HEIGHT OF STALLION

[iluvwalkers]

I HAVE MY OWN OPINION ON THIS BUT WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM OTHERS...

I HAVE AN 11 YEAR OLD,32 INCH MARE SHE HAS HAD SEVERAL FOALS AND HAS NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS, KNOCK WOOD

, SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN BRED TO SMALLER STALLIONS. I WAS WONDERING WHAT THE MAX SIZE STALLION YOU WOULD BREED WITH? THIS QUESTION MIGHT BE TO GENERAL TO ANSWER. THANKS IN ADVANCE

: , NIKKI

 

[CLC Stables]

I am not sure of a max, however there have been numerous reproductive studies done by highly respected universities that come to the same conclusion, it is the mare that determines the size of the foal, before birth.

Pony mare to Draft stallion, was a small baby that grew rapidly after birth

Pony stallion to Draft mare, was a big baby that hardly grew after birth

Go with your gut though.

 

[iluvwalkers]

BUMP...ANYONE ELSE... :saludando:

 

[VernB]

I saw a poor little mini mare about 34" that got out with a small quarter pony stallion and when it came time for her to deliver, that baby was so huge that it ended up killing the mare and foal. But I have also heard of minis that did just fine.

 

[^T-bird89^]

I would prefer to have a smaller stallion than the mare, but I probably wouldn't worry too much if the stallion was maybe an inch or possibly two inches bigger. If the mare is larger it is usually easier for them to have a smaller baby versus a small mare having a large baby....(trust me, we had a horrible incident with this due to a stud breaking out of his pen and some how breeding through another fence :no: ) So i definitely say better safe than sorry and that way you can be comfortable knowing your mare has a better chance of having no problems. JMO.

 

[Margaret]

In the past I once did breed a 31 1/2 inch mare to a 32" stallion,- and had major problems foaling her out..(She had two successful previous births with a smaller stallion, w/no problems)

Had I not been there, this time to assist the foaling,- both mare and foal would have been lost.. Her foal was locked up inside her, and it was not an easy birth.. After many prayers, and quite a struggle, with the poor mare,- we got things back under control..

Since then, I have changed my "breeding stradegy", with the sizes I am breeding,...and so far so good..

:

Now I prefer to breed the "taller end of the A division", or the B-sized mares with a 30" stallion..

My first foal this season came accidently unattended, but with no complications,- as the mare had everything under control by the time I found the foal..alive and nursing, on its own..(baby in avatar)

My second mare is even taller (abt 36") and isnt due until April, so we still have more time to go with her.

I am more comfortable with the "bigger mare, vs. smaller stallion" situtation, as I believe it contributes to the safety of a positive foaling outcome.

: JMO

 

[Sue_C.]

I worry more about the rifinement of the stallion, than the height. I have seen several stallions which are much bigger, bulkier, and big-headed than my 34 inch stallion; although they are shorter in stature. Also, there is the background of the stallion to consider as well. My guy is much taller than most in his background, hence, he throws foals smaller than my 31 inch stallion, with a "larger" background, did.

 

[rabbitsfizz]

Whatever the very outdated studies say, experience on this Forum indicates that, in the case of Miniature Mares at least, the mare does NOT prevent the foal growing too big, and the result can and does kill the mare.

That being said I agree with Sue that the refinement of the stallion has a lot to do with it, and also I would say the size of his newborn foals.

For a first foal we would always use the 15.01hh stallion, as his newborn foals were small and refined, although they grew on very quickly.

The 14.00hh stallion threw HUGE foals-absolutely enormous, although they also grew up to be refined.

So, really, I would put a height limit of 36" on a 32" mare, but I would also do my homework.

I bought a 33" mare in foal to a 42" stallion a log time ago now.

She did pass the foal but it was touch and go and I would not want to go through that again.

The foal turned out to be a real cracker and stopped at, I believe, 35".

 

[MBhorses]

We breed our 33.75 mare to our 31 inch stud last year, she had a huge foal. I think sometimes you can breed a small stud to a mare and the foal still be hugh(bloodlines plays as part of it to I would think). This same mare was breed four times she had two very small foals and two large foals.The mare had a filly that when over,so she is AMHR now. We went back found out the to filly that where hugh came from similar bloodlines as the other hugh filly she had, maybe that had something to do with it(who knows)

we will mostly breed smaller stud to our mares to be safe.

the funny part is trying to hand breed a 36 1/4 mare to a 31 stud(ha ha)

take care,

melissa

 

[Joyce]

I have always tended to breed a smaller stallion to any mare.

JMO, Joyce

 

[RockRiverTiff]

I worry more about the refinement of the stallion and the mare. Most of our stock here is pretty small, but the only mare we had foaling problems with was 33.5" and she had been bred to a 29" stallion. We had a gorgeous 35" mare here, but she was so refined I honestly would have been nervous breeding her. We like a nice big hip in our mares, and I think the wider pelvis (?) must make foaling easier too. If the stallion and mare are evenly matched for type, or the stallion is coarser, I might be concerned about him being taller. But honestly I look at some of the very tall, lithe senior mares that are showing right now and wonder how they will pass a foal with such narrow hips.

 

[HGFarm]

I would say it depends on 'how roomy' the mare is in there (outside appearance means nothing- the vet would have to check) and also not how tall the stud is, but how is he built? I have bred a 33.5" stallion to mares that were 30 and 31 with no trouble at all. (they were not first time mares either)

Our vet has checked QH type mini mares to find they were very tiny inside and then also checked more refined ones to find they were very roomy for carrying foals. It just depends!

 

[CLC Stables]

Oh sorry.....................I will clear my uneducated posts through everyone the next time then.

They might be a bit outdated, but they still were done, and I bet if done again, nearly the same results would be found.

I stand by my post.

Now anomolies can always happen, and I believe folks would be extremely surprised about the RARITY of bad births.

With this forum though, not much is heard about the non problematic, only the PROBLEMS.

 

[iluvwalkers]

THANKS FOR ALL OF THE REPLIES SO FAR

: . I AM LOOKING TO GET A DIFFERENT STALLION AND IT SEEMS ALL THE ONES I LIKE ARE AROUND 33 OR 34 AND LIKE I SAID MY MARE IS JUST BARELY 32 WITH UNTRIMMED FEET :bgrin . I JUST WAS LOOKING FOR WHAT HAS AND HASN'T WORKED FOR OTHERS. I KNOW THERE ARE OTHER FACTOR TO THINK ABOUT ALSO. I JUST WANT TO MAKE THE RIGHT PURCHASE. MY STALLION NOW IS ONLY 27, AROUND HERE THAT IS HARD TO FIND.

NIKKI