After how many foals in a row should you give your mare a rest and how long should you take her "out of comission" for?? My mare Lady has had 2 foals (back to back 08' and 09') I am leaving her open this year for sure but what about next year?
And also I am in the process of buying a new filly whom is 1 year old. I know she is WAY too young at this point but at what age would you breed her if she shows to be a good mare all around (conformation,color,trainability,and attitude)?
Any information would be great.. I am fairly new to the breeding world, I know whats good and whats not in bloodline,disposition,conformation,ect. but not about the number of foals produce from a single mare ect. I know alot of people breed the mares when they are 2 and 3 but they are still just babies then even though thats how it is in the wild. I waited with Lady and bred her at age 4 so she foaled at age 5 without difficulty. The only reason I bred her that young is because at the time I couldn't ride her and I was getting the run around from dad saying breed her, ride her, or sell her (at the time I was a minor) She was way too abused to ride her without getting to know her and attempting a brain "re-wire". Anyways.. Thank you all ahead of time, Please give me the ages you would suggest. I am currently breeding AQHA horses.
To answer your first question, nature would say "Don't give her a break. If she doesn't get pregnant one year despite being bred, then that is the indication it's time to give her break." It is also worth noting that in older mares (>=13 years old) giving the mare a break can be a major mistake, as it (for some unknown reason) is often harder to get her pregnant the next time.
Nature's reply to the second question would in all likelihood be "3 and up if she is mature enough". Sometimes in the wild, 2 year-old fillies get bred if they are mature enough. Note that in wild herds, young fillies have to leave the herd and seek a different male, as they do not get bred by the herd (their own) sire, so there is another "matureness" aspect to it in that they have to leave home. Note also that not all 3 year-olds are mature enough to be bred, so there really isn't an absolute answer to the question, as much depends upon the filly/mare herself.
Thank you Jos. That clears up alot of things for me.
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