Can anyone tell me when my my mare will stop growing please?

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bizzylizzy

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Dear all,

I am new to this site but i've been reading some of the threads and I thought I could get some helpful advice!

My mare turned 3 in May and she is a Shire x Warmblood. I bought her at 10 months old and she was standing at 15.1, she is now 3 and roughly 16.2. I thought she would slow down a bit now and fill out a bit (she is like a tank already lol) but yet AGAIN her bum has come up! I have had people telling me she will stop growing at 4 and some said 6 because of the breed she is so I really don't know what to expect. I didn't really think she would grow past 16.2 - ish. We have always had the same vet who just makes jokes about her growing into "a big girl". I'm not exactly tall so I need a step ladder as it is lol!

Thanks :)
 
They all grow until they are 7, even beyond. They will muscle up outwards as well as height. The growth quite often comes in spurts and you will find that tack and rugs will need to be changed - expensive business these young 'uns:).
 
Hmmm, you'll definitely have a big girl when she's finished growing!!
I bought a German warmblood at 3 yrs old who was 16.3HH, the vets estimated he would grow to 17.0. But at 5 yrs old he was 17.3 and still growing! My previous German warmblood mare didn't stop growing until about 7-8yrs old. I think that's around the age that warmbloods grow until (well roughly 6-8). But crossed with a Shire, and already over 16HH at 3 years old, you could definitely be looking at something that at 5 will be well over 17 HH.

If the horse has a lovely temperament, the size shouldn't matter. What will you be using her for? If she however has a difficult temperament, then anything over 17.1+HH is going to take a strong rider to deal with. If that's you, then you'll be fine :)
 
7!!!! OMG!!!! Thanks for your advice and yes we have already gone through lots of rugs and 2 saddles lol! I've just had to invest in a new winter wardrobe for her cos when I tried last years on, they were way too small :eek:
 
Thankfully she is a lovely sweet mare and very trusting. I have handled her myself daily since I bought her so she is very gentle and respectful with people. I have just backed her this summer and she is coming on well and is never really strong or pushing. If she is scared she tries to hide behind me lol!

I'm not really sure what I want to do with her yet, I did all my showing and jumping before I had the kids so I think I will just enjoy some lovely long hacks with her.

Thanks for the help :)
 
I was also told 7 by the RVC :)

My NFx is 7 in February and this summer he grew more than .2hh... just need the measuring stick to confirm this now!

Also - where are your photos? :D
 
Only 4 more years to go then lol! I have put some pics in my album but not sure if you can see them. I'll have a look cos I've only jumped on today :confused:
 
Well, they CAN grow up til 6-7, but they can also be finished at 3. They can also be different heights from one day to another, when relaxed, stressed, etc., etc. Yours sounds as if she'll be big, 'tho. A very useful and fairly accurate way of estimating adult height is to take a peice of string and measure from elbow to ground, then put this length from elbow up to withers - this will be very close to what she'll be when "finished". I've done this with many, many foals and young horses (used to run a stud farm) and have been surprised at how accurate it is.
 
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