Question for Pony Breeders Regarding Thoroughbred mares

[Vindicated]

We have a really nice athletic Thoroughbred mare, very correct, very nice temperment. She is doing really well with her early training.
I am thinking about breeding her for a pony, to either get a horse for my kids in the (6-7 years) future (not wanting to pay 80K+ for a nice pony if they want to show ponies). Or to sell if we get a REALLY NICE pony.

She sticks about 15.1....
I know her sire was not a big horse-

Is there a rule of thumb size wise?

I have never breed ponies before. Always Thoroughbreds and Warmbloods.

Give me a clue about how I can guesstimate about size....Please

[Sugarbrook]

I would love that size to breed to my Blue Who. I have bred him to mares up to 16 hands and gotten a pony. You should do fine. Larges are easy to work with because a small adult can start them.

If your mare is correct with a pleasing attitude, and good movement I would surely go for it.

[Dressage_Diva333]

Well that depends on what size pony your looking for ;)

To be really safe, you could go with an A. Or possibly look at a smaller B, just be careful to do a lot of pedigree research and make sure there isn't a lot of hidden size :)

[quicksilverponies]

I would say that if your mare does not have a lot of size on her pedigree and if this is her first foal, you can go with as large as a 13hh purebred Welsh stallion and still get a large pony. I have a friend that bred a 16hh TB mare to Farnley Belshazzar (12.3hh) and the resulting filly is just 13.2 at 3 yrs old. As far as smaller stallions go, Sandy's Blue Who that she mentioned is a great choice. If you are looking for a hunter pony, then definitely look at the movement of the stallion - especially the smaller ones. Best of luck!

[VirginiaBred]

You can easily breed to a Section B.

I have a 15.1 TB mare that has been bred to Farnley Belshazzar - 12.3 (1st foal and she is a small large), Small-Land Movie Maker who was 14 hands (resulting foals (yes she had twins) are 14.1 and 14.1 1/2) and to Otteridge Foxtrot 12.2.

Is this her first foal?

[Daventry]

I agree that a 15.1 HH TB is perfect for making pony hunters! :yes:

[rideagoldenpony]

You should be fine looking at stallions up to 13 hands, as long as there is not hidden size behind your selection. Have fun choosing! :)

[showponies]

I breed welsh/thbd for the hunter ring, my sec A stallion is 12.1/4...I have gotten both mediums abd larges..My mares are not over 15.3...

[SSFLandon]

what about small pony dam to large TB stallion? Still on my breeding plan for this TB stallion I have...What are chances for a large not a honey? and it AI of course :D

[VirginiaBred]

what about small pony dam to large TB stallion? Still on my breeding plan for this TB stallion I have...What are chances for a large not a honey? and it AI of course :D


NO.

I would never suggest that. Delivery problems and safety issues.

[Vindicated]

I guess my next question is, how far back do you think I should look for size?

Size has never been a big deal to me, so I have never discovered the answers too this.
My first Warmblood is 16.3 out of a 15.3 mare by a 17.3 stallion-made sense too me.

I actually have two smallish mares that I am thinking about now. The second has been bred for racing purposes only-but given the state of the racing up here....not really worth it.

She has had 2 foals for us, the first was so nice we did'nt even send him to the track. The second was even nicer-but we sent him to the track anyway.
Both babies have been small-The first is by a 16.1 stallion and ended up about 15.2, The second smaller....
The only downside is that she is a Beotch-but her foals have been good tempered....

[VirginiaBred]

TB mares bred to ponies for a pony shouldn't exceed 15.2. The ONLY exception is if it's a maiden mare. She can be a bit larger and should be bred to a Section A welsh.

If you have specifics you want to discuss, feel free to PM or email me. My email is on the website.

[quicksilverponies]

I would look at least 2-3 generations back for any significant size. But size is a funny thing and can pop up unexpectedly sometimes in crossbreds. If your mare has something pretty big on the pedigree within 2 or 3 generations, you might have to be very careful. I have a 13.2hh purebred Welsh mare that when bred to one 13.1hh stallion, I got a top of the line small. Same mare bred to a 14.2hh Welsh/TB stallion, I have a top of the line large. Same mare bred to my own 13.1hh Welsh stallion, I have a top of the line medium. It is always a gamble trying to acheive a specific size, but you should be able to get a nice sized pony with the right stallion. Good luck.

[showponies]

I agree that the thdb mares shouldn't be over 15.2...uselly there is size be hind any thbd mare...my biggest is 15.2 1/4...If you have something bigger, look for an 11 hd sec A, but really watch the stallions movement!!! No knee for a hunter prospect.

[nobleponies]

I have to disagree with the DONT cross pony mares with horse stallions.
We have been crossing this way for many years and there are quite a few other farms that do.
One in particular crosses warmblood stallions w/ section A mares (it is a Canadian farm that crosses to Hilltop stallions) .
I belive there was a study that also proved that the body only produces what it can hold.... (a large % of the time) Of course there is always a chance of the foal being very large but NO different than some warmblood mares.
This is just my input and to each his own

[SSFLandon]

I have to disagree with the DONT cross pony mares with horse stallions.
We have been crossing this way for many years and there are quite a few other farms that do.
One in particular crosses warmblood stallions w/ section A mares (it is a Canadian farm that crosses to Hilltop stallions) .
I belive there was a study that also proved that the body only produces what it can hold.... (a large % of the time) Of course there is always a chance of the foal being very large but NO different than some warmblood mares.
This is just my input and to each his own

this is what I've been told. I know a very cute 13H maiden QH cross pony who I am thinking about. She is VERY cute. Although not sure about the size factors here....I will talk to my vet first of course.

[SSFLandon]

http://www.maeswayfarm.com/Schoponi.htm

i don't know the size of the dam but, she was a pony

[RacetrackReject]

I'm glad someone asked this question. I saw this girl posted by a TB rescue http://nhrexracers.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=goal&action=display&thread=30566 and started wondering to myself if she might make some cute ponies, but then I didn't know if 15 hands was too risky a height. Good information, thanks!

[Daventry]

TB mares bred to ponies for a pony shouldn't exceed 15.2.



I have to disagree on this...depending on the mare and the stallion. We did a lot of research after purchasing our new little Section A Welsh hunter stallion who only stands 11.1 1/2 HH. He's been bred to TB mares that have been easily over 16.2+ HH and all offspring have stayed as large pony hunters (under 14.2 HH)...many of them now quite famous out on the pony hunter circuit!

It definitely is a matter of researching both the dam and sire lines! Of course, breeding to a really tiny pony hunter stallion who doesn't throw a lot of height into their foals definitely helps! :yes:

[VirginiaBred]

Daventry, be my guest. :)
I know that's the best height (safe height) to stop unless (see my entire post above) she is a maiden.