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Discussion on Does the same cross, same environment = same eventual height?
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Member:
leslie1
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Posted on Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 - 6:45 pm:
Hi guys,
My question is this: will babies from the same cross eventually grow to the same height? The feed and environment were the same for both babies.
My 1st filly was 16hh by the time she was 2.She was huge and had massive uncontrollable growth spurts.And all the problems that go with it. The breeder has given me a yearling filly out of same dam/sire cross and this girl seems very little. She is 13.1 hh. shes not quite a year. she is a Percheron / thoroughbred cross. Im hoping to control this little girls growth better. Do the exact same crosses vary so much in growth styles and eventual height?
thanks,
Leslie
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Member:
dres
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Posted on Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 - 7:07 pm:
Leslie, what i have found with my breeding program.. and grant it its not a huge program , but my maiden mares first foal is usually smaller then the next foal.. USUALLY.. Then again.. my maiden mare that i just sold, her filly is 17'3'' hhs at just 4.. I would hate to think her second one will be bigger still !~ But they are crossing her to a smaller breed so am betting on the safe side this breeding will be smaller 
I would be careful with my feeding program with this new yearling if you had growth issues with the full sibling..
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..
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Member:
leslie1
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Posted on Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 - 9:03 pm:
Thanks ann
The dam of the foal was strictly a broodmare with 10 foals altogther and this particular filly will be the last. Dam is being retired. I do know that the dam retained her placenta for 8 hours with this last filly. Dont know if placental problems has an effect on size.
I am feeding freechoice bermudagrass,a pound of alfalfa X2 a day with a mineral/vitamin supplement specifically made for a hay diet. I asked my vet and he said it sounded good.
I dont care what size she ends up as I have children and if shes too small for me, she will be perfect for them.
I was just sooo suprised at the difference in height as yearlings. 15hh vs. 13hh. Full blooded sisters.
Ann whats your feeding program for your youngsters? And anyone else who breeds or raises babies. Im just curious.
thanks
leslie
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Member:
paardex
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Posted on Wednesday, Apr 25, 2007 - 6:07 am:
Leslie, I've bred three full brothers, same cross same environment and food.One ended up1.63m[brown] the second 1.68m[darkbrown] and the third 1.75m[golden to lightbrown no black legs or manes sorry don't know the English version of 'vos'/'alezan'/'fuchs'] The Father was known to give different types and heights according to colour and with us he REALLY did!
Jos
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Member:
dres
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Posted on Wednesday, Apr 25, 2007 - 10:05 am:
Jo's was the first foal from this mare her first? Goes with my thinking...
Leslie, nothing special on feeding here.. OUT 24/7 the first 3 years.. pasture in the spring time .. supplemented with a alfalfa/ grass hay mix higher on the grass.. Free feed loose minerals and a probiotic... Plenty of fresh clean water and tons of belly rubs and hugs..
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..
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Member:
paardex
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Posted on Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 - 6:39 am:
Hello Ann,no it was about her 8 or ninth foal.
I've known all of her foals and the first one was one of the most heavy and big ones although female![other and big father though] In my experience first foals are normally not smaller then the later ones and with this mare the biggest one was born when she was nearly twenty[but in very good health]
The only difference I think is extraordinary is that most Holsteiners give way bigger males then females[adults I mean] And for instance KWPN do this much less.
Another thing which is maybe of importance is that I for instance never breed mares before they are 3 years old and normally choose a not to heavy stallion , which perhaps influences the size of the product.
Jos
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Member:
mrose
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Posted on Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 - 11:31 am:
Hi Ann. In my experience it can vary a lot and seems to depend on what gene combination the foal inherited. I crossed the same mare and sire for years and always got beautiful foals. Usually the foals would inherit the stallion's size and bone structure, but every once in awhile I'd get a filly that was a dead ringer for the dam..smaller and stockier but still very pretty. All were fed the same, etc.
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Member:
36541
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Posted on Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 - 2:15 pm:
Leslie I have a set of full sisters, then I have a set of full sibs from one of them. Both sets are at least 3 inches different in height. In one set the larger horse was firstborn, and in the other set the second born is taller. All four were fed the same, raised and still kept on at least 20+ acres with maximal turnout. Of the four, three are mares, and the gelding is second tallest. A long time ago I was told "They'll grow 'till they stop..." Trite, useless and a bit annoying I know, but it gave me patience the more I said it!!
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Member:
36541
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Posted on Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 - 2:20 pm:
Oh, and don't forget that your particular cross pairs somewhat dissimilar frames, so your potential for variety is greater than if you had crossed two Percherons. Given the draft influence, I wouldn't count on either of them being fully done growing, height and breadth, till 5 or 6 years of age. Any pictures? Stacy
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Member:
leslie1
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Posted on Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 - 3:11 pm:
lol I just did the math on the final height prediction...53X100/90
and got: 14.2 hh when fully grown. I think Im gunna name her Lil bit. She is a cutie.
K they look just alike... but the height difference is substantial. Lil bit is 13 hh and keira was 15 hh at the same age.
https://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o219/leslie645/lilbit.jpg
https://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o219/leslie645/Keira8months.jpg
ps. thanks for all the answers
leslie
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Member:
leslie1
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Posted on Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 - 3:20 pm:
Sorry to make it confusing but those pics were taken by the breeder when they were, im guessing around 8 months.
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