Babies Babies Babies!!! - Timing your baby

Spring is just around the corner! Babies on the way, babies just arriving, planning for new babies. There is SOOOOO much to think about. Let us help you with some thoughts.

Timing your baby

Are you showing your foal in the FHANA Keuring? Are you focusing on IFSHA shows? Are you worried about weather? Is your mare open (not pregnant) in foal? What kind of timing do you have to consider for YOUR foal.......

Gestation for a horse is 11 months. Friesians have been known to have foals about 2 weeks early so don't set the date on your calendar in pen. All of our calculations are going to be based on a general 11 months to keep things simple.

If you are planning on showing your FPS Friesian foal at it's foal Keuring, it is best to have your foal be 3-4 months old. Historically the USA Keurings are in September/October. You will want to be thinking about breeding in April and May. If you know your mare takes a few cycles to conceive you should account for that by starting a little earlier.

The reason 3-4 months is ideal is because the foal must show with it's Dam at the keuring. A 1-2 month old foal is very small and doesn't show off their movement as well because they are still "wobbly". If your foal is starting to naturally wean itself you will find that they just run around the arena without paying attention to it's Dam. If your foal is not 3-4 months you can still show at the Keuring, the judges have seen all ages and sizes and will give their best opinion that day. But if you are planning, and your mare doesn't already have a foal on the way, and the foal Keuring is important, April is the start to your breeding season.

If you are focusing on IFSHA shows then you will be thinking along the lines of show season starting in the Spring. Do you want your foal to show early in the season in halter classes? Do you want your mare to be showing not the foal? The general idea is to have your foals born as close to January or February (breeding season starting in Dec. Jan) so that the foals are larger for their age. The weather in your area may not accommodate winter deliveries and you will probably have to have your horse on lights to get them jump started on heat cycles in the winter. If you want your mare available for show season you might want to consider having the mare either give birth in January so that the foal can be weaned at 4 months (April) and you can still have most of the show season without a foal tagging along. Or you can have the foal born late in the year so that the mare can show all season then have the foal and enjoy being a mom all winter. IFSHA World/National Championships are usually the end of October so if the foal is planned to be born in late November or December then the mare can still show.

Planning when it’s best for your foal to be born is a very important part of breeding. If your mare is open (not pregnant) then just sit down with your schedule and the calendar and figure out what is best for you and your foal. Remember to plan around 11 month gestation and 4-6 months of nursing.