Bum High Youngsters

C

Cripple101

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 April 2014
Messages
78
Visit site
Hi all :)

Quick question about bum high babies, and when do you start thinking they're going to stay bum high?

My youngster is 4 late this month, and still rather bum high. He's just under 16.2hh so quite a big lad anyway - I've been letting him grow up and just assuming he'll level out, but at what point do I start to worry he's doing to stay bum high? Probably worrying about nothing, but after a few comments I've started to worry! (I am the world's biggest worrier anyway!)

Photos of him today:

http://s1244.photobucket.com/user/M...67883003153742_n_zpszvomvtqj.jpg.html?filters[user]=146244867&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=0

http://s1244.photobucket.com/user/M...36818596889590_n_zpsxpzrp1te.jpg.html?filters[user]=146244867&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=2

And for the entertainment factor (!!!), 6 months ago..

http://s1244.photobucket.com/user/M...RIOUSLY BUM HIGH_zpseawnotvk.jpg.html?filters[user]=146244867&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=1

Thanks in advance :)
 
I can't see the photos, the links aren't working. But I know that big youngsters often take a lot longer to even out and mature than others. My friend had a horse who she tried as a 4yo at 15.2/3hh, now at 7yo he's edging on 17hh, having gone bum high and evened out again several times during that time! My current horse is (we think, need to get the measuring stick out soon!) still growing at rising 7yo.
 
I could see the photos and he's certainly evened out a lot in the last six months! I'm not qualified to answer your question (sorry, useless reply!) but I think it can also depend on the breed, warmbloods for example can still be growing at 6/7.
 
Having bought a 3 year old, bum high filly in the sure and certain knowledge that she would grow, I finally accepted that she would stay 14.2hh at the withers and 15.1hh at the croup when she was about 7. I never worried about it though - just have to accept things as they are. She worked up until she was 19 with never a days lameness and the best heart in the world.
 
The 6 months ago photo is great, but might have given me mild heart failure at the time!!

I think by 6/7 you know what you have. The current photos of your horse look like a normal 4yo to me.
 
StarcatcherWilliam, he's Zangersheide, mainly Belgium warmblood and over 40% thoroughbred so I'm guessing he's okay to take a while!
 
ihatework mild heart failure is an understatement haha! I only just came across that photo again, I couldn't believe how bad it was - those were dark days indeed!

That's good to hear - some friends have been getting me paranoid but they've mainly got ponies who never seem to look very bum high at all.
 
iknowmyvalue I'm not sure why that is, sorry! I hope you're right, I think he's got a couple of inches to go either way! I'm just reluctant to do much at all with him under saddle until he's relatively level.
 
Can't see the pictures but my youngster sounds the same. He is 5 now and only just starting to look level. He is also currently standing at 16.2hh. The vet reckoned he was going to get to 17.2-17.3hh. I would be happy if he stops at about 16.3hh!
 
Cortez said:
If you do the String Test it'll tell you how much more growth there is likely to be in the withers.
Click to expand...

I hope not as my boy does come out at 17.3hh when I do the string test on him!! Hopefully I am doing it wrong to get that sort of result!
 
Elbow to fetlock ergot, then swing up keeping elbow end in place. If it really does = 17.3hh that would certainly explain the bum highness :-)
 
I've done the strong test a few days ago - gives him about another 2 inches, maybe a little more. Is the string test pretty accurate then? If it's right and he makes 6.30-17hh I'll be totally happy with that!
 
It's amazingly accurate; out of 200 or so foals & young horses over 15 years it's only been completely wrong twice, everything else was either spot on or within 1cm at maturity. It was completely accurate on my bum high 3 year old that never grew - I just chose to ignore it when I bought her :-)
 
my mare has been going up and down and has grown nearly two inches from 6-7.5yrs and is an irish mare of debatable breeding. last horse also grew two inches from 6 to 7 and has a coloured cob. they were both skinny when i got them though and were late starters
 
Cortez, that's positive to hear! That would make him about level with his bum and is a good height for me, so fingers crossed it's right again!
 
Cripple101 said:
I've done the strong test a few days ago - gives him about another 2 inches, maybe a little more. Is the string test pretty accurate then? If it's right and he makes 6.30-17hh I'll be totally happy with that!
Click to expand...

what height did he make? Keen to know if the string test was accurate for him ?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top