Hi, I just wanted to let you know of my experience with a 20 yr. old mare
who had never had a foal. We had he bred three different times, between
when she was 10 and 18 and she never took. The last time the vet checked
her and said even though she was cycling and at the time was prime to breed
right then, her cervix was very tight and that it may be a hormonal problem that
we could try some hormones on her. Well, I decided against all that
expense at her age, too much of a chance. Then while I was considering
buying my Stallion, the previous owner said (and had others that I was in
contact with who also told me) of how successful she was in getting mares to
conceive. She told me the trick was mostly pasture breeding. So when
I did buy my Stallion HIA Sud Addis, I short cycled her and then turned her in
with him. She would stand and then kick the snot out of him. So I
decided that I'd separate them and the next spring take her to the vet and get
her on some hormones. Well, dummy me, not having much experience in
breeding had read that mares usually quit cycling in the winter. She had
been living right across an electric fence from Addis for about 3 months and
they had gotten to know each other from a distance, and because I felt sorry for
him, as he was used to living with his own herd of mares, I turned her out again
with him, thinking that she would not cycle, and thus wouldn't kick him, since
he would leave her alone, well, she was in season and I didn't realize it.
He courted her for about 5 to 10 minutes (he's a real gentlemen) then she stood
for him, no kicking and low and behold we had a late November baby the next
fall. Then I waited till April last year and put them back together when I
knew she was in season, and she took again right off. Amazing what pasture
breeding especially if they get to know each other first can accomplish.
We named our filly Al Montazara, it means the one you've waited for. Don't
know if you have the access to this mare or not, but it may be a good idea to
keep them together.
