Breeding potential & foal gender
Does training affect foals? How potential works, checking stats with the vet, hidden stud traits, and colt vs filly odds.
For breeding in Horses of Hoofprint Bay, players report that only a horse’s potential matters, not how far it is trained. You can call the vet to check a horse’s potential without training it fully. A foal’s sex appears to be random: some players get mostly colts, others mostly fillies.
Potential, not current training#
According to players, foals are based on the parents’ potential stats. A mare does not need to be trained to her maximum before breeding. Mares that are bred back to back lose training, but their potential stays the same.
Checking potential with the vet#
You can train a horse to its maximum once to see its potential, or pay to call the vet, which players say reveals potential stats without the training.
Inheritance and the Bad Inheritance trait#
A player who analyzed the game explains that a foal’s potential is the parents’ average plus a random roll, and that the Bad Inheritance trait only matters when you breed that horse. The in-game Traits and Quirks book in your library explains what each trait does, without the numbers.
Stallions at the breeder#
Some stallions offered for covering at the breeder do not appear in the Buy Horse list, and players report there is no way to check their traits beforehand.
Colt or filly?#
Players see streaks in both directions, for example 8 colts and 4 fillies, or 4 fillies out of 5 foals. Nothing suggests the sex can be influenced; it looks random.
Genetics are not realistic#
The developer has said the game does not use realistic color genetics, so genotype testing is not planned. Testing for certain personality traits is possible.
What still needs verification
The exact inheritance formula and the size of the random roll come from player analysis and are not confirmed by the developers.
This page reflects official information and Steam Community answers reviewed on November 6, 2026. Player answers are identified as community reports in the text and sources. It has not been verified against a specific playable build. Suggestions are editorial guidance, not tested outcomes.
Frequently asked questions
Does training a mare improve her foals?+
No, only potential matters, according to players.
How do I see a horse’s potential?+
Train it to the max once, or call the vet.
Why are all my foals colts?+
Probably chance. Other players get mostly fillies.
Does the game use real horse color genetics?+
No, according to the developer.
Sources
- Steam discussion: Breeding Stats Question (player answers) ↗
- Steam discussion: Traits and Characteristics (player answers) ↗
- Steam discussion: Traits for studs at the breeder? (player answers) ↗
- Steam discussion: All horses born are male? (player reports) ↗
- Steam discussion: Genotype testing (developer reply) ↗
Game: Horses of Hoofprint Bay · Release: November 4, 2026 · Images © Thogli Studios. Editorial policy