondered about the chances of a two year old. I know someone who bought (rescued) a two and three year old from the same lady so I guess he has a good chance that one of his are probably in foal.

[CayceV]

If she's a 2 year old, chances are she is in foal. It's a shame that people let horses run wild like this without a thought about the repercussions... Sigh

[Xiphias]

I have to agree, there is a good possibility that she is preggo...good luck, I hope you get her gentle before she foals...

Cathy

[jacksydneyellen]

She is only coming two. The lady said that most of her mares foal in Jun/Jul so I guess that she would be about 20 months. Therefore she would only have been a yearling last Jun/Jul. Whilst I realise (now) that that some horses can begin cycling at as young as one year, what is the average age for a filly to begin cycling?

[CayceV]

At 20 months she is still capable of being pregnant. Last year I had two yearling fillies that were both tormenting the life out of my stallions - they were 20 and 21 months and both in full blown heat. One of them actually managed to escape from her paddock and ended up in with one of my stallions (don't ask me how because I never did figure it out), anyway, I don't know if she was bred or not (assuming she was) so I ended up giving her the shot to make sure she didn't conceive. That is way too young to be having a baby IMO