A title square image for ASK HQ regarding when the best age to breed a mare is with a young bay foal in the square

ASKHQ: BREEDING MARES

Q: When is the best age to breed a mare? A: Most vets and breeding specialists recommend breeding a mare between four and twelve years of age. Why not younger? Physically, a mare reaches maturity around four years old. Breeding younger than this (two to three years) is possible but not advisable: her body is…

BylizzieDecember 1, 20250Comments

ASKHQ: STALLION FERTILITY

Q: When is a stallion most fertile? A: Fertility in stallions is highest from six years of age until they are somewhere between 12-15 years of age. After this fertility tapers off through their late teens and drops again more dramatically once they are over 20. It should be noted, however, that this does vary greatly among…

BylizzieApril 3, 20210Comments

Ask HQ Breeding Horse Channel Horse Health

GELDING YOUR COLT

If you are the owner of a colt, you have undoubtedly been asked if and when you are going to geld your youngster. In fact, you may have even found yourself wishing you'd had a filly, just to avoid having to make this tricky call. As with most horse-related issues, there are lots of opinions…

BylizzieJanuary 25, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel

ASKHQ: HOW OLD IS TOO TOLD FOR A MARE TO HAVE A FOAL?

Asked by Ansi van der Merwe Mares can continue to produce foals well into their late teens and even into their early to mid-twenties. However, breeders should be aware that the fertility of mares decreases each year from around fifteen years of age. An older mare who has had a foal earlier in her life…

BylizzieFebruary 9, 20190Comments

ASKHQ: BREEDING MARES

ASKHQ: STALLION FERTILITY

GELDING YOUR COLT

ASKHQ: HOW OLD IS TOO TOLD FOR A MARE TO HAVE A FOAL?

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