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Post by muppetry on Jul 14, 2007 16:18:00 GMT
My 4 year old pure bred Section C mare is a full up 13.2 with plenty body, depth, bone and front to her. This year, she delivered her first foal end of May, just 2 days over her due date. To my utter surprise and enormous delight, the colt foal was obviously very beautiful and very correct, but also quite tiny, and he remains tiny at almost 2 months old. My section A colt at 3 weeks older is the same size as the C colt!!!
The dam has proven to be a wonderful mother and he is very well nourished and they are both the picture of health and well being. Now having spoken to my Vets, other breeders and commentators, I have received a 50/50 split on opinion on the prospects of a first foal being a small foal. The small first foal syndrome sounds as if this somehow makes them less desirable.
But now I am more interested in the long term outcome. Is it likely that the colt will remain small and become a small adult section C, or, is there a good chance he will be slow to develope over his formative years and not do all his growing in the first year or so? My main concern is that if he becomes a small Section C adult, what kind of career can he expect? Hunter pony? Nursery stakes worker? Child's ridden pony club pony?
I am over the moon with the colt in every respect, but I am now considering his future job prospects!
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Post by Guestless on Jul 14, 2007 18:31:27 GMT
I have bred two foals so far, both pure bred Fells and the first foals for both mares. My first filly is now 3 years old and is only standing 12.3hh, my filly from last year is already 12.2hh and her dam is smaller than my other mare!
I would imagine with a Section C that there is every likelihood of having Section A lines in the pedigree which may have an effect on the height of your colt, although I can't say for sure.
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Post by first foals on Jul 14, 2007 19:26:08 GMT
As general rule first foals are generally smaller, although there are exceptions, we had two Just a Monarch full brothers, the first chap grew to 16.3, the second chap only made 15.1!
Have you looked at your mares breeding, does she have a full up to height breeding on both sides or does she come from small stock? This will also apply to the sire's side!
As with all breeding there is a certain amount of uncertainty no matter how sure you are of what your breeding.
Good luck with him he may just be a slow starter
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Post by andypee on Jul 14, 2007 19:30:04 GMT
i have bred lots of welsh foals from mares of all ages first foals do tend to be a little smaller i would not worry to much they tend to catch up. If the stallion was on the small side there is a chance he could be a bit smaller than average but dont worry he be fine, better he smaller than going over height.
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Post by armada on Jul 14, 2007 19:59:55 GMT
We have one mare who throws big foals, even when a maiden her first is a good size, our smaller mare has just had her first foal, he is so tiny, even at six weeks he can still scoot under his mums belly to avoid anything. Going back on the sires side, they are all 12h to 3 gens back, on her side her dams family are 13.2 plus, however her sires side again small. We hoped to have a 12.2, but it looks like he may be 12h at maturity unless he has a huge growth spurt. However, he is a superb stamp of riding pony with movement to die for and if we lose the expected two inches it wont really be the end of the world for us, he will still have a good job. It is such an inexact science and the best planning can come back at you. However, small or not, and yesterday he was the dinkiest foal in the class, but the judge still thought him worthy of heading the line. I think you need to wait and see, in the meantime, just enjoy him, you will soon find yourself saying 'they grow up so fast'.
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