Breeding a Mare

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Devon

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Hi guys
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I just wanted some opinions I've been kicking around dates not really sure what is best so I figured I'd ask all of you
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I plan to show my mare this year which I have done with a bred mare before
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But this time my plan right now is Nationals mid september ; I would love to breed her in May and get an april baby so he/she can be shown in 2010; but are the chances greater of her losing it because of nationals if she is bred early. Would July or August be better?

She really didnt show untill 10 months along last time she foaled that's not really my worry. I definatly do not want anything to happen to her or the foal; I do understand I will be running a slight risk.

But it's all up in the air I am for sure going to watch and want more then anything to show youth (How I'll get her there is so uncertain right now plans keep changing I hate to have a late foal and not of even shown..)this year at nationals but now I've got this bitter temptation of showing my halter horse at congress and watching nationals
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Oh boy..
 
Devon,

I'm a bad person to pipe up and answer this, as my priorities are probably different. I have shown......don't get me wrong......but if I had a mare who I wanted to show, I would wait with breeding her until the following season.

My reasoning is that once she's pregnant, any exposure to viruses or bacteria she's not built antibodies against (like at a show) could compromise the developing fetus. And the other problem is stress, which can also effect the pregnancy.

Yes, I know a lot of folks do show pregnant mares.....but that's just my 2 cents.......I'll just shut up now.
 
Devon,
I'm a bad person to pipe up and answer this, as my priorities are probably different. I have shown......don't get me wrong......but if I had a mare who I wanted to show, I would wait with breeding her until the following season.

My reasoning is that once she's pregnant, any exposure to viruses or bacteria she's not built antibodies against (like at a show) could compromise the developing fetus. And the other problem is stress, which can also effect the pregnancy.

Yes, I know a lot of folks do show pregnant mares.....but that's just my 2 cents.......I'll just shut up now.
No I definatly understand
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And I respect your opinion.
 
I agree with the above. I would just wait and breed her the following year. Just too much could go wrong. Also keep in mind that mares bred a second time usually (not always) show much quicker then the first time. Kinda like humans once we have stretched out we go back out quicker after the first one LOL
 
I've shown pregnant mares, and though it's not ideal, one of my mares (Mountain Highs AMayZing) was named AMHR Performance Horse of the Year, one of the years that she was pregnant all year and showed.
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I wonder if she is the only mare to have done that? Anyway, I've taken pregnant mares to Nationals, and done plenty of winning with them. It IS a stress on the mare though, and you will have to be sure that she is in superb physical and mental health to handle it, and not every mare can. One of my mares was shown in halter while she was pregnant and as soon as she achieved her Hall of Fame, I retired her. She just couldn't take the stress of travel and showing while pregnant. Each mare will handle it differently.

I now have several four year old mares and a ten year old mare that I left open to show this year. And I plan to leave another broodmare open to show for next year. As saturated as the horse market is right now, it makes sense to me to cut back on breeding and do more showing for the time being.
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I agree wholeheartedly with the others about NOT showing a pregnant mare. Maybe you'll get lucky and have a situation like Magic's, but how would you feel if you spent the time and money to get her bred and she loses the foal because you weren't patient enough to wait another year? Your good mare has a lot more breeding years ahead of her than you do for showing in Youth.
 
Thanks
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If I do decide on Congress and watching nationals then I'll show her this year untill the July classic here and finish my season there. I guesse it's a compromise. It all depends on Nationals who know's when I'll know if I can get her transport
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Would love to actually show my last year of youth at nationals ; it is not going to be often I get to go my family isn't "horsey" so it's my own thing and wow is it expensive to go ..
 
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Devon, do you know anyone who has horses going to Nationals and that would let you show the horses during the year? That way you could still show. If you were closer I'd have you show mine. Or would you like to move to Utah for the show season?
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Devon, do you know anyone who has horses going to Nationals and that would let you show the horses during the year? That way you could still show. If you were closer I'd have you show mine. Or would you like to move to Utah for the show season?
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Feel like housing a crazy 37" Shetland a moody 36" mare and a 18 year old
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haha!
 
Im looking at bringing a bred mare to Nationals this year. She will be bred in April.

I have shown pregnant mares my entire life large and small and never had an issue the occational cold pops up but nothing more. You just need to make sure her vaccinations are on par as well as keeping her hydrated and well fed.

If you mare is nervous I would advise against it but I have never had a nervous high strung mare that I have taken showing.
 
Vaccinations need to be given more frequently, IMO, for extra support. But I had a 7.5 y/o, 27" mare go National Champ halter at AMHA, then foaled first week of March.
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She did great but was physically and psychologically adapted. Great mom! At 21 she's still here with me.....enjoying grandkids, hers and mine!
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It can be done but, there are risks. If the mare has temperament for it you need to just watch her fitness level all along. Remember, horses are used for riding and such until very late in pregnancy, so long as they were fit to begin with.
 
IMHO..I see no difference in showing a pregnant mare versus one maybe on regumate. Sometimes bred mares end up being better show horses. You showed your mare with her foal last year?? Seems like she was fine right?? I have shown many pony mares that were in foal ...get her shots up to date, and if she likes to show and doesn't stress..go for it. The chances of getting her bred, and not showing her, and her losing the foal could be the same as showing her. It's a crap shoot..talk to your vet about Rhino shots, 4 ways etc..she already has been shown and exposed to a lot of viruses. You can actually have a mare in foal abort /lose foal when you bring a NEW horse into YOUR barn because of a strange virus (similar to common cold)..crap shoot again.

These horses are not hot house flowers. Good care, feed, vet care and knowing your mare make all the difference. If you read the forum about lost foals.. these were typically broodmares at home, not show mares. So what actually is the difference?? Actually my vet suggests not showing the mares until confirmed 90 days in foal. If she ships well (ie not losing weight, settles in well) she may be fine. It is still a 50/50 shot she will deliver a healthy foal. My vet feels that show mares will typically be in better physical shape to foal at term and if they mentally can show..he has more than been supportive of my showing the mare.

You make the decision, you want to do both..really think about showing a breeding stallion..some can and some lose their marbles and are rank...so what do you do..you know your horse and you know your mare..no one else does.

JMHO

Kim
 
I kind of agree with Kim.

I have shown Joy her whole life and bred her this year. I plan to continue showing her BUT I decided NOT to go to Nationals! Showing locally, I see it being fine, my horses(knock on wood) have Never had an issue. But going to Nationals DOES cause stress, and both my horses lost a lot of weight heading down - I'm glad they were fat! Long trailer can be hard, (I feel that's why Cat didn't carry to term) so just be warned
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So I opted for a foal and not Nationals. Nationals was Amazing, but with schooling I think a foal is smarter
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SOOO what do you want?? Pick what you want!
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FYI, hiring a shipper for Nats costs around $1200. Save up now and that shouldn't be an issue. If you wanted, you could do it.
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Desiree..you are soo right. If the horse (be it mare, gelding or stud) ships well.. that is key. Mirage lost about 25 pounds...thank heavens we were not breeding with him at the time!. Know your horse..that is the key!
 
I have amaiden mare that was bred in may of 2008. I showed her in halter and performance. It was really hot too and she did fine. I drove her at a couple shows too. She is due to foal here in the next month so her fetus has survived all the travel and activity. I made sure she had all of her shots and I made sure at the show that she didn't come in physical contact with any other horses. I usually make sure my horses don't share any water buckets or hay or anything. Usually I don't let other people touch my horse just to kinda try to control any contamination or anything.
 

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