I bred my maiden 3 yo Shining Priority mare to a large QH stallion in 2005. Although more than happy with the foal, he was BIG and got stuck by his shoulders and had to be pulled. It seemed to take a lot out of the mare ( as compared to my other mares who have foaled) and even the next day she was a little "lack lustre" even though she was a great Mum.
I also found it took her a long time to get condition back after weaning, despite been plenty of feed and tlc and she seemed to be still having a growth spurt herself.
Looking back, i would not have put a maiden mare to such a large, well muscled stallion, despite her been 15.1 and well grown. She was obviously still not fully grown and the added burden of carrying a foal, massivley increased her nutritional needs. When on the ground the foal was large and quick growing and again seemed to sap her even though she was amply fed and looked after. He was weaned at just under 4 months because of this and it still took her another 4 or 5 months to really pick up.
Looking back I would have bred her to a smaller stallion for her first foal and then bred to a larger stallion for the next foal. This is just my opinion, made from my observations of her pregnancy, birth, lactation and recuperartion.
In ag school our cattle teacher all ways used to put the limousine heifers in calf to an angus bull for their first calving, as putting them to a Limousine bull used to have a high percentage of dystocia's (difficult birth). After the first calf, the muscles are a little looser and a bigger calf is no problem.
IMO this applys to horses to.
__________________
"I'll Ask, Polite, If The Devil Wants A Ride, Because The Angel on my Right Ain't Hanging Out with Me Tonight!!" - Nickleback
Last edited by Bucking mad; 09-07-2008 at 10:15 AM.
|