First foals

[S_N]

Prompted by another post. Is it fact or fable that first foals are pretty much always smaller than either subsequent full or half siblings OR than the mating might otherwise dictate? (ie 16.2hh sire & dam and first prgeny only grows to 16hh).

 

[sallyf]

Variable i think.
Of my two original mares both in there teens one 15.2 TB threw 14.3 for the first one to a 16 hand stallion both her subsequent foals only made the same size as her by bigger stallions.
My other mare was 15.1 and her first foal to a 16.1 stallion threw 16.2 and all others to small stallions 16 hands.
Subsequent foals out of the above mares daughters have all been biggish.
My 15.2 TB mare out of above 15.2 TB mare was put to my 16.1TB stallion for her first foal and is 16.3 at 3 and the next 15.3 as a yearling.
All my other 15.3/16 hand mares have thrown foals that look to make at least 16 hands by my 15.3 stallion.
If you can follow all that well you did ask.

 

[S_N]

PMSL!!! Yeah I think I got that - thank you!!

 

[buzzles]

My mare is 15h and was by a 16.3h stallion and out of a 16.2 mare. She was the first foal. I have her breeding back as far as her great great grandparents and they're all over 16h. I don't know whether she's small because she was a first foal or whether it was due to other factors.

 

[Fahrenheit]

I think there is some truth in it, although with horse breeding nothing is certain in the height stakes!

For example my 15.1 TB
First Foal to 16.1 WB = 14.2
Second to same = 16h
Third to 16.3 WB = Well on to go over 16h
Fourth (at foot) to same = already 14.1!!

Then there is the ridiculous when I put a 16.1 stallion over a 16.3 mare (not first foal but just to show you never now what you are going to get!) and the mare is now 17.3 (grew 3 inches this year as 5yo!!!) and still threatening to grow more!

 

[the watcher]

My mare's dam has had three fillies, all by the same sire. My girl was the first, and maxed out just under 14hh, her next full sister is a full up 14.3hh and the last one born this summer is going to be another biggie - so in their case it was very true

 

[christine48]

My mare is 16.1hh (by a 16 hh out of a 15.2)
Her 1st 3 foals (colts) by same 16.3hh stallion are 16.3-17hh.
4 th foal (filly) by 16.1hh stallion is about 15.1hh at 2yr old.
5th foal (filly) is about 14.3 hh at 18 months. Therefore our mare's 1st 3 foals were the biggest, however they were colts.

 

[S_N]

It's interesting isn't it. Stud (10 yrs ago) where I used to work had a mare that had twins as her first foals. When I was there, these twins were 5yos. Mare was 15.2hh ISH (1/4ID, 3/4TB) and their sire was a 16hh TB - these guys were 16.2hh and I think 17.1hh (might have been bigger - have forgotton

Also my own Hector is a first foal. Dam is 16.1hh WB (she's 1/4 TB) and sire is a 16hh TB - H's backside is already level with his mothers at 18 months old!!!

Also, B was 4 1/2 weeks premature, her dam was 17hh (I knew her - infact I held her for B's conception) and sire was 17.1hh - B didn't grow, I presume due to being a premie baby - but I guess it's in H's genes.

 

[Navalgem]

I've a yearling out of a 16hh mare by a big 16.2 stallion, and I think he'll either be 14.2 or maybe 15hh

 

[christine48]

yes your mare has Atlantus blood in her like mine. Although he wasn't big himself I wonder if he has big stock in his background. sound like Hector is going to be a big lad. Our first foal made 16.3hh and he was only 15.2hh at 2yr old.

 

[maestro]

The one thing I have learnt about breeding is that horses write their own script.
My mare: 16HH by a 17hh out 17.1hh 1st foal.
Her 1st foal 16.3hh by 16.3hh
2nd 17hh by same stallion
3rd 15. 3HH by 17.1hh
4th 16.1hh by 17hh
5th 16.2hh by 16.3hh
6th 17hh by 17hh same stallion as 4th! Get the picture!

 

[PapaFrita]

If so... POOR B!!! She's going to have some WHOPPERS

 

[S_N]

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If so... POOR B!!! She's going to have some WHOPPERS

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Oh don't say that!!! Ringo can apparently throw large *gulps*

 

[PapaFrita]

I expect she's quite 'stretchy' by now though

 

[S_N]

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I expect she's quite 'stretchy' by now though

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[Fahrenheit]

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I expect she's quite 'stretchy' by now though

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[PapaFrita]

LOL!

 

[S_N]

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I expect she's quite 'stretchy' by now though

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YOu couldn't bloody well say that about a human and get away with it now could you!!!???!!!! Bloody cheek - you might be a good friend in RL PF, but watch ya step missus - just coz PF is hussy

 

[Fahrenheit]

PMSL

 

[volatis]

I think often maiden mares are bred to smaller stallions hence why first foals are smaller. In my own experience never had first foals that were smalelr than expected, in fact had some woppers.
16.3hh TB mare to 16.0hh Ringo - her now 2yo gelding is at least 16.2hh already
My 17.0hh Hol/TB mare, first foal is a yearling, he is now well over 16.0hh.
16.3hh coloured mare, first 2 foals by Ringo - both very similar sizes (to make 16.2/3hh) despite one being still entire.
16.2hh Hann/TB mare, 1st foal, a filly by DiMaggio is 16.1hh at 3. 2nd foal by Rivallino will be about the same size. Her yearling filly by Ringo is about 15.0hh now

Maybe my mares just have big foals?

 

[severnmiles]

I don't agree with that...myth in my opinion!