Another query, pregnancy related this time!

[redwhiteblue]

As per my previous post about a prefix, I'm planning on putting my welsh cob mare in foal next year. Now, close family members of mine have bred a couple of foals so I do have experience with pregnant mares and foals - the only thing I'm not sure about is whether I can still ride her whilst she's pregnant?! (obviously I know I can't when she's very heavily pregnant).

My sister's mares have always been at rest when they've been put in foal so it's never been an issue. But I'm planning on riding and competing my mare right up until the pregnancy. If I can't ride her it's no issue at all, I'd already planned for that. But if it won't cause or the foal any harm I will happily continue riding her. Any advice much appreciated! I know it's not until next spring but I want to be well prepared and do all my homework. I will also add that the resulting foal will be for keeps as will be my next riding horse, I'm not breeding to sell.

[Louise Dixon]

Assuming she is fit and healthy, and you are riding her until she is covered, there is no reason why you shouldn't continue. Each horse is different, but as a rough guide my mares (late May foaling) have continued their normal ridden work (hacking, hunting, riding club activities) until about Christmas time, then just dropped down to very light hacking, until the end of January.

[redwhiteblue]

Thanks very much for the reply. Yes she is currently fit and healthy and hopefully there will be no change to that nearer the time. Have you taken them out in the horsebox/trailer to hunt etc with no issues?

[sarahp]

I used to carry on as normal with mine until the point where they would have needed to be clipped if kept in work, and turned them out in full winter from then on.

[19simeon56]

A few years ago I got a mare in to foal,she'd been hunting twice a week all season,she foaled down three weeks later,the owner reckoned he didn't know she was in foal!