Is there an ADS rule about pregnant mares???

[targetsmom]

I seem to recall - but can't find it anywhere - that there is an ADS rule that pregnant mares beyond a certain time cannot compete. Since I am not sure how anyone would even KNOW if the mare was pregnant, I wonder if I just imagined it??? Can anyone enlighten me? If there is a rule, is it just for CDEs or does it include pleasure driving shows??

 

[RhineStone]

Article 914.4 Special Conditions (Combined Driving Event section)

"Mares are not allowed to compete after their fourth month of pregnancy or with a foal at foot."

There is more written there about what they will do if they find out a competitor did that.

Article 5.5 (General Regulations)

"It is the responsibility of each driver to ensure that his horse or horses are physically fit to fulfill the tasks required of them."

That was the only place that I found in the rule book. I did not find anything in the Pleasure Driving section. That was the 2010 rulebook, as I haven't downloaded the 2011 yet. You can get the rulebook from a link on the sidebar of the ADS homepage.

Myrna

 

[targetsmom]

Thank you!! I likely didn't find it because I don't plan on competing in CDE's right away. If (big if) I breed the mare this spring I would like to continue to show her all summer, but no CDEs. Showing does not stress her out - she will get more stressed out if/when she has to stay home!

 

[R Whiteman]

This is right out of the rule book.

4. Special Conditions (See Veterinary Regulations. Articles 1011.2.6.3 – 2.6.5)

Mares are not allowed to compete after their fourth month of pregnancy or with a foal at

foot. If it is subsequently confirmed that a mare competed under either of these

conditions, she will be disqualified from all events to which these conditions applied

and the Person Responsible will be referred to the Secretary General for attention of the

Judicial Committee.

 

[RhineStone]

I assume that the Veterinary Regulations are part of the FEI rulebook, which applies only to Combined Driving.

 

[MiLo Minis]

Although I wouldn't compete in a CDE with a pregnant mare as there is too much risk of her getting hurt in an accident what I think is pretty funny about this rule is that the first trimester is when the mare is most likely to lose a foal! I also wouldn't begin a mare driving when she is pregnant but if she has been driving all along and she is gotten pregnant there is really nothing wrong at all with continuing to drive her as long as she is comfortable and you take her condition in consideration. I drove my mare when she was pregnant with her first foal until 3 weeks before she was due. We of course slowed down quite a bit towards the end, did a lot more walking, but the only reason I quit driving her was I couldn't get the girth done up any longer. She was in terrific condition and foaled a lot easier than most maiden mares. She also got her figure back immediately and was back driving when the foal was only a couple months old. This rule is such old thinking, along the lines of pregnant women not being allowed to exercise. The main reason I wouldn't take a pregnant mare to any show would be the risk of infection and the hardship of trailering a pregnant mare.

 

[RhineStone]

Although I wouldn't compete in a CDE with a pregnant mare as there is too much risk of her getting hurt in an accident.

This rule is such old thinking, along the lines of pregnant women not being allowed to exercise.

I think the rule only applies to CDEs anyway. I think you can show a pregnant mare at a pleasure show as far as I can tell. However, I agree with Lori, I wouldn't show a pregnant mare anyway. A friend of ours who has shown National-level Arabs says that mares are either show horses or broodmares, but not both. I would agree with continuing to exercise her, though.

Myrna

 

[targetsmom]

Believe me, I am well acquainted with the risks involved in foaling. It took us 3 years before we got a live foal and I think I could write a book on all the things that can go wrong - and did. And I also know how easy it is to pick up germs at a show because our herd has FINALLY recovered from the bug one of them caught at a show last August. I will weight all those issues before I breed this very special mare. I also learned that if ANYONE goes to a show they can bring the germs home to the rest of the herd, so keeping her home to avoid picking up anything might not help. I would only consider it for this mare because she enjoys showing (and being the center of attention) and would likely be even more stressed if we left for a show without her!

I will certainly see that she gets exercise anyway, and she would only be competing (at most) until the 4th month. Assuming she even gets bred and settles. At this point I just wanted to confirm what the ADS rule was and I appreciate the information!!