Older Mares: She Ain’t What She Used to Be

Producing a foal year in and year out takes its toll on the overall health of a mare, and the wear and tear on the reproductive system often makes it more and more difficult for her to conceive and carry a foal to term. The advances of science have given the breeder more tools with which to combat the aging process, but eventually time will win out and the mare will become barren.
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The aging process takes its toll in many ways on horses and humans. When women reach a certain age, for example, they experience menopause, a transitional period when Nature serves notice that they no longer can bear children. With horses, that stage of life is less pronounced, with some mares capable of bearing foals almost up to the time of death. Producing a foal year in and year out takes its toll on the overall health of a mare, and the wear and tear on the reproductive system often makes it more and more difficult for her to conceive and carry a foal to term. The advances of science have given the breeder more tools with which to combat the aging process, but eventually time will win out and the mare will become barren. Until that time arrives, however, many breeders will continue to strive for "just one more foal."

Requirements

Getting the older mare in foal requires time, diligence, investment, and expertise. It also requires special attention to such details as nutrition and overall good health.

Whatever the reason, or reasons, for breeding an older mare, the owner should begin with knowledge about the aging mare's reproductive tract, her nutrient needs, and the special care–and its cost–that she might require. The cost can be significant, depending on what the mare requires in the realm of medical help

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Les Sellnow was a prolific freelance writer based near Riverton, Wyoming. He specialized in articles on equine research, and operated a ranch where he raised horses and livestock. He authored several fiction and nonfiction books, including Understanding Equine Lameness and Understanding The Young Horse. He died in 2023.

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