Breeding a Heavey mare

[Plowboy]

Several years ago 3 of our mares got sick. One got better right away, the second took a couple years to get back to normal and the third is still short of wind that she is retired from heavy work. She still does parades, weddings, wagon rides, hills potatoes and when she feels good spreads manure. In the spring from March to June she has a lot of bad days. We’ve tried the antihistamines and everything else we can think of but each year she has trouble. We had to put her mother down from white horse melanoma complications last fall and they together were the dream team, the rocks, the unflappable, sharpest driving team most people never get to own. I was considering breeding her this summer along with another healthy mare to foal next year on pasture during her good season. I wondered what anyone’s thoughts are. With her bad time of year whether she would get enough oxygen for herself and the foal or otherwise cause any complications. I would love to have a foal from her with that bloodline and temperment and maybe we can raise another dream team. She would be a good one to use as a brood mare because she is on limited duty anyway.

[Jay]

From what you’ve said, I don’t see anything to loose by trying. It might work out or not. In years of breeding, we’ve found that they seem to do best when 1) active- working as much as they are up to, 2) not fat, 3) in the daily routine of things as much as possible. I never had trouble woking them hard (except in the last 3 months) in fact they seem to do better and be healthier being active. Good luck. Jay

[dominiquer60]

I have a friend that wanted to breed her heavey quarterhorse mare, a 15 year old maiden that had one ovary removed because of benign tumor. One AI treatment with some Welsh Pony genetics and she had a very successful pregnancy, birth and one heck of a fine 1/2 Welsh blue roan filly. It is totally possible that your mare could have the same success.

Erika

[Author]

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