early covering

[stormyskies]

For those of you that breed, when is your earliest covering?

In a bit of a quandry as stallion going away to be produced.so need to find windows in his schedule! Lol! He is not covering a lot but I have a mare I need him to cover.

What is the earliest your foals are due this year?

[sjc]

Mine is due in 2 weeks and my foal last year was born 1st feb and he was fine . x

[holiday]

Ive got one due 22nd Feb and 2nd March Im happy to cover for early foals as soon as the mares start to cycle!!!! xxx

[toby09]

Mine very much depend on the ground and the weather so the very earliest I would want a foal (and have one due this year) is very early April but late April - May from choice. It's all up to your own personal circumstances I think.

[stormyskies]

Sjc was your mare brought in to season or did she cycle naturally

[harrythepig]

I agree with Toby09. I prefer May or June and use AI to meet my needs. I'd also rather have a foal on the ground when its a bit warmer although it means they have to be weaned later in the year and aren't quite as mature for the show ring as some of the March and April foals.

BTW - My mare naturally starts cycling about now by the look of her this morning!!

[kayjayem]

My first foal was born on 11th Jan but the others are due in April. I quite like having 1 early one but wouldn't want more than that so earlier as they do take up more time but it's lovely to have her here now.

[pattendown]

i have a mare that is 6 on the 30th of jan and had a colt born on 18th feb as well that year

[Deleted]

I've had foals from feb onwards, I noticed this morning a 4yo in season, she was chatting to one of the boys over the fence...

[sarahp]

Theoretically the third week in April or so would be my earliest, but he seems to have covered them the minute they went out together so my two Ds due mid-April, as well as the borrowed one now gone home, then the other three foals due from mid - late May, these either As or the other D covered later.

[harrythepig]

Jan 27, 2011 16:00:03 GMT kayjayem said:

My first foal was born on 11th Jan but the others are due in April. I quite like having 1 early one but wouldn't want more than that so earlier as they do take up more time but it's lovely to have her here now.

and the pictures are where exactly?!!!!!

[oberchis]

My 1st mare due in about 5 weeks she ran with stallion so not exact but was with him from 1st April till 2nd week in may 2nd and 3rd mares joined them end April but 3rd mare was covered in June as she came back into season

[sjc]

she cycled naturally and that wasnt on her heat either. x x

[kayjayem]

Jan 27, 2011 18:01:09 GMT harrythepig said:

Jan 27, 2011 16:00:03 GMT kayjayem said:

My first foal was born on 11th Jan but the others are due in April. I quite like having 1 early one but wouldn't want more than that so earlier as they do take up more time but it's lovely to have her here now.

and the pictures are where exactly?!!!!!

Here she is Harrythepig
horsegossip.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=picpost&action=display&thread=70634

[pollymallender]

My mare is due early April, we usually have them later, so they can foal outdoors, but she is going to have to stay in. She can foal in the crew yard, it's about 20 feet x 10 feet. How do you find foaling indoors, has anyone had any accidents?

[holiday]

Jan 28, 2011 13:33:24 GMT kayjayem said:

Jan 27, 2011 18:01:09 GMT harrythepig said:

and the pictures are where exactly?!!!!!

Here she is Harrythepig
horsegossip.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=picpost&action=display&thread=70634

She is fabulous!!!!!!! I cant believe you didnt post her pics in the breeding section!!!!!!! ;D

[kayjayem]

Thanks Holiday - I'm a bit of a dope lol!!!

[harrythepig]

I think there should be a rule in breeding - post and photos of new babies

[amyx]

At our yard they turn on the lights earlier and leave them on later to help get them start earlier. Only due to wanting to wean before really bad weather.

[wave]

hi The weather has a lot to do with it. April is a good time. but like i said that depends on the weather! i wouldn't try any earlier though. But thats just my prefrence.

[holiday]

Jan 28, 2011 22:19:38 GMT kayjayem said:

Thanks Holiday - I'm a bit of a dope lol!!!

Could we maybe have some updated photos in the breeding section ;D ;D ;D

Harrythepig - ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sarahp]

I'm more concerned they aren't born in bad weather - I foal them outside - than weaning them before the next lot!

[stormyskies]

It will be foaled inside. I think I will cover April so a March foal. I had one born March 22nd last year and was ok. Thanks for input

[sarahp]

That was in answer to amyx! If you foal inside anyway the weather doesn't really matter, but I can't see what it has to do with weaning time.

[stormyskies]

Me neither but I guess she meant early weaning before cold weather sets in. No, I dunno what she meant. Am sure she will explain

[harrythepig]

Yes I did mean about weaning before the colder weather sets in if you have an early foal.
If you choose to foal at 5-6 months and you have a later foal, then the weather is more likely to be colder when you wean and there is less goodness in the grass to improve a mare who may not being doing wellor the foal just moving off its dam.

On the otherhand if you are breeding to sell then there are advantages to having a younger foal who you can wean and sell on earlier - both for economic reasons and to save your paddocks from having an extra set of legs on it!

I know what I mean but it doesnt write very well.