Mare with foal won't come into heat, need advice.*update*

drgnm5 · 06-27-2005, 06:12 PM

As you all know my gray mare (who is 20 y/o ) had a foal May 1st. No trouble or any type of complications at all. Howdy is getting huge and doing well but my mare "Gray" is not coming back into heat. She showed no signs of foal heat or any other heat since foaling. I have chosen a very handsome, well bred dun stallion to breed her to this year and took her to the breeders and the vet administered a 2cc dose of estrumate to induce her heat cycle. Two other mares (one 22y/o one 8y/o) both got the same shot on the same day. That was last tuesday the 21st. Both the other mares have come into heat and been covered by the stallion. My mare is still not showing signs of heat and pins her ears when the stallion enters the room and kicks at him when he gets near her. She ran with the stallion at her previous home and only had foals every other year. I have called two seperate vets and both agreed that she should be given another dose of the estrumate and watched for another 4-5 days and if she doesn't show heat then she should be given an ultrasound to determine why she isn't cycling. Personally I feel comfortable leaving her open for a year if she isn't going to breed. I am concerned about messing with her hormones and cycles and what long term effects it may have especially with her age. She is in good flesh if not slightly chunky and passed her "manual" internal examination with flying colors before the first shot was administered. So my questions are this:

with her age and history of only producing foals every other year would YOU give her another shot if she were your mare?

is there such a thing as a mare who won't cycle if she has a foal on her?

what if any are the possible long term effects on the breedability of an older mare if you: A. force the heat cycle or B. leave her open for a year.

Here is a picture of the mare Gray

and a picture of her with her foal this year

baylady · 06-27-2005, 07:35 PM

I would leave her and let nature take its course. Im not about all the artificial stuff. She is very pretty and obviously a nice producer. That foal is adorable, no wonder you want to breed her again.

TXCowGrl82 · 06-27-2005, 08:29 PM

I would probably give her one more shot, and if that didn't work, not try to breed her again. Then if she didn't come into heat next year, she might just be done breeding. Mares are not like stallions. Mares have a limited amount of eggs vs a stallion who continually produces semen. While most mares can breed into their twenties, not all can. It may just be time for her to stop breeding.

ToveroMom · 06-27-2005, 09:10 PM

I would have her ultrasounded before another shot and just have a looksee around in there
Pudgy mares[like women] can have trouble conceiving and she is a bit plump
These hormone shots won't hurt her one bit
I would have no problem at all letting her have a year off

drgnm5 · 07-03-2005, 10:42 AM

Just wanted to let you guys know that I went ahead and gave Gray another shot thinking that it probably wouldn't work but the vet said it wouldn't hurt her either way. Well, she came into heat and has been covered 6 times in the last two days which means as soon as she stops being receptive her and howdy can come home!!! I have missed them terribly they have been gone for almost 3 weeks now. This is the first year we are breeding to this stallion, but I think the foals we get out of this pairing are going to be much thicker and heavier built horses. I am really looking forward to seeing how this turns out. Here are some pictures of the stallion AQHA Ima dun spurin.

hoovesofgold · 07-03-2005, 11:46 AM

Ooo, he's handsome. Your mare is very pretty as well, with a very cute current foal

View Poll Results: Give the shot and breed or let nature take it's course?
Shot and breed if able	2	25.00%
Let nature take it's course	6	75.00%
Voters: 8. You may not vote on this poll

06-27-2005, 06:12 PM
drgnm5 Weanling Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 433	Mare with foal won't come into heat, need advice.update As you all know my gray mare (who is 20 y/o ) had a foal May 1st. No trouble or any type of complications at all. Howdy is getting huge and doing well but my mare "Gray" is not coming back into heat. She showed no signs of foal heat or any other heat since foaling. I have chosen a very handsome, well bred dun stallion to breed her to this year and took her to the breeders and the vet administered a 2cc dose of estrumate to induce her heat cycle. Two other mares (one 22y/o one 8y/o) both got the same shot on the same day. That was last tuesday the 21st. Both the other mares have come into heat and been covered by the stallion. My mare is still not showing signs of heat and pins her ears when the stallion enters the room and kicks at him when he gets near her. She ran with the stallion at her previous home and only had foals every other year. I have called two seperate vets and both agreed that she should be given another dose of the estrumate and watched for another 4-5 days and if she doesn't show heat then she should be given an ultrasound to determine why she isn't cycling. Personally I feel comfortable leaving her open for a year if she isn't going to breed. I am concerned about messing with her hormones and cycles and what long term effects it may have especially with her age. She is in good flesh if not slightly chunky and passed her "manual" internal examination with flying colors before the first shot was administered. So my questions are this: with her age and history of only producing foals every other year would YOU give her another shot if she were your mare? is there such a thing as a mare who won't cycle if she has a foal on her? what if any are the possible long term effects on the breedability of an older mare if you: A. force the heat cycle or B. leave her open for a year. Here is a picture of the mare Gray and a picture of her with her foal this year __________________ She had three lilies in her hand and the stars in her hair numbered seven...Dante

06-27-2005, 07:35 PM
baylady Yearling Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: PA Posts: 771	I would leave her and let nature take its course. Im not about all the artificial stuff. She is very pretty and obviously a nice producer. That foal is adorable, no wonder you want to breed her again. __________________ \"Experienced riders are not prone to brag. And usually newcomers, if they start out being boastful, end up modest.\"

06-27-2005, 08:29 PM
TXCowGrl82 Greenbroke Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Huntsville, Texas Posts: 3,242	I would probably give her one more shot, and if that didn't work, not try to breed her again. Then if she didn't come into heat next year, she might just be done breeding. Mares are not like stallions. Mares have a limited amount of eggs vs a stallion who continually produces semen. While most mares can breed into their twenties, not all can. It may just be time for her to stop breeding.

06-27-2005, 09:10 PM
ToveroMom Pasture Pet Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cleveland TX Posts: 17,059	I would have her ultrasounded before another shot and just have a looksee around in there Pudgy mares[like women] can have trouble conceiving and she is a bit plump These hormone shots won't hurt her one bit I would have no problem at all letting her have a year off __________________

07-03-2005, 10:42 AM
drgnm5 Weanling Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 433	Just wanted to let you guys know that I went ahead and gave Gray another shot thinking that it probably wouldn't work but the vet said it wouldn't hurt her either way. Well, she came into heat and has been covered 6 times in the last two days which means as soon as she stops being receptive her and howdy can come home!!! I have missed them terribly they have been gone for almost 3 weeks now. This is the first year we are breeding to this stallion, but I think the foals we get out of this pairing are going to be much thicker and heavier built horses. I am really looking forward to seeing how this turns out. Here are some pictures of the stallion AQHA Ima dun spurin. __________________ She had three lilies in her hand and the stars in her hair numbered seven...Dante

07-03-2005, 11:46 AM
hoovesofgold Weanling Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southeast Louisiana Posts: 321	Ooo, he's handsome. Your mare is very pretty as well, with a very cute current foal __________________ God forbid I go to a heaven without horses!