breeding ages?

Stinkbomb

Stinkbomb

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Please forgive my ignorance, i really dont know much about breeding but would love to learn!! Someone i know is trying to breed a two year old mare this year and also breed from a two year old colt ( not to each other ) i would have thought that for both mare and colt this was too young? Am i wrong? What is the youngest you should even CONSIDER breeding a mare or colt/stallion from and why?
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For the mare: It is totally dependant on the individual mare. Most people will say "You can NEVER breed before 3 or 4 years old". However, some fillies will become sexually mature and near fully grown by 2-2.5, others not until 5. You have to make a careful judgement as to how mature (mentally and physically) the mare is. Personally, I would not want to breed most mares before 3, as for the majority they are not mentally mature enough, and their cycling may be irregular making it difficult to catch them.

If the mare is SO good that you cannot wait, then embryo transfer might be a better idea.

For the colt: If he's sexually mature, go for it, if you like. He may not reach full potency until 3-7 years old (it does vary a lot), so again, it may be more difficult to acheive a pregnancy that it might be with an older stallion. At least you can see what he's like early on so you can geld if he's not stallion material.
 
Thanks very well explained!!

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[/ QUOTE ] "At least you can see what he's like early on so you can geld if he's not stallion material. "

That also is verygood advice thanks!

irishcobs - your thoughts were along the same as i was thinking.
 
Personally 3 is the youngest i would consider but I do know people that have put a 2yo in foal and everything was perfectly fine, although its not something I would do myself (then most my 2yos are really babyish so there has never been any temptation!)
 
I worked for someone who covered their 2yr old mare in the hope of slowing her down. I also bought a 3yr old NF mare show later produced a filly, so therefore was covered at 2yrs. I think the majority of mares are best to wait until they are 3 at least.
 
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For what reason?

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IMO they grow alot between 2 and 3yo and they are just alot maturer physically and mentally at 3yo than they are at 2yo. That would be my reasoning.
 
Thanks Stinkbomb, and Andy Pandy for your answer, I was going to ask that about stallions.

As you know, because I've been raving about him, I have recently bought a colt (just turned three) and turned him out with my paint mare, they were both very enthusiastic about the job, but it did take poor Zeus a while to figure out the logistics. At one point he was on poor Robin's head, I think if she'd known what she was doing she'd have said "Oh for God's Sake, the other end, please !" Anyway, they sorted themselves out and live together quite happily now.

He won't be covering any other mares but my own until I see what he produces, and how he goes on with being broken. I wouldn't have any hesitation in having him cut if he doesn't turn out as I would like him to, good bloodlines or not, even though I have had people dropping in to ask if he is standing publicly this season.
 
I would never breed from a two year old mare, they just aren't mature enough.
Against my arguements my husband insisted on breeding a two year old one year, and she never developed as her full sister did.
Some development trials at one of the Unis proved that provided you can give a youngster sufficient minerals/feed etc before the autumn of it's third year they develop much the same as one fed from birth. After that however is the cut off point and some will never mature fully as a result. I reckon breeding from a two year old starves them of vital nutrients at a time when they are still having rapid growth themselves, so feel it's pointless.
The two mares concerned were kept in all winter and fed identical amounts as we used to winter mares inside in the Pennines.. The foal really pulled that mare down I reckon as she is two inches smaller than her sister and just not as well developed.
colts can cover at two but are better left until three..
 
HH, horses develop at different rates, although its rule of thumb that they do 90% of their growing in the first year, from a 2y.o - a 4y.o maturity differs from horse/breed. Personally feel it is wrong to say no 2y.o should be bred from, it i down to the individual.

Its unfair to say you fed both mares identical amounts as one was feeding a foal for 18months (whether on the inside or out) so she surely should have had a different feeding programme to the 2y.o who was not in foal?

Quite a few on this board had said put Rhi in foal, she's a big girl and pretty mature (looks like a 4y.o some days...I'm tempted to hop on
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- joke!) physically and mentally.

I remember when the Italian lot came over a colt had caught a yearling filly (who most believe aren't even sexually mature!) she foaled as a 2y.o
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and grew an inch bigger than both of her brothers.

I really do think its down to the individual and there is no rule of thumb.
 
I've got a 2 year old I am considering breeeding from (filly not colt) - she is very mature and well developed....however I have seen other 2 year olds that still look like they have an awful lot of growing to do at 2 so I think it depends on the individual horse in question...
 
quote "For what reason?"
I said "majority of mares are best to wait until they are 3 at least" Because not all 2yr old fillies are mature enough to foal at 3yrs. After a certain period nature will put all the goodness into the foetus (before then if the mare is not getting enough nutriants then she may reasorb). Also the mare can get quiet big & heavy which puts a burden on her body. So though there are always exceptions, is it worth taking the risk for the sake of waiting 1 more yr?? Mares may not play as much as geldings, but they deserve to have their "child hood" too. Would you think it a good thing for 11/12 yr olds to become mothers just because they look mature enough?
 
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