Wellness Tips

REPRODUCTION FEATURES

Mare reproductive features

  1. Capable of being bred as young as 10 to 24 months of age
  2. Come into heat every 19 to 26 days during the spring & summer
  3. In heat for 2 to 10 days
  4. Signs of heat: enlarged, moist, relaxed vulva. Urinating stance, tail erect, hind quarters towards stallion and stands still.
  5. Will ovulate 24 to 48 hours before the end of the heat cycle (average 5th day of heat)
  6. Optimum breeding time is between days 2 and 5 or starting on day 2 breed every other day until no longer accepting stallion
  7. Will come into heat 4 to 13 days after foaling (called “foal heat”). Note: it is common for foals to have diarrhea during the mares foal heat due to changes in the milk.
  8. Gestation: 340 to 342 days (11 months). Mares commonly go to 12 months gestation; this is NOT a concern if all is well with the mare!