[t_ford]

Please bare with me, last October my mare had a foal. I had some problems and not to mention the fact this was my first foaling experience and had only owned the mare 6 months prior to foaling. Anyway, to make a long story short, I posted some things on this site and I had some responses like "why did you breed her to foal so late" or "isn't it kind of late to being putting a foal on the ground". So When I breed her again when is the best time? Or better yet is there a wrong time?

pony

[Dawn]

Well, I'm not really going to comment on the time issue. It really depends on what you want to do. Like, do you want your mare to foal as close (after) the new year as possible, or do you want her to foal during warm weather. What I will say though is are you sure you want to rebreed this mare? I don't know if she's had any other babies before, but based on this one experience, she doesn't really sound like broodmare material.

[Miss Thunder]

Myself, I always believe that around March or April is a good time to breed. Warm, but not too hot; no flies; mother isn't dying of heat when foaling, and not shivering afterwards from the sweat and cold; foal can go play outside quicker without freezing it's cute little hinny off; and it's close to New Years.

My mare just had hers (this morning!!! ) in February because she's older and missed 2 years of foaling, so we thought she was going to have to go back to the stud for a few heats before she'd take. But, surprise surprise! Took first shot! LOL

[spyro1]

I think I missed something What leads you to beleive that she wouldn't be broodmare material?? Breeding season *officialy* starts on Feb 1st, that way foals will be born after the new year. That is generally when most breeders start. *Technically* if you aren't wnating to show her, you can pretty mcuh breed whenever they will conceive, humans have re-arranged breeding season to when it suits us and our needs wink

[Dawn]

The mare rejected the foal and they ended up hand raising it.

[horse_crazy]

Some show people might prefer to have there foals born In January or February so that they can show them in the late summer and fall and they will be big enough. I think the average is anywhere from March to May, June may also be in there too. But anyhting later than June is too late(in my opinion). We have one foal due in May and one due in June. A mares gestation is usually between 320-360 days.

[Blistering Winds]

If you do lights and screw with nature, Feb 1 is the open of breeding season.

Mares usually naturally become open between middle of march (spring solstice march 21) and april. I wouldn't breed later than june just because it gives the horse a disadvantage overall if you plan on doing anything in the future.

[spyro1]

Not sure how old this mare is, or if it was her first foal, BUT some maiden mares will reject foals the first time, especially if they are young when foaling for the first time. They are confused and not sure what is expected of them. It wouldn't hurt to try again, provided t_ford is ready and willing to raise another foal by hand. wink

[t_ford]

Dawn:
Well, I'm not really going to comment on the time issue. It really depends on what you want to do. Like, do you want your mare to foal as close (after) the new year as possible, or do you want her to foal during warm weather. What I will say though is are you sure you want to rebreed this mare? I don't know if she's had any other babies before, but based on this one experience, she doesn't really sound like broodmare material.

Dawn, I know what you are thinking about her, but it was mentioned by a local breeder that she may have been feeding him when we were not around, and when we thought she was neglecting him we rushed in to soon and feed him. She has raised 3 other foals and they said she was great with those, they were surprised to hear about the situation. So do you think it is possible that she didn't like nursing when we were around? Have you ever heard of a horse doing that? Look I am learning a lot about raising horses, but I have a long way to go. I appreciate all the advice and listen to it with an open mind. Thanks!!!

[Dawn]

That is a very good possibility. Just be aware that she has a pretty good chance of doing the same thing since she's done it once. I thought that she was rather aggresive with him as well? Or am I misremembering things?