|
|
Discussion on Kicking maiden mare, and risk of trying to pasture together after breeding done
|
| Author |
Message |
Member:
laurik
|
Posted on Thursday, Apr 23, 2015 - 7:11 pm:
I recently purchased a 15 yr old breeding stallion to breed to my own mare, and a few outside mares. This is the first breeding season I have owned him. He previously was only collected, no live cover experience. I am currently covering my own 6 yr old maiden mare with him via live cover. I have previously brought the mare into a small paddock next to stallion to tease her for the last 10 days or so. She has been a silent mare, hard to see signs of heat. Finally, yesterday I felt she was fully in heat so I got the first cover on her. She wanted to kick profusely in spite of tail lift, winking, and urination. I opted to tie up one front leg - and that worked great. My stallion was gentle, took his time to tease her before trying to mount, then mounted her successfully.
I am hoping that now she knows what to expect from my stallion the kicking will cease. I know many mares kick no matter what, but one can hope.
I would really like to pasture the two of them together after she is pregnant to keep him company and "be his mare". I have read accounts of a stallion suddenly turning on a mare and killing her or nearly killing her for no apparent reason. If my stud continues to show non-aggressive behavior do you think letting them out together to see if they get along is a reasonable option?? This mare is the lowest (least dominant) horse in the pecking order with my other 3 horses. I plan to breed her every year for the next few years, so thought keeping her with him might be good for both of them?
|
Member:
laurik
|
Posted on Friday, Apr 24, 2015 - 12:34 pm:
FYI second cover on my mare went perfectly! No kicking at all by the mare, she was very cooperative this time. Now I know she was just barely in and I will giver her 1 more day next year 
|
Moderator:
DrO
|
Posted on Friday, Apr 24, 2015 - 1:37 pm:
Hello Lauri,
Does your stallion get along with other horses in the pasture?
DrO
|
Member:
laurik
|
Posted on Friday, Apr 24, 2015 - 7:38 pm:
For most of his 15 years he was kept in a stall across from other stallions, and turned out for exercise alone. I'm not sure that he was allowed much socialization. I do know that when my gelding comes up near his corral fence line (there is about 10 feet between the fence lines), my gelding pins his ears, and my stallion charges the fence line in return.
I would only put one mare with him as a companion and keep the rest separate. I only want to breed one of my mares to him for the next couple of years. I haven't seen aggression toward the mares at all, just sexual excitement.
|
Member:
laurik
|
Posted on Friday, Apr 24, 2015 - 7:54 pm:
Also, if I can throw in another question? Breeding every other day is recommended to protect the mare from infection and inflammation. Some breeders still breed every day. Do you often see mares with infection if bred daily? Or, is this being overly cautious?
I know that the semen lasts for 48 hours so every other day is enough to get the job done.
I only ask because my stallion is new to live cover (only collection in the past), so I would like to give him a little more experience with my own mare before I breed outside mares if I can without harming the mare - just once daily.
|
Moderator:
DrO
|
Posted on Tuesday, Apr 28, 2015 - 11:02 pm:
Since no one I know breeds daily I cannot say if daily breeding is problematic but I doubt it. Since your stallion shows signs of aggression in your current situation....however it is impossible to guess how any particular horse will behave in a new situation.
DrO
|
|
|
