Completely O.T., but are there any DNA studies as to how much inbreeding goes on in wild/feral herds? I’m guessing that big, strong stallions would kick some yearling butt if they tried to cover their dam in heat, but are there times when yearlings are successful in doing so, I wonder?
On the flip side I have a 9 month old precocious filly that is all too willing to let the not-yet-two-year-old colt in the next paddock do the business with her! All was well, the youngsters were not together but loved to play over the fence in the usual baby way. UNTIL she came into a full-on season. Squatting, peeing, winking, the works. She would stand with her her backside hard up the against the post and rail, legs akimbo, he took to giving her the total work-up, licking, smooching etc. In the end I found him very ready to mount her, fully erect and trying his best to navigate/climb the high fence in order to mate! Understandably I was horrified. I immediately turned the electric top wire on and stop that nonsense in its tracks.
I have no doubt that mating would have occurred if they were in together. And I would have been off to the vet for a morning-after ‘pill’. He will be getting castrated before the fly-season arrives…
I had an 11 month old jump 2 4+ foot fences and breed his mother through her Caslick. OUCH!
Luckily he was shooting blanks. He was promptly gelded and minds his manners around mares but he always knows…and lets me know when they are in heat.
