Question about foal "size"

[dray33]

So in general... I know there is no "right" answer for this, but at what weight do you consider a foal to be:

Definitely small
On the small side
Average
On the larger size
Definitely large

Does this sound right?

Definitely small - Under 95 lbs
On the small side - Under 100 lbs
Average - 110 to 120
On the larger size - Over 125
Definitely large - Over 130

[FOS]

hi dray33

So in general... I know there is no "right" answer for this, but at what weight do you consider a foal to be:

Definitely small
On the small side
Average
On the larger size
Definitely large

Does this sound right?

Definitely small - Under 95 lbs
On the small side - Under 100 lbs
Average - 110 to 120
On the larger size - Over 125
Definitely large - Over 130

Weight may be a way that some measure whether a foal is (to one degree or another) small or large.

Taking into account a foal's frame/structure/dimension/proportion may be another.

That said...it seems to me that a more accurate assessment of a foal would take into account (among other things) its frame/structure/dimension/proportion PLUS its weight.

Best.

Respectfully

[docjocoy]

Does foal size predict adult size? It doesn't in humans. I have a yearling that was supposed to be smaller than average in weight when he was born but he is not a small yearling. So I am curious if there is a correlation.

[Dave C]

Where did you get your weight categories from? Do other people actually weigh their foals?

I don't weigh my foals but I would not consider a foal to be smallish unless it was under 75lbs. Being in the cattle business, that is about where we start considering calves to be small, and cows IMO can handle a bigger offspring than a horse can. That being said, if there are people weighing their foals and the weights are coming out higher then I would certainly be interested in reading about it.

[majxmom]

Does foal size predict adult size? It doesn't in humans. I have a yearling that was supposed to be smaller than average in weight when he was born but he is not a small yearling. So I am curious if there is a correlation.

I got a PMU mare four years ago, in foal. This mare is a classic Quarter horse, about 14.2hh, maybe 1000 pounds normal weight. When I got her, she weighed probably 850, and was heavily in foal, and so malnourished she was bald. I fed her up for three weeks before she foaled. When the foal came out, she was a good weight herself but very small. When she stood next to me, I could barely brush her back with my fingertips. I had to really bend over at the waist to move her around. So I figured she'd be very small even if she had a draft cross for a father. Well, she's grown quite a bit. She is probably about 15.1hh, much bigger than her dam. I guess the lack of prenatal nourishment suppressed her birth size, but not her adult size.

I think that their joint size at birth is a more accurate predictor of their eventual size, especially hock size.

[Roger]

Just my experiences to start with. Small mares tend to throw smaller horses even when bred to tall stallions. I really think the size of the uterus is the determining factor here.

From my 1966 genetics class. Someone once bred a draft stallion to a pony mare and the offspring was more the size of the mare. They also bred a pony stallion to a draft mare and the offspring was more like the mare. I think the ponies were sibs and the drafts were sibs. Not sure about that its been a while.

[Strategic Maneuver]

Based on just personal experience I'd say 110-120 is good average foal size, but I think the size of the mare predetermines the size of the foal for the most part. Mother Nature does a good job most of the time as small mare having big foal can be trouble. I also agree with Majxmom that generally the size of my foal's knees and hocks usually give me a pretty good idea of adult size ( course there's always the one that will fool you).

[cng]

In cattle, low birth weight calves are desireable because they are easier birthing and do not necessarily stay small. Selective breeders pick bulls who sire low birthweight calves with rapid growth rates. Small birth weight does not have to mean small overall growth.

[griff]

Roger

How was your pony able to mount and breed a draft mare?

I once had a freind that allowed a pony stallion run with his TN walker mares so he wul know when to breed them.


griff

[ASB]

Can't speak for Roger but I'm sure AI was involved. Most horse breeders outside of thoroughbreds use it as the norm.

[Lucy]

How was your pony able to mount and breed a draft mare?

I once had a freind that allowed a pony stallion run with his TN walker mares so he wul know when to breed them.

A professor of mine once told a story about a guy who did the same thing - until he looked out and saw a mare in heat lying down and the teaser pony having himself a grand old time. The little blighters can get creative...

Then there's always the old 'stand the mare in a trench' method. But AI seems easier.

[Fair Play]

Just my experiences to start with. Small mares tend to throw smaller horses even when bred to tall stallions. I really think the size of the uterus is the determining factor here.

From my 1966 genetics class. Someone once bred a draft stallion to a pony mare and the offspring was more the size of the mare. They also bred a pony stallion to a draft mare and the offspring was more like the mare. I think the ponies were sibs and the drafts were sibs. Not sure about that its been a while.

My vet and I have had great discussions about this as "riding" horse people freak when people breed a maiden to a big stallion saying it is cruel.... Anyway, a study in England was conducted in which Shetland mares were bred AI to Clyde stallions. The resulting embryos, fetuses, foals, grew in accordance to the size of the uterus until birth, and then reached their genetic potential after birth. I am not sure if this is a concern: a 14hh foal trying to nurse from a 12 hh mare, but I know it is no problem to deliver. I have heard of people breeding a mare to an extra small stallion thinking their precious maiden mare will have an easier time foaling, but it doesn't work like that.

As far as the original poster's question goes, I have seen it all: big get huge, big end up average; small stay small and small blossom to big. I don't sweat the size of a full term, healthy foal.

[griff]

fair play

I'm not sure about horses but the size of, and breed of, bulls do determine the size of calves when they are born and we always used an angus or jersy bull for heifers. And before this we were loosing far too many first calf heifers.

And we had trouble with Holstien bulls from the Carnation line even when bred to large mature cows.

griff

[dray33]

They told me the foal was 110 pounds. They also mentioned they had some real "monsters", 148 pounds+. The manager mentioned to me he prefers the"regular sized" foals.

[Ramona]

These postings brought a lot of various opinions and concepts about the size of foals and predictions of their size as they grow. We took our Lab Ret. to the vet for a puppy check-up and by the size of the paws the vet said, "This is going to be a big dog." And he was right!! Wouldn't that be nice to have a tell-tale sign like this for foals. Just musing...