Comments on: How Old is Too Old to Breed a Mare?

By: Holly Ryan

Holly Ryan — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 16:09:55 +0000

@Alice Carroll Please read the above replies–they are talking about your husband.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 01:11:22 +0000

I was hoping to find the answer to my question. At what age will a mare stop having heat cycles? Or do they? Just put a gelding in with my 30 year old POA who immediately went into heat. ?

By: Alice Carroll

Alice Carroll — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 23:35:41 +0000

Thanks for pointing out that personality factors in when thinking about whether a horse is still young enough to breed. My husband will be retiring a few years earlier that I will and he would like to start breeding horses as a hobby once he does. Maybe helping him shop for German dressage horses would be a good way to spend the day after his retirement party soon.

By: Maralyn Kline

Maralyn Kline — Tue, 16 Apr 2019 02:25:29 +0000

Horses are now our pets.

SURPRISE !!!

No longer needed for agricultural use, transportation, or even meat ( by most countries). Change is occurring.

like it ? Or not.

Eventually we must move to preservation of breeds, regulation of use, especially regulation and maybe discontinue racing which is quickly become antiquated as it currently is exists, and regulation of breeding farms similar to regulation on puppy mills.

I personally would love to see breeding licensing for breeders. That is, licensing, required education, and
“ presale” requirements put into place, and regulation for those breeders on less than 1000 acres.

By: Galadriel

Galadriel — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 00:03:52 +0000

Great advice.

By: Pam

Pam — Sun, 25 Aug 2013 18:27:56 +0000

PLEASE don’t breed ANY horse!!! Old, young, good, bad. Too many being abandoned and/or going to slaughter. Rescue one of the many horses already available.

By: Jan

Jan — Fri, 23 Aug 2013 16:37:29 +0000

So so many unwanted horses…vet’s comments were right on. if you are not in the breeding business, why bring more animals into this world who will suffer because you think your horse will have beautiful babies?

By: Wilbur

Wilbur — Fri, 23 Aug 2013 08:06:43 +0000

We had a 34 year old madien mare we used as a babysitter for weaning my Appaloosa colt. We thought she was way past ovulating. We were wrong! November 2011 at age 35, she gave birth to a beautiful healthy colt. I lived next to her stall for a week to provide assistance when the time came. She only required minimum assistance, light pulling on the forlegs when she stalled for about 10 minutes. We were very lucky, as I would never even consider breeding a mare that age, but mother nature never ceases to amaze. She has been a great mother and even produced enough milk for the colt to grow without any issues.

By: Beth

Beth — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 13:17:33 +0000

Pretend she’s a human. Why would you want to, it’s a tough job for anyone or anything. Pick up a rescue baby.

By: Anne

Anne — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 18:12:10 +0000

I agree with the Vet’s comments. I too have an older mare, she is 17. I hope to breed her again next spring. However, she has had 3 uncomplicated pregnancies in the last 5 years and cycles regularly. She does have ovarian cysts but my vet says they are no problem. We do monitor them. Personally even though I plan to breed an older mare I would not recommend or risk breeding a 20 year old virgin mare.