"I own a 13-year-old Thoroughbred X mare. I've often thought about breeding from her and wondered if she might be too old as it would be her first!
What complications would or could be involved? If she was fit and young enough still to breed and being my very own Black Beauty, I would want her to have a black or dark bay foal; what would you suggest as a good suitor? We have a grey Arab x Welsh stallion on our yard that I've been admiring."
Deborah Francis- Burnett
Vet Steve Wildman of Wildman Equine replies: "Generally speaking breeding from a 13-year-old mare is not out of the question; however fertility does tend to subside rather quickly in the later teens. As long as the mare is physically normal and well there should be no more concerns for carrying a foal to term and giving birth, however a veterinary examination should be performed before embarking upon covering such a mare, as is the case with any mare. Preference in colour is always a lottery but progeny the result of using a grey stallion will be likely to turn grey within the first few years."
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