Foal Heat

Hideaway · 05-17-2007, 02:39 PM

My friend and I had planned on breeding Howdy to her thoroughbred mare this past April but our plans were changed by her naughty crypt orchid boy. We were going to breed her 3 weeks ago until I insisted she should get her checked before I give her a shot to bring her into season just in case. She literally looked like she swallowed a barrel. Haha turns out she was due in two weeks.

We were not only thrown off that the little monster caught her but he also caught her while she was stitched up (from the track). Our vet had never seen anything like it and we were obviously lucky to have caught that before she foaled. Not to mention the look on Howdys face when I told him he'd have to wait.

Anywho ...

Baby is here now and we would like to breed the mare asap. I know foal heat is about 1 week after she foals which would be next Wednesday but I don't know how long they usually stay in season. Is it 5 days? I was thinking of starting Saturday which would be day 3 but I don't want to cut ourselves short either. It's getting late. The vet cleared it but I'm also wondering how many people do this and it there anything special I need to do. Anyone have any tips or information for me? Thanks!

gbarmranch · 05-17-2007, 02:42 PM

All mares are different - foal heat is anywhere from 7 to 10 days after foaling, and can last from 3 to 10 days... Sandy (Dillon's dam) had her heat 10 days after he was born, and hers only lasted three days. Casey came into foal heat 7 days after Ginger was foaled, and while we did not breed her back in foal heat (we wait until the second heat on first time mommas), her lasted 7 days...

She will let you know when she is no longer interested in Howie - and let him know too!

Hideaway · 05-17-2007, 02:55 PM

His little heart gets broken when I have to take him away.

Faceman · 05-17-2007, 02:56 PM

Personally, I don't breed them in their foal heat, although it is perfectly natural for them to breed then.

Nature is more concerned with species preservation than individual preservation, so the individual's best interest is not always what mother nature considers formost.

I just prefer to let my mares heal and recover for a month or two before I breed them as I think it is in their best interest and the best interest of the foal they will be carrying.

That's just me. Lots of people breed the foal heat without problems.

However, in all my years of breeding I've never lost a foal or mare except to fescue when I first started and didn't know any better, so I'm pretty sold on all my self-imposed breeding "rules".

gbarmranch · 05-17-2007, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hideaway

His little heart gets broken when I have to take him away.

Joe feels that way too - but it is good for them to know that the mare's make the dceisions...

05-17-2007, 02:39 PM
Hideaway Started Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: PA Posts: 2,627	Foal Heat My friend and I had planned on breeding Howdy to her thoroughbred mare this past April but our plans were changed by her naughty crypt orchid boy. We were going to breed her 3 weeks ago until I insisted she should get her checked before I give her a shot to bring her into season just in case. She literally looked like she swallowed a barrel. Haha turns out she was due in two weeks. We were not only thrown off that the little monster caught her but he also caught her while she was stitched up (from the track). Our vet had never seen anything like it and we were obviously lucky to have caught that before she foaled. Not to mention the look on Howdys face when I told him he'd have to wait. Anywho ... Baby is here now and we would like to breed the mare asap. I know foal heat is about 1 week after she foals which would be next Wednesday but I don't know how long they usually stay in season. Is it 5 days? I was thinking of starting Saturday which would be day 3 but I don't want to cut ourselves short either. It's getting late. The vet cleared it but I'm also wondering how many people do this and it there anything special I need to do. Anyone have any tips or information for me? Thanks!

05-17-2007, 02:42 PM
gbarmranch Pasture Pet Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mayberry Posts: 32,635	All mares are different - foal heat is anywhere from 7 to 10 days after foaling, and can last from 3 to 10 days... Sandy (Dillon's dam) had her heat 10 days after he was born, and hers only lasted three days. Casey came into foal heat 7 days after Ginger was foaled, and while we did not breed her back in foal heat (we wait until the second heat on first time mommas), her lasted 7 days... She will let you know when she is no longer interested in Howie - and let him know too! __________________ http://home.earthlink.net/~vpgann Quality Foundation Quarter Horses If you believe what you like in the Gospel, and reject what you don't like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself." Augustine of Hippo

05-17-2007, 02:55 PM
Hideaway Started Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: PA Posts: 2,627	His little heart gets broken when I have to take him away.

05-17-2007, 02:56 PM
Faceman Kid Safe Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Arkansas Ozarks Posts: 7,421	Personally, I don't breed them in their foal heat, although it is perfectly natural for them to breed then. Nature is more concerned with species preservation than individual preservation, so the individual's best interest is not always what mother nature considers formost. I just prefer to let my mares heal and recover for a month or two before I breed them as I think it is in their best interest and the best interest of the foal they will be carrying. That's just me. Lots of people breed the foal heat without problems. However, in all my years of breeding I've never lost a foal or mare except to fescue when I first started and didn't know any better, so I'm pretty sold on all my self-imposed breeding "rules".