Question about breeding big to small

[horsenut50]

Hello, I have a question. What do you all feel about breeding a 36 inch Shetland mare to a 43 inch Shetland stallion. Is he too big for her? She is a maiden mare and is 10 years old. I would love to have a foal from this cross but hesitate because of the size difference. What do you all think? Thanks.

 

[Minimor]

Personally I wouldn't do it. The biggest size difference we've done here is a 34" mare bred to our 37" stallion, & he's a very leggy, fine boned horse. His foals are slim bodied & all legs when they are born. We wouldn't breed him to a mare smaller than 34". Likewise we've got some 36" mares here that are easy foalers, not maidens, and there's just no way we'd breed them to a 43" stallion. That's just too much size difference IMO.