Foundation herd sizes??

So i have 3 foundations herds consisting of different breeds right now and i was wondering what size is typical for a decent foundation herd? 16? 20? 32? 48?

I would like to not use outside lines for at least a few generations but worry that a herd size of 32 might be overkill. 

If you did 32 horses, that means once paired up and bred for 2nd generation, you'd then have 16 foals. Further, in your 3rd generation you'd have 8 foals. If you still wanted to restrict outside lines and breed those 8 together you'd then have 4 foals. And you could always continue on to a 5th generation of breeding those 4 together, then a 6th generation which would create your final product! (Sorry that just sounds like a cool project I might do someday if I have the patience xD) 

But I think it's all down to what you're wanting and how many generations you'd like to do before pulling from outside lines. I think 32 is a great amount if you have the space for them. 48 isn't obsessive either as you'd have 12 foals at your 3rd generation and could go into your 4th generation with 6 foals and you could then use outside lines to build up. I also think 20 is just fine. That's the amount I've started with in the past, but that is because by my 3rd generation I know I'll be using outside lines and I'm okay with that! 

8, 16, 32, and some people go as high as 64.

you can also stagger your herds. so you buy a herd of foals (i'd do 8 horses or 4 pairs), when those foals turn 5 you buy another herd, when the first herd is 10 and the second herd is 5 you buy another herd, etc. 

this also has the advantage of breaking your herd into smaller groups so they aren't constantly competing against one another.

you can also do the sab method where you have 6 horses, you breed those pairing the 1 extra foal with a foundation and buying two more foundies which you pair together and you just keeping doing that every generation. here is more detail

i'd say that 16 is a really good number personally, and just adding 2 pairs at least every 20 weeks will keep your herd going for a long time (it will require some locking of foals eventually, but that is easy on this version of the game) 

I really like Sab's 3x3 style. Start with three pairs(six horses) once you breed them you will have three horses, pair up two buy three foundation horses. Pair one foundation with the remaining G2 and then pair up the other two foundation. You would need to keep adding foundations each generation but that way you could keep your lines going without buying outside lines. 

This also works with 5 pairs, 7 pairs, 9pairs ect. She does a lot better at explaining it HERE.

Oh.. so that's how people breed better horses? I am breeding my horses almost at random xD
Maybe I should have had a herd or something.. oh well.. too late for that xD

Well, I have a humongous herd of foundation Gypsy Vanners at the moment - I think it's something like 260 right now.  (It was supposed to be 256, but I got a few extra by accident.  Oops!)  So, obviously my definition of overkill it not everyone else's definition!  But luckily, there is no wrong way to play the game, whether you want to start with three horses or three hundred.

I've done 32 before and it is a bit much, for me at least, especially since I had several herds going at the same time (I also accidentally ended up with a foundation herd of 64 before, and the only reason I kept all of them/didnt split them into separate herds was because I put too much work into naming them and only found out my problem when I went to pair them all XD). But then again 16 sometimes feels like too little of a group, so it all depends on my mood XD Just think a) am I going to have the time/energy/drive to take care of this many horses each day and if it seems like you will then go with that number :D

I usually start with 20, so 10 pairs. I breed them each twice with different pairs each time, then even out the genders with store horses. I also horde up other lines as they are aging, lock them, and then add them in when they are the same age as mine. 
Then I get some variety and keep new blood going through my lines.

I did 64 with my Trakehners, 32 with the second set of Trakes, and between three accounts I have a few sets of 32 GV's

It's been a few years since I started my Appys so I cant really tell you how many I have there. lol I just keep on buying outside lines as I need a mate for someone now.
I mostly buy big herds from the EC and lock to keep them all the same age, the only problem I have is trying to get the right amount of stallions/mares and having enough credits to convert the gender.