I have heard the size really doesn't matter as far as a mare carrying and delivering a foal from a larger stallion. Is that really true? I have someone wanting to breed to my 16.2 stallion. The mare is 14.1 and is of simular build. (Not like a slight welsh being bred to a stocky belgian) The mare has foaled at least a couple of times to taller stallions. Just how tall I don't know. Is it wise to do this cross? Thanks
We have always bred our larger stallion to smaller mares but I dont think the difference in size was ever that great. I think it should be fine as the baby grows only to the size of the womb, or at least this seems to be general opinion. Personaly I wouldn't do it as I think it would be harder on her.
Well, I had one mare that always cooked big babies, and in fact had to be retired from breeding after foal #4 because she was losing the tone necessary to push such behemoths out (to put this in perspective she is 15.2hh and her last foal was the same size as a Clyde foal my vet had seen the same day at 24 hours old), so I don't know that I buy "the mare won't grow a foal too big for her to give birth too" school of thought. On the other hand I have one 14.2hh mare who when bred to even 16.2hh stallions never had a foal that ended up bigger than large pony.
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