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  Discussion on Best time for a foal to get born: Early or late in the year?
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New Member:
Manou

Posted on Monday, Oct 18, 2004 - 9:52 am:

Hi! I'd like to know everything about the advantages and disadvantages of a early birth in late winter or a late birth in summer. What is better - what do you think?
Is it o.k. to breed sporthorses very early in the year? What is the best time in the year to breed? Thank you! (sorry for my englisch - I'm german...)
Member:
Cowgrl

Posted on Monday, Oct 18, 2004 - 11:22 am:

Hi,
Welcome to Horse Advice! Personally, I would prefer to breed in late spring, early summer for a late spring foal - the days are getting warmer and less likely for the baby to take ill from the cold but that's no guarantee.

The advantage to an early birth, like around January or February is that they will be pretty good sized and well developed if you're planning to show them as a yearling.
Member:
Christos

Posted on Monday, Oct 18, 2004 - 4:32 pm:

Welcome to HA, Franzisca,

Many foals and young horses are shown or competing by year of birth. That means that in shows or competition for one, two and three years old, your summer baby will have some five-six months less development, a significant disadvantage.
If you do not plan to show/compete/sell the horse before three years of age, I believe a summer birth is a lot easier and a lot better.
Estrous is easier to detect in spring and the horses will be more receptive/fertile, which makes the process a lot easier and cheaper.
Early summer warmth, lush grass and better turnout possibility are great advantages for the mare's recovery and the foal's development.
I think the best is to decide, first, what that foal's future is expected to be, then watch what practices are used in your area for that same plan and follow them.

All the best,
Christos

Member:
Warwick

Posted on Monday, Oct 18, 2004 - 4:57 pm:

Hi Franziska

I breed warmblood sporthorses and I breed my mares in late April or May. Where I live, we don't get snow but we do get very wet weather early in the year, and occasional cold snaps can cause icy conditions.

By the time my foals arrive, the weather has warmed up and dried up enough to allow them to be turned out all day and brought in at night. Though rain is still common at that time of year, there is no chance of icy or slippery conditions. If it rains, they wear waterproof foal blankets and my fields have lots of shelter.

There is nothing better for the proper development of foals than exercise, sunshine, mother's milk and spring grass.

I do not buy into the argument that earlier foals are better suited size-wise to the show ring. My yearlings, 2 and 3 year olds are never smaller than those born earlier in the year. In fact the situation is quite the opposite. A foal that has its exercise curtailed by inclement weather conditions will always be at a disadvantage.
Member:
Manou

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 19, 2004 - 5:39 am:

Thanks a lot for your competent answers!

Especially interesting for me is Sues argument, that her foals are not smaller than those born earlier because of the better conditions they have, when they are born.
I'm quite sure, that it is the best for the foal itself when they are born in spring but I always thought, if your want to show them or compete, they have advantages, when born earlier. Are there some more opinions or even experiences to this topic?
Member:
Albionsh

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 19, 2004 - 11:07 am:

Hi Franziska,
My Oldenburg stallion was born July 7th. Besides being born late in the year, his momma died from a uterine hemmorage when he was only 4 hours old. He was given the best of replacement feeds, but I am sure there would have been more growth had he been able to be raised by his mom. Several breed officials have commented that he is immature for his age, and I feel it is because he is five or six months behind his peers. I am so close to the situation that I can't be objective, but I think I would try to breed for an early foal rather than late unless the mare is aged and this may be her last chance to carry a foal to term. Warmth and shelter can be provided for the early foal.
Member:
Warwick

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 19, 2004 - 12:10 pm:

All foals regardless of the time of year they are born should be given adequate access to warmth and shelter. I think we would all agree that is a primary responsibility of any responsible breeder. Along with nutrition and genetics, it is exercise that promotes good bone and muscle development. My foals are born anywhere between mid-April and mid-May and in the climate where we live, are able to go outside for full days from the day they are born.

One of my broodmares is a medium-boned but unusually short Westfalian. She stands 15 hands. However being a grand-daughter of the great Polydor, she comes from a line of horses in the 16+ hand range. Depending on the stallion I have crossed her with, she has produced foals that have matured anywhere from 16.1 to 18.1 hands (yes, I do mean 18.1!). Foals from other mares have the same results.

I think this is a good indication that mid-spring foaling does not disadvantage the growth of the foal.
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