Breeding Age for Mares

[HGStables]

Well this is a question I am sure has been posted on here before. I have had many different opinions on this and would like to hear what everyone here has to say.

What is the youngest you breed your mares at?

I've herd Two years olds that are almost three, three, and four.

 

[Riverrose28]

You're right about this subject, everyone has a different opinion. Coming from the world of arabs we never bred them before the age of five, as that is when bone development is most mature, but minis seem to mature faster. I would think if a mini mare was stocky and mature in her way of thinking by age three or four it would be up to the owner to decide wether to bred her or not. Personally, or maybe just habit I like to wait until they are almost five or older, and then some not at all. I have a couple of mares that I'm still showing that are way older then five and they probably won't ever be bred unless the market picks up. I think it is up to a responsable owner to make this decision on what age, but I would think that a younger mare may not be mature enough to just go ahead and bred her unless the owner has a pre-breeding exam first. Just my opinion.

 

[ohmt]

Never at 2 (they are way too young both physically and mentally) and usually not at 3 either. I have found 4-5 to be the best time to first breed my mares. They are finished growing and have had time to fill out and mature both physically and mentally. They are not babies anymore themselves at that age plus it gives me more time to evaluate the mare and make sure she is excellent and that she has the potential to produce an excellent foal in an economy over-ridden with unwanted horses. I always go by the individual mare though-I do not set a general rule for everyone.

 

[bluerogue]

I've bred 4 year olds, but my current maiden is 5. I have two other maidens, one who is 6, and one who is 8, who are scheduled to be bred next spring. I prefer to not breed before 4, and really, I'd like them to be 5 or older. They are more mature, and it doesn't seem as shocking to them.

 

[Lizzie]

Did you mean Bluerogue, as a shock to their system or "OMG, look what just popped out of my bottom."

I have seen a few younger mares, become quite frightened of their new babies. I suppose if the mare is mature looking and solid in temperament, then three is an ok time to first breed.

Lizzie

 

[Genie]

I will usually prefer three, and then, only if they look like they are mature.

 

[bluerogue]

Yes, Lizzie, I meant the reaction to having a foal. Some mares just don't handle it well when young. It's painful, and they don't know what's happening, and their minds just don't process it. I'd rather not need to hand raise a foal, so I'd rather wait, and let them mature. Besides, that gives time for training. I'm getting to the point where I want my girls to be able to drive with me.

 

[Kelsey - Vandy's Farm]

We would never breed before 3 years and they have to pass a vet check (I'd have a maiden palpated at any age) and be mentally mature. Sometimes we wait until 4 or 5.

 

[Michelle@wescofarms]

When I first got Minis the common believe (1999-2000) was breed them at two and keep them bred every year. The whole 'cash cow' mentality as those mares are producing product, blah blah blah.

I bred two at two, one aborted one didn't take (back then). I thought about it and the correlation I give people is teen girls can get pregnant but should they and do they need to?

I figure the same goes for my mares. A healthy broodmare even started at four-five has at least fifteen years to carry foals, so IMHO plenty of time to contribute her genetics to the Mini pool.

The earliest I breed now is four, but most are close to five (the under 30's are five+). I've bought bred three year olds, but I personally prefer to wait. I also don't breed back/back in general. I have but not often.

As for what Jen mentioned, maidens can be a PiA, I've been fortunate as the majority of our maidens have taken to motherhood extremely well (their dam's were good dams) with little fuss. But I've had other maidens that were bred at 2-3 and they were a gigantic pain, not all but enough of them. They didn't know what was going on and most definitely didn't want that little alien 'back there'!