Factors Affecting Growth and Development of Foals and Young Horses

Abstract

The data consisted of body measurements recorded at birth and then approximately at ages 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36 and 48 months for 488 Finnhorse foals. Body measurements included body weight, height at withers, height at croup, heart girth, body length, chest width, chest depth, and circumference of front cannon bone. In general, foals born in May tended to be larger than foals born in any other month. Differences were statistically significant at ages 6, 12 and 24 months. In the first half year of life foals born in May grew faster (from p≤0.01 to p≤0.001) than foals born in any other month. During the period from 6 to 12 months foals born from July to August grew slower than foals born earlier (from p≤0.05 to p≤0.001). They also grew slower during their first year of life than foals born earlier. Sex of a foal primarily influenced cannon bone circumference. In general, males tended to be taller, longer and wider but lighter and leaner than females. Offspring of large mares were larger in size and grew faster than other foals.

Key Words:

• body size
• body measurements
• environmental factors
• foal
• growth
• prematurity