Stallion Size.....

[lau1990]

Hi All!

Im rather curious about the height difference between a mare and a stallion.

I have a full up 14hh mare and would love a foal out of her before she is too old. I havent bread of her before and she is around 15 years now is this still okay ( she has no health issues etc )?

I have a love of spotts and know of a lovely stallion that has many foals that are stunning but he is 16hh! Is this too drastic for my mare ?

Please help out im new to this breeding malarki!

Thanks Lauri.

 

[competitiondiva]

First of all no 15 isn't too old, though her fertility may argue otherwise! Basically a mares fertility like with humans deteriorates as they become older. Height wise there have been many extreme crosses some have been fine, others if using big stallions on small mares have resulted in very large foals and problems occuring. Also build plays a part, if the mare is a spindly 14hh and the stallion a strapping 16hh then I think you'd be asking for problems as opposed to the reverse. For example the biggest stallion I'd consider for my 15.2 would be a leggy fine built 16.3, even then I'd be wary, she threw a huge foal just using a 16.1 stallion previously! Breeding isn't all happy happy, bad things can happen and you have to weigh up this with how you feel about your mare, add that to considerations like do I in my heart think this stallion is too big.

There is a warmblood stallion i've seen standing at 16.1 and they have a price for 13.2 mares!!! Personally I think this is irresponsible, but that's not to say that the cross hasn't been successful, perhaps that stallion throws small stock?

 

[lau1990]

Thanks for the advice

Might just buy one in then as you say i have less to worry about breeding wise...

again . many thanks you helped make my mind up . I almost had the same decision any ways thought i would investigate!

 

[competitiondiva]

ooops I wasn't trying to put you off breeding, just wanted you to make an educated decision about doing it and stallion choice, it can also be extremely rewarding, I'm so privileged to have my foal out of my mare (though now he's hitting his terrible 2's I could think otherwise!! lol!) but only you can decide if the risk is worth the gain. Buying is certainly easier, whereas breeding i'd say is more rewarding but riskier!