Mom and Baby
by Deborah Benoit
Title
Mom and Baby
Artist
Deborah Benoit
Medium
Photograph - Original Art By Deborah Benoit
Description
Gestation lasts approximately 340 days, with an average range 320�370 days, and usually results in one foal; twins are rare. Horses are a precocial species, and foals are capable of standing and running within a short time following birth. Foals are usually born in the spring. The estrous cycle of a mare occurs roughly every 19�22 days and occurs from early spring into autumn. Most mares enter an anestrus period during the winter and thus do not cycle in this period. Foals are generally weaned from their mothers between four and six months of age.
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Horses, particularly colts, sometimes are physically capable of reproduction at about 18 months, but domesticated horses are rarely allowed to breed before the age of three, especially females. Horses four years old are considered mature, although the skeleton normally continues to develop until the age of six; maturation also depends on the horse's size, breed, sex, and quality of care. Larger horses have larger bones; therefore, not only do the bones take longer to form bone tissue, but the epiphyseal plates are larger and take longer to convert from cartilage to bone. These plates convert after the other parts of the bones, and are crucial to development.
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Depending on maturity, breed, and work expected, horses are usually put under saddle and trained to be ridden between the ages of two and four. Although Thoroughbred race horses are put on the track as young as the age of two in some countries, horses specifically bred for sports such as dressage are generally not put under saddle until they are three or four years old, because their bones and muscles are not solidly developed. For endurance riding competition, horses are not deemed mature enough to compete until they are a full 60 calendar months (five years) old
Uploaded
August 25th, 2013
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Viewed 801 Times - Last Visitor from Ottawa, ON - Canada on 04/12/2024 at 11:56 AM
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Comments (47)
Will Borden 11 Days Ago
Hi Deb~~An outstanding equine presentation of the mare and her young foal in a pasture- superb artistry!! F&L
John Bailey
Congratulations on being featured in the Fine Art America Group "Images That Excite You!"
Joyce Gebauer
A very moving capture of this Mom and Baby! Wonderful color and background as well! v/f
Debra and Dave Vanderlaan
Love your new textured pieces and the lighting in this image Deborah! We Voted! Celebrate life, Debra and Dave