What Is A Mare - Breeding & Cycles

The terminology of the 'maiden mare' is a mare who has never produced a foal or who has delivered their foal if they are carrying.

The baren mare is a mare that can not have a foal.

The brood mare is a mare that has foaled already and is expecting to keep having foals into the future.

A mare will reach puberty at two years, although this is variable on breed. They can continue to breed into well into their twenties.

The oestrus cycle of the mare lasts for 21 days.

Oestrus lasts for 5 days. This is the time she will accept the stallion and this is known as 'in season', 'in heat' or 'showing'. This time ends with ovulation for the mare.

Mares will breed naturally from March until the end of late summer. They have an average of seven oestrus cycles.

Domestication has altered the natural cycles of breeding mares, bringing the beginning of breeding season to February.

The time of the breeding season ensures foals are born during the flush of spring grass, which helps to support a prolonged lactation from the mare. When born at this time, stabling time is often less, reducing the chance of infections. Freedom of movement when in the field, stimulating development and the more concentrated summer grass is more easily digested than the lush grasses early foals will eat. Late foals have the disadvantage of the onset of winter which means the grazing is often poorer and stabling is more frequently needed to supplement this.

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