Hi. I am just wondering how old a colt is before he is fertile. I have a mare who foaled out in April. We are planning to rebreed AI on her next cycle. She was palped on Wed, and vet wanted to AI Fri and Sun, but we couldn't get the semen. The barn owner has a 13 mo stallion prospect that has been pastured with my mare and foal. He was very interested in the mare when she presented, "talked" to her and was hanging out like he was ready. My vet said he probably couldn't impregnante her yet, but to keep them separate anyway just in case he gets frisky and mounts her and potentially contaminates her. They were put in separate adjoining paddocks that day before I left. The next day some new horses were brought the the property (had previously been there and returned), and to make them a herd, the horses were all turned out together (stud colt with my mare). I was ok with that as the barn owner said that since the new gelding was "herd king", the baby was no longer exhibiting stallion behaviors. What really concerned me though is that yesterday when I got out there, the stud colt was in the foaling stall with my mare and filly. I am baffled at why the owner would do this. My horses are leaving next week anyway, so I am not approaching that issue. My question is if a colt this young would or could breed my mare. He is nice, but not what I was looking for in my next baby. Thanks. Trisha
Sandy
Posted on Saturday, July 26, 2003 - 12:58 pm:
Trisha, My understanding is that there has been yearling colts that have been able to get mares pregnant. It actually happens a lot. Each horse is different as to what age they hit sexual maturity. I have a friend who actually did stand a yearling colt this year to a few mares and he did get them all in foal. If you say that your stud colt is "nice" but not what you're looking for in your next foal, then maybe you should just geld him if you don't consider him nice enough for yourself. Then you won't have to worry about it anymore, especially if he is already exhibiting stallion like behavior.
Sandy
Posted on Saturday, July 26, 2003 - 01:01 pm:
Sorry Trisha, I just re-read your post and realized that it's not your stud colt. The barn owner has absolutely no right to corral his stud colt with your mare and foal without your approval. If your mare does end up pregnant by this colt I would definitely make the barn owner responsible for terminating the pregnancy.
Trisha
Posted on Saturday, July 26, 2003 - 02:00 pm:
I am not sure I would terminate the pregnancy, he is an Art Deco bred Pinto Oldenburg, but he is not the Thoroshire I was planning for, you know? It just wouldn't be what I was looking for...exactly. I think part of the barn owner's problem is that she still sees him as her baby, not as a yearling stallion prospect. She is a good friend, and I don't want to hurt her feelings, or make her feel like she is not making good decisions, but I need to discuss this with her. Thank you for the info. It is kind of what I figured. Here's hoping nothing happened!
Sandy
Posted on Monday, July 28, 2003 - 05:24 pm:
I probably wouldn't terminate the pregnancy either, just because of the fact I'm not that type of person, but there are plenty of people out there who would. If the colt's owner is a good friend of yours, then I definitely would talk it over with her. And maybe even see if she would be willing to pay for half of the vet costs or whatever to see if the mare is pregnant. If it turns out that she is in foal, I guess you could always sell the foal next year to try to make up for your loss of not being able to breed to the stud you really wanted, and hope that the foaling goes well and your mare doesn't end up hurt from it or something. Which probably wouldn't happen, but you just never know. I'll keep my fingers crossed for ya that your mare is still open! Good luck.
Trisha
Posted on Saturday, August 16, 2003 - 01:48 pm:
Well, as luck would have it, she was open, although I did think of calling my friend and telling her Abby was pregnant, just to see her reaction! ;-) anyway, she wasn't ready to cycle yet(posted a message in problem mares about that one), so the vet gave her a shot of prostaglandin, and we are looking to inseminate early next week. Keep your fingers crossed! Thanks again. Trisha
Sandy
Posted on Tuesday, August 19, 2003 - 05:32 pm:
Trisha, Glad to hear that you are going to be able to get the foal you really want out of your mare! Good Luck.
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