Not breeding 3yo filly...

H

htobago

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 March 2007
Messages
2,937
Location
Oxford and London
Visit site
The nice Arab breeder in Belgium who has 3 mares in foal to my boy has decided to postpone breeding the 4th mare until next year.

This is a 3yo filly, and the breeder tells me she hasn't shown in season at all yet, and seems a bit immature for her age, so she's decided - wisely I think - to give her another year to mature before breeding her.

I rather like this attitude - a lot of studs would have just gone ahead and jabbed her into season and bred her, but this lady is patient with her horses and doesn't want to rush things.
smile.gif


Another friend has told me she doesn't ever breed till they are 4 - but I feel it should be about the individual horse - nothing wrong with breeding a 3yo if she is ready!

What do you think?

(Oh - another update - another super Cremello mare just scanned in foal to Tobago - so there will be two Palomino Tobago-babies next year!)
 
That's lovely! Nice to hear that people realize they are not baby-machines! Personally, I wouldn't put a mare in foal till 3 probably 4 depending on the mare. But I'm one of those people who are never in a hurry about anything!

Nice - palominos!!
 
I sold a 3 year old filly last year and the owners had an accident with her and their stallion and she was bred. I went to see her and her foal a couple of months ago and I couldn't believe how mature the filly looked with her little foal at foot. She was always a mature filly though, both mentally and physically, so I do agree that it is all down to the individual horse.

I personally wouldn't breed until 4 years old though.
 
Very refreshing to hear htobago. I know of quite a few people who whould breed from 2yos, personally I wouldn't breed from anything under 3 years and at 3years they would have to be mature 3 if you know what I mean. Saying that I have only ever put 1 3yo infoal, so its not somthing I think about alot, I usually wait til they have done some work and shown me what they could achieve under saddle first.
 
Omigod - I would never breed from a 2yo filly! That is much too young!
shocked.gif


A mature 3yo seems OK to me, though. I do take your point about waiting till they've shown at least some potential under saddle, but a lot of 'show-Arab' breeders never ride their mares at all, so this would not really be a consideration.

Yes, I know, they should be tested under saddle - I'm not saying this is right, but it's just how things are. Mind you, I can't really make a fuss, as I am standing a 3yo stallion who has not even been backed yet.
blush.gif


Actually - that's an interesting question as well - at what age would you start using a colt/stallion for breeding?
 
Well I would like to say 3 as well but not too many mares because you don't want to turn them into a raving hormonal lunatic but then I would have to own up to Teddy did cover a mare as a 2yo
blush.gif
, well actually he covered 2 mares
blush.gif
but saying that I wasn't directly responsible for either happening! The first one he came over the top of a 5ft (at least!) hedge and covered a mare that was out in the paddock in season, luckily she was a raging tart and stood and I got there to retrieve him before he could get himself into any more mischief and the other was when he had gone up to start some ground work at the end of the summer in prep to be broken the following spring (we always do some ground work at the end of the summer at 2, then turn away for winter and break at 3 and then quite often turn away again until spring at 4yos but it our personal preference to do it that way, everyone has their own way of doing it) anyway they accidently on purpose walked him past a mare that was stood in the menage booted and bandaged ready for covering hmmmmmmmm!!
crazy.gif
 
I think 3 is the earliest for both sexes but I have covered my own mare with my 2yo, although he was quite keen on the job, at least you can't 'force' a stallion. However I only did it to see what sort of stock he may throw. Plus, mares are more likely to be affected by having a foal than a stallion is to sire one, if you understand me, I mean, the mare has to carry it and nourish it for almost 18 months in total so will take much more out of her than a fertile stallion climbing on a mare and covering, the semen is already there and I dont think it will affect them as much, certainly not physically anyway. My colt also was moved fields recently with his other colt friend (same age) and there was a gelding on the box and my boy wasn't the least bit interested in it but the other colt (who I dont think has covered) went nuts! lol
 
LOL Horsegroupie! At least Teddy has proved he can jump! Lots of people do let their 2yo colts cover a mare or two - as Navalgem says, just to get an idea of what their stock will be like.

I'm afraid Tobago has had rather more mares (about 20) than you would approve of for a 3yo.
blush.gif
This wasn't really my intention! I advertised him, as I have no mares of my own and wanted him to have a chance to prove himself as a sire, but I had no idea so many breeders would want to use him, and it all got a bit out of hand!
shocked.gif


He actually had over 25 mares booked, but perhaps fortunately a few had to postpone their breedings till next year cos of various problems (late foaling, floods, injuries, ovulation probs, etc.).

I know some people think even 20 is still waaay too many mares for an unproven 3yo, but my 'mentors' (very experienced Arab breeders, whose judgement I trust) said it was fine, and at least we'd get a chance to see what he produces from a wide range of different mares.

As you say, we all have our own ways of doing things...
wink.gif
smile.gif
 
Navalgem I don't think there is any worry that covering a couple of mares at 2 would harm a stallion physically - it's more the psychological effects that people worry about, I think.

But if the colt is very laid-back and takes things in his stride, then I don't really see a problem - although I chose to wait till 3 with my boy, who is more of a high-strung type.
 
Your in a different world to me though htobago, you boy is a show arab, I imagine that the alot of showing is done at young ages (i'm completely lost when it comes to showing you'll have to excuse my guessings!) PLUS your boy did AI so he has learnt that sex is only done in the collecting area and not everything that moves, I was actually refering to covering 'the real thing' when I said not too many because you'll turn them into a hormonal raging lunatic. My stallions that do AI seem only to get excited (in the sex way) when they see the covering bridle or when they arrive at the AI centre for a collection.
grin.gif
 
Laid back doesn't even scratch the surface! during the time he was covering my mare my daughter (2years old) was still coming in the stable with me with him and hugging his knees and smacking him on his nose!! lol he's a real sweetie. and I dont think it has affected him much psychologically as he's not interested in covering unless he's 'teased' a mare up. He still walks past horses with only a brief look and a quiet whinny - none of the stallion screaming or whickering, it just sounds different and I dont think he's much sillier than an average 2 year old passing another horse. Although I could be wrong and he may never want to cover another mare again...........
 
oh HG you've got me convinced now that Cal is just 'not normal!' lol, though what he'll be like if I put a chifney in....... perhaps his attitude will change because he knows that's a covering thing?
confused.gif
perhaps I'll see next year.....
 
He has only covered one mare I don't think you have much to worry about, alot of my opinions is based on a 4yo stallion i know that covered 40 mares in his first season in hand and became a hormonal wreck.....
Next time you are down i'll get the chifney out and walk towards Helios, I am telling you he recognises it....
 
lol, now that is just cruel!! lol, can't blame him bless. I love Helios, such a shame his stud carrer began so late, there'd be loads of really talented helios babies out now...... anyone who doubts me needs to see bess!
 
smile.gif
he better hang around for a while yet!!
mad.gif
grin.gif


Just realised I've hi-jacked this thread..... Sorry!!!!
blush.gif


actually it's kinda related.....

bess is a 4yr old (in sept - late foal) by helios who was put in foal at 2 as she was such a late foal and her owner didn't want to back her at 2 and a bit so left her but decided to breed from her. she has only made 14.2 (out of a hackney mare) which may be because she had a foal but not necessarily, but she is well put together (doesn't seem to have affected her physically other than mayb height and certainly I wouldn't say it's affected her psychologically - I'd even go so far to say as she's more mature than the ave 4yr old)and is simply amazing! She was backed last winter and at her 4th show, 2nd BSJA, she had 4 faults in a newcomers class (they missed BN and decided to give it a go because bess has such a great attitude), I've not seen anything with such a good attitude to jumping and amazing technique. Watch this space, Casino De Bornival will definately be a 148 grand prix pony!
 
Just changing the subject slightly, what happens if a yearling colt or even a 6mth colt gets a mare in-foal? I did not think the offspring's pedigree could be registered even if both parents are? I am probably completely wrong, & I am not asking because I think my yearling did the dead before his visit to the vets! But if a yearling colt is deamed too young how can anyone agree that a 2yr old filly is old enough to carry a growing fetus then go through the riggers of foaling. I believe the Amish community regularly breed from their fillies at this age as they believe it improves them as riding/driving animals. I for one just find this hard to understand, why is it impossible for some people to allow their animals to have their baby hood. We after all stopped sending our children down the mines, & up the chimneys etc years ago. (said tongue in cheek!!)
 
can't understand why someone would use a stallion with out consent of owner as they would not get covering cert would they.but as for notcovering 2yrs olds I cover all my mares at 2 as long as they up to weight and dont still look like yearlings and i have about 100 warmblood mares and non have ever come by any harm from this
 
Sorry for the very late reply kandy but I didn't actually realise you had posted......
a015.gif


[ QUOTE ]
can't understand why someone would use a stallion with out consent of owner as they would not get covering cert would they.

[/ QUOTE ]

Who said the owner didn't know about it........I didn't!
a050.gif
Obviously the irony of the post was lost in the translation from Southern English to Northern
a015.gif


[ QUOTE ]
i have about 100 warmblood mares

[/ QUOTE ]

Tut Tut! Naughty Naughty! You shouldn't tell porkie pies!
d015.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top