Ok, I have a lovely well bred mare who I have the option of breeding from, she ticks all the boxes however is only 15.1hh ish. Her parents were 16hh (sire) and 16.3hh (dam) respectively and there is a lot of height throughout her lineage. her full brother grew to 16.2 (and is a seriously classy horse). Will she throw her own height or is it more likely she will throw taller because of her genetics??. I am wanting to breed an eventer from from her and would be happy if the foal only got to 15.3 (wouldn’t mind taller but not really smaller) Im just not really looking at getting into the pony breeding business lol. Would love everyone opinions and/or previous experiences
You never know. On one hand with bigger in her pedigree it’s likely. However I had that exact mare. I bred her to my 16.1h stallion and got a carbon copy of her dam: height, confo, personality…everything. I have now bred the daughter back to another 16.1 h stallion. He was a red bag foal … A little preemie looking and tiny at birth so I’ve been watching to see how he grows out of his rough start. So far at 6 months old his hocks are taller than mommas so it’s safe to say he will be more than 15.1h. By how much… I think I will have to wait until he is a year old to have a better idea. So…unless you are willing to take the gamble of getting a carbon copy of the dam I wouldn’t .
I had a 15.2 hand mare that has had two foals (full brothers) and one is 2 now and over 16 hands and the other is only 2 months but I am confident he will also be over 16 hands for sure. Both of her parents are over 16 hands and there is height further back in her pedigree as well. I would just be sure to look at the heights of the stallion’s offspring as you research.
I have a 15.2 hand mare (with taller parents), and her offspring have all been taller then her. Interestingly, her shortest “child” was the one with the tallest sire (17.2). And one of her offspring (whose sire is 16 hands) is 16.2.
Otoh, I have a 16.1 hand mare who has given me several shorter foals (15.1 to 15.2) with tall stallions. That mare has tall in her pedigree, and her full sister was about 17 hands. Go figure.
Genetics - there is a bit of a gamble going on!
You will never know unless you try 
I would look to a stallion that throws height to better you odds. I had a 15.1-15.2 mare that always threw taller (8 foals). Her shortest is right at 16 and tallest is 17.
I have a mare that is a tall 16.2hh. Her sire and dame were respectively 17.1hh and 16.3hh. So height is close in her pedigree. First filly was a 16.3ish mare sired by a 17.2hh sire. Her second filly ended up barely 16.0000000 hh, she is by Brentano II… Go figure. Then her third foal, a colt, will end up around 17.2hh as he was 17hh at 3 (by Sir Gregory). Her 4th filly, well, we lost track of her after she turned 1yo so I have no clue. She would be 3 this year, sired by Sir Wanabi. Her last filly, in 2013, is a tall 16.2hh at 2yo, sired by Bon Balou.
Long story short, my limited experience with a mare smaller than her sire and dam is that when height runs in the family, it is not a guarantee but you have to expect it.
Good luck!
100 years ago I bred a very fine, tiny 15.1hh TB mare to a chunky, carty, 16.3hh Hanoverian. The little TB mare came from a refined and none-too-tall pedigree.
Resulting colt grew to 17.1hh.
Later the mare was bred to a heavy Irish Draft. Resulting colt was 16.3!
My 8 month old Hanoverian is pretty darn close to 15hh. His dam is 15.2hh and sire 16.3hh. His 2010 full brother is currently 15.1hh. He had a larger body and was always teetering on the hefty side. His 3 year old full brother is 16.3hh. He was always lean and leggy. The breeders said to keep him full but keep him on the leaner side for more height. Have no idea if that holds water but they’ve been in the breeding business longer than I’ve been alive. I have no idea what to expect out of my guy.
Melissa, I’ve no idea if that holds for gaining height, but keeping them full but lean certainly helps in avoiding growth-related leg issues like OCD.
Thanks everyone :), I think I will give it a shot, will make sure to pick a stallion that tends to throw height and see how everything pans out.
[QUOTE=Nadia1990;8384150]
Thanks everyone :), I think I will give it a shot, will make sure to pick a stallion that tends to throw height and see how everything pans out.[/QUOTE]
And if you get a smaller horse - the market is starting to pick up for small horses. I ride a 15.2 hand mare, and have turned down numerous offers to buy her. I bred her myself, and just LOVE the smaller size. A few years ago, I was at the PSS auction, and there was a 15.2 hand mare I thought I could buy - nice 4 year old, kind eye, decent mover (no Olympic prospect, but good enough for me, and AA rider), nicely started - I figured the small size would keep her price down. Well, I was in for a surprise - the starting bid was about my total budget! And she sold for mid 30s… I’m seeing that more and more - especially in the dressage market, smaller horses fit a market niche! As long as they have a good temperament…
I know you are breeding for an eventer, but even in that market, for the lower level riders, a small horse is not a bad thing.
I bred my 15.3h maiden in 2013 to a stallion known for height (Legaczy, fwiw). The various string tests at a year old indicate he will be 16.2, 16.3 or 17h. As a long yearling, he is only a tick shorter than mom, and he looks very gangly - not like some of my friends’ babies who already look like little adult horses!
My mare does have a sturdy build - I’m 5’9" and she takes up my leg. I would have been happy with a carbon copy but was really shooting for more height and a stronger hindquarter. Seems like I did ok.
