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When is it time to separate
Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2007 1:16 pm
by Vindicated
Quick question
Opinions on sexual maturity in colts
I have turned my 2 year old filly out with my weanling, they are similar in size (she's tiny) and they get along great-play hard and have alot of fun.
Question is this....When do I have to separate them? he's 5 months she's 2 years 6 months. I would'nt turn an older colt out with her obviously...but what is safe without being stupid about it?
Thanks
Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2007 1:36 pm
by madelyn
I've seen colts with woodies at six months. Fillies can start coming into heat any time in the yearling year.
Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 2:38 pm
by majxmom
Almost everyone I know that turned a colt out with mares past 6 months wound up with an accidental foal. I have only done it with one horse. I had an orphan foal that was terrified of all other horses, so there was no way he was going to breed one. In fact, I was hoping hormones might draw him a little closer, but no such luck. It seems certain that you will miss the first time he jumps a mare, so you might wind up with a foal before you realize it.
Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 3:51 pm
by madelyn
I don't risk it. Mares with fillies in one field, mares with colts in the other. We keep it that way, after weaning, fillies separated from colts. Always.
Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 6:58 pm
by griff
cut the colts and you will not have to seperate them.
griff
Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2007 3:29 am
by madelyn
Cut the colts and you won't have to race them either.
I firmly believe cutting colts before their two year old year can compromise them. They need their hormones for bone density and muscle mass. The earliest I will cut colts is October of the two year old year and only if either the breeding is insufficient for a stallion prospect or the behavior demands it.
Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2007 9:09 am
by horsenuts
madelyn wrote:Cut the colts and you won't have to race them either.
I firmly believe cutting colts before their two year old year can compromise them. They need their hormones for bone density and muscle mass. The earliest I will cut colts is October of the two year old year and only if either the breeding is insufficient for a stallion prospect or the behavior demands it.
I too like to keep them "whole".... but I must say I know of a few people that cut their colts after weaning and they have had runner after runner. Granted, this is at the state bred level but they have dominated local racing like few others so I don't know if leaving them studs is all that beneficial.... or if it's beneficial at all.
Most Ky breds sold at auction are "whole" yet they fall apart faster then most once training begins.