Is Your Mama a Mare: Things to Consider

Could my mare be too young or too old to breed?

Mares can often foal late into life as long as they continue to go into season regularly. A filly can become sexually mature at 18 months so a mare could foal at 2 years old technically. This can be problematic though because a mare continues to grow until age four, and being in foal can hinder growth. The best age to start breeding is age 5.

What is the best time of year to breed?

Mares naturally come into season when there is naturally more sunlight. This means that most mares will have their cycles during the summer, and they will cease to have cycles when fall comes around. The ideal time for a foal to be born is between May and July, because this is when grass is best to support the mothers milk. This means the best time to breed would be June through August.

How often does a mare come into season?

Mares usually show seasons lasting four to six days from the months of March to October. These recur 14 to 16 days after the end of the previous season. The means mares normally have a breeding cycle of around three weeks duration. After being breed, a mares cycle may become irregular if she does not become pregnant the first time.

How can I tell if my mare if pregnant?

Mares do not usually show signs of abdominal enlargement until the last three months of pregnancy. Also, mammary development is not obvious in mares until a month before the foal is due. The only accurate way to know ahead of time if your mare is with foal is to have an ultrasound done. This can also show if anything abnormal exists in the foal.

How long does pregnancy last in horses?

A normal pregnancy for a horse is 11 months or 340 days. It has been said that colts will always be carried longer than fillies. A premature foal can survive with proper treatment after 310 days. Also, on rare occasions, foals can be 3 to 4 weeks overdue.

Can mares carry multiple babies at once?

It is rare for mares to double ovulate but it is possible. it is hard on a mare to carry twins because the uterus is not made to stretch to accommodate two babies at once. It puts a large risk on the mare for ruptures and for complications during delivery. Often times if a mare becomes pregnant with twins, her body will automatically abort both babies. If not, a veterinarian can sometimes abort one fetus so the pregnancy can be carried out.