If the 20-year-old mare has never been successfully bred and carried a pregnancy to term before, it is not recommended to start breeding now. Older maiden mares are much more difficult to get pregnant. In addition, the pregnancy is of higher risk in an older mare. At a minimum, the mare may present difficulty giving birth. If the mare has been bred and had foals in the past, her odds of a successful pregnancy increase. Make sure that the mare is reproductively sound before she is bred. Have a veterinarian who is well versed in equine reproductive medicine do a breeding soundness exam on the mare before attempting to breed her.
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Is a mare that is 20 to 22 years old too old to breed?
Last Updated: April 13, 2009
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