Size v Size

FellWorld

FellWorld

New Member
Jun 2, 2016
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I have a mare that I am interested in putting into foal and was wondering what size would suit her most?
The mare is a stocky 15.2 New forest x Appaloosa with plenty of bone and a nice apple bum. She has never been in foal before (As far as I know) and I don't want the birth to be difficult though I am hoping for the offspring to possibly make closer to 16hh. Is that too high a goal?

I don't mind covering her with a slender but taller stallion and hope for a less-stocky foal.

Has anyone got any experience in breeding two horses of quite different sizes?
 
My friend Suzi put her 15.1 cob mare Bella, who was a maiden, to a 16.2 Selle Francais stud. Bella didn't have any trouble foaling but the progeny, Izzy, is only 15.2 and has a lovely warmblood head on a cob body with warmblood legs and cob feet!
 
Height wise a 16hh stallion on a 15.2hh mare is fine.

But type is a different matter. Mixing build is a lottery. You might get exactly what you want or you could end up with a huge head, big body and spindly little legs.

If you want something different to what you already have you'd be better off buying it rather than crossing two different types. That way you don't have the cost of breeding and the risk of producing a foal that's been put together by committee.
 
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I agree with chev, unless you really are 100% on breeding your mare I'd recommend buying for type. Really is luck of the draw. A lady some years ago really wanted her heavy cob to be crossed with something lighter. 2 attempts led to cob legs,hair and head,TB neck,body and feet. She gave up and bought a lovely Shire x TB that had ended up somewhere in the middle.
The height at 16hh would be fine.
 
Or you get a version of mine, dad's built with mum's height.
Think short Shire and you get the picture.
 
You could easily put a 15.2 to a 16hh stallion but tbh I'd buy what you want, not try and breed it. I've known things go terribly wrong, and also people that sold the youngsters as they weren't what they'd hoped. Unless it's imperative you breed from your mare I'd sit down and work things out as by the time you factor in vets costs, stud fees etc and the risks involved to your mare/foal you may be better buying a youngster of your choice. X
 
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I would agree. Bella is a gorgeous cob, and when she couldn't be ridden Suzi (a very experienced horsewoman) thought "Oh, a Bella with a bit more refinement is what I need". Izzy the foal is turning into a nice ridden horse, but she has cob stubbornness and a Warmblood temper and there is no way Suzi would ever have bought her.
 
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