A 'behind' foal

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db281

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Hi all

We've a well bred Riding Pony foal that was born the end of May this year. We didn't breed her, we purchased her from a stud.

I understand May isn't that late for many foals, although, in terms of physical appearance, this beautiful girl is very immature. Actual weight and coverage of her ribs is perfectly fine, as is her height for what you expect a 13.2hh RP foal to be at this age. However, as said, she is very immature to look at (long gangly legs and general 'new born' appearance), and especially compared to many RP foals being shown out there.

My question is, do you find early and late foals all seem to even out in terms of maturity as yearlings? Or is it later on as 2/3 year olds that the later/more immature foals seem to catch up?

We're hoping to show this filly, and have our fingers crossed she will catch up early on in the new year to be shown in yearling classes.

For avoidance of doubt, she's in all good working order, and has a appetite to suit!!
 
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From my experience so far... I don't think they will catch up until they are fully grown!

Willow was born 20th June, and looks a year younger than all the other youngsters in her age classes. Depending on the rules of different age classes, she can be a LOT younger than her competitors. Our first show, we entered the yearling class: Willow was one six weeks before the show, and looked like a foal next to horses that we thought were waiting for the 2/3 yr old class which was after ours!!! :eek: The rules were " born last year" so they could have been a good 5 months older than us!

I never took her out to this same show last year, due to family constraints meaning I didn't have the time to put into show prep, but went along to watch her class (2/3 yr olds) Again she would have looked like a yearling next to the others. One horse who placed was due to turn 4 in the next month, but was eligible to enter the class as he was a 3 yr old. This horse is just under 2 years older than mine. In the handlers defence, she did ask the judge and stewards that she was ok to be showing in the class, as I think she felt worried that she was unfairly entered, but she was reassured that she was eligible.

All this being said, she had not been "professionally" produced, and living on the north west coast of Scotland, we tend to mature a little slower, so I think that has has a contribution to her being smaller than her peers also.

Hope yours proves me wrong though! ;)
 
I bought a late filly - 14th June. She was the smallest in her yearling class definitely looked babyish compared to the others who looked a hand taller!

I have to agree with w*w... I don't think she will catch up until she's 3/4. No point pushing them on either, you only get problems.

You live and learn.
 
I think the show foals are born early and fed a lot, look at the show yearlings, they look like 3 year olds and the 3 year olds look mature.
I accept Piper is a horse but he was gangly and babyish, he still is leggy at 2, and a well known hunter judge saw him and said he wouldn't be worth showing until he was adult.
 
You want a late foal? mine was born in october and now he DID look behind!! It was only when he was almost turning 3 that we really got noticed in the ring but I didn't mind... it was the experience we wanted not the prizes :)

To be honest with you I think it is that time of year when some of them start looking a bit pathetic... they are still putting so much energy into growing and everything is growing at different rates... I'm sure, come spring, you will be quite suprised :)
 
They can change so much in their yearling year. My lad was born in may 2011 and on his 1st birthday he looked shocking!
3 months later he had changed so much I thought someone had swapped my horse:)
All he has is good grazing, hay and a mineral lick.
Finn1yearold003.jpg

In august.
2012-08-16163142.jpg

Don't give up hope of showing next year. Once they get onto the spring grass this is what happens!
 
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