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  Discussion on How old is TOO old?
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Posted on Sunday, Apr 8, 2001 - 12:46 am:

At what age should a mare be retired from breeding? Aren't there statistics that show that foals from older mares are not as successful as foals from younger mares? My 24 year old mare is about to foal - she has not had a foal for four years - and my husband and I are in disagreement on whether we should breed her again or not. He wants to just let her live the rest of her life peacefully, while I, the greedy one, wants another foal out of her (she is a GREAT mare and a GREAT producer).

Posted on Monday, Apr 9, 2001 - 6:53 am:

There are two aspects to your question: health vs value. From a health standpoint mares can continue to be bred as long as they are fit and healthy. As they get older they will become more difficult to settle and there is a rise in some type complications but nothing drastic.

From a value standpoint you hear that older mares do not produce as good a race horse and there may even be some statistics to suggest this but I have heard of how such a mechanism would work. But if you are raising to sell and nobody will buy...
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Jan 13, 2002 - 8:39 pm:

We own a older POA mare who, I don't believe, has ever had a foal. A friend of ours offered to breed her for free to her POA stud and our mare has many wonderful traits to pass down. Her only bad trait is her cow hocks, but other than that, she's a wonderful pony. She's fit and healthy, but we're only worried she might be too old and it will be unsafe to breed her. Will it be okay to breed her?

Posted on Monday, Jan 14, 2002 - 8:13 am:

Check the reply above Christine, it already answers your question.
DrO
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