Spyda
Well-Known Member
It seems to be widely believed that a mare's first foal will never reach the height (potentially, I guess) of the mare's subsequent foals.
Is this generally true and, if so, why?
Is it simply that a maiden mare is less efficient first time round so her foal gets less nutrients in those first 5-6 months? If so, could this not be counteracted by conscientious care and feeding?
I am particularly interested as one of my mares has just produced her first foal. Its a leggy foal with knees and hocks already a bit above that of the dam so I was surprised to be told that it is unlikely to mature much bigger than the mother simply because it is her first. I'd had my fingers crossed to breed something a couple of inches bigger and thought this foal looked like it had the potential.
My mare is a 15.1½hh TB (herself by 16.3hh TB ex 15.2hh TB) and was bred to a 16.2hh Polish WB.
Is this generally true and, if so, why?
Is it simply that a maiden mare is less efficient first time round so her foal gets less nutrients in those first 5-6 months? If so, could this not be counteracted by conscientious care and feeding?
I am particularly interested as one of my mares has just produced her first foal. Its a leggy foal with knees and hocks already a bit above that of the dam so I was surprised to be told that it is unlikely to mature much bigger than the mother simply because it is her first. I'd had my fingers crossed to breed something a couple of inches bigger and thought this foal looked like it had the potential.
My mare is a 15.1½hh TB (herself by 16.3hh TB ex 15.2hh TB) and was bred to a 16.2hh Polish WB.