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  Discussion on Breeding for disposition
Author Message
Member:
Iride2

Posted on Wednesday, Jan 7, 2004 - 10:00 pm:

I have been told that if you find a stallion with a quiet disposition and breed him to a mare that is not so quiet the foal will have a 70% chance of being like the stallions disposition.
Is this possible to predict?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Jan 8, 2004 - 8:14 am:

I believe, the most important factor is how the foal is raised and trained though genetics do effect temperment. Because of this I think the mare may have more effect because she influences the foals learning environment. I have seen aggressive mares turn out more nervous foals than easy going mares.
DrO
Member:
Aannk

Posted on Thursday, Jan 8, 2004 - 8:33 am:

My gelding has neither his mom's nor his dad's temperaments. His mom and dad had a good work ethic, and his dad was so layed back it was unbeleivable in a grand prix jumper. His mom was slighly spooky, but nothing like him. I think my inexperience brought on lots of his spookiness and lack of work ethic, but it probably is due in some part to genetics. I have heard that this stallion's offspring can be spooky and late to mature, which my gelding definately is. I assume I could have alleviated some of it, but as the other babies are the same, and are ridden by some of the best riders in the country (Margie Goldstein and Lynn Lyttle), I guess I'm not doing too bad with the blood I have.
I guess check the babies, not the parents, is the best advice. My current brood mare prospect has a great temperament under saddle, but can be territorial in her stall. She'll pretend to bite until you are in her stall with her, then she is fine. Anyway, I like her temperament, but I know little about the stallion's progeny I chose, except that they perform very well. I hope my mare and my more experienced training will help in my next breeding endeavour!
Hope that helps a little!!
Alicia
Member:
Thomboy

Posted on Thursday, Jan 8, 2004 - 9:54 am:

I have bred my stallion to 3 of my mares and raised the all of the babies myself. What I have concluded is that it is a combination of all factors. I have two foals from each mare with this stallion. Here are the results:

Lady:
Foal 1: Carbon copy of her laid back dad.
Foal 2: Cabon copy of her "temperamental" mother until weaning, at which time she became carbon copy of her dad.

Beauty:
Foal 1: Carbon copy of laid back mom and dad.
Foal 2: Ditto

Grace:
Foal 1: Carbon copy of laid back dad.
Foal 2: More skiddish and standoffish like mom but comes around more each time with each contact.

I am a firm believer that the genetics play a big part, but the influence of the interaction (be it with mom or handler) also plays a very large part as well. As I tell my husband, all horses are like people in that they have different personalities and even full brothers and/or sisters are going to be a little different no matter what!
Member:
Kparks

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 13, 2004 - 8:14 am:

We have one mare who is a very nervous type. We wean all her babies at 3 months of age. If left with mom longer, they pick up all her silliness. Our stud is very easy going and all his offspring are easygoing, except for this mare's. We learned after the first foal to wean the babies early.
Member:
Iride2

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 27, 2004 - 7:08 pm:

Thank you for your input. I hope that the baby will be quiet and easy to get along with. The mare is easy to get along with on the ground but is very unforgiving under saddle if you have heavy hands. The stallion is exceptional. He can cut cows and then go in right after and do western pleasure or visa versa. His temperment stays the same. Have any of the mares disposition changed after having a foal?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Jan 28, 2004 - 6:15 am:

Yes but not for the better I am afraid. Usually worse when the the foal is born there then back to where they were before by weaning time.
DrO
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