horse heat?

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hi all i was wondering if someone could tell me at what age a filly will go into heat?also at what age is it safe to breed?thanks in advance for your replies.

-- cindy young ( Mich) (youngsponderosa@coslink.net), May 03, 2002

Answers

They will begin heat cycle at 1 year. Please dont breed till atleast 5 years. They are still growing.

-- tracy (murfette@stargate.net), May 03, 2002.

Hi Cindy - your filly will start cycling as a yearling. As a breeder myself, we usually breed a mare at age three and four, then we start training them for a show career. It's amazing how much quieter a mare is to start after she has had a foal or two! I have purchased a filly in the past who was bred when she was two and did fine foaling out, but I wouldn't suggest doing that.

-- Joy in Eastern WA (jparkes@spfarm.com), May 03, 2002.

Mares will begin to cycle WAY before they are ready to be bread. The first heat is often in their first year. Breeding is best to do when a mare has reached full maturity. Too much before that and you'll have problems (more frequently than in older mares) and she may not reach her full growh potential. Fast maturing horses like QH and TB can be safely bred at three or four depending on the individual. Draft mares that mature early are about the same. Other breeds like Lipizzans and slow developing drafts may not be old enough to breed until they're six or so. Research the breed of horse you are dealing with to determine when the best time will be for her.

Also keep in mind that it is a good idea to breed to a smaller (smaller than the mare at least) stallion for the first foal. Chances are there will be fewer problems than if the first foal is a big one. If you have a draft mare try using a TB stallion. This is a popular cross and is an easy baby for the mare to foal. There are a lot of smaller TB and QH sires out there (to use on TB or QH type mares) that are of good quality and you can sell the foal as a pony/small hunter/child's mount prospect. A TB x pony sire is also a popular cross.

-- Erika (misserika129@hotmail.com), May 03, 2002.


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