Discussion on Maiden Mare=Small First Foal?
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Galatea
Member
Username: Galatea
Post Number: 11
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Monday, Oct 25, 2004 - 9:35 pm: |   |
Is there any truth to the adage that the first foal of a mare tends to be smaller at maturity than subsequent foals (even by the same stud)? My 2.5 year old TB is estimated to reach 16.1-16.2 (Mare is 16.1, Stallion 16.2) but at 29 months he's 15.2 at the withers (slightly butt high as well). 4 inches seems like a long way to grow before he's 3. He is his dam's first foal, though, so I am wondering if he may not reach his projected height. |
Colleen Goolsby
Member
Username: Goolsby
Post Number: 268
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, Oct 26, 2004 - 9:08 am: | |
I dont know why that would be true. My colt is almost as tall as his mother at 17 mo. This is her first foal. I will not breed her again so I guess I wont have a comparison. She is 16 hh the stud was slightly shorter. The colt is about 15 mo. in this picture and he was gelded at 5mo. |
Holly Zukowski
Member
Username: Cowgrl
Post Number: 377
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, Oct 26, 2004 - 10:24 am: | |
My mare was a maiden when she was first bred and her foal was normal size at birth. Mom was a little on the short side at 14.2 and Dad was around 16 hands so baby split the difference and topped out at 15. |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 11411
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 - 7:18 am: | |
If it is true, the effect is very very small for mares that are bred when mature. I am afraid it is just a fact that you can't average the mare and stallion together and predict the foals height, the genetics that determine height are multifactorial and sometimes they get the tall genes from a parent and sometimes the short genes and usually they get a mixture. It is the sum total of the mixture that determines height. Galatea we provide a table in the article that you can use to predict the final height.
DrO |
Galatea
Member
Username: Galatea
Post Number: 12
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 - 1:23 pm: | |
Thanks everyone, thanks Dr. O.. Using the chart in the article, at 30 months my boy should be 97-99% of his final height... So doing a little calculation.... 97% would mean he'll end up around 16.1, 99% would mean he'll end up a big 15.3... (That is, if I did the math correctly, which I'm dubious of!)So I'll hope for 16.1 and see where he's at come spring. |
