Curious - will my horse grow anymore?

[Mimi2005]

I have a rising 4 year old old who is standing at 15.2hh, has grown an inch in height since April and moved up a rug size - will she be finished growing height wise now? If not, are growth spurts seasonal or random? Her dam was around 15.2hh and her sire was 16.3hh. TIA.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Most do not stop growing till 6/8 so plenty of time ?

 

[blitznbobs]

She should grow more, a lit depends on breeding but most grow til they are 8 ( more out rather than up in the latter stages but she has a lot of growing time left

 

[Chiffy]

In my experience it’s not something you can predict especially height wise. Some stop early and some keep growing. Even harder to tell without a photo or breeding. I would expect a rising four yr old to still grow upwards a little at least and definitely then fill out.

 

[Bobthecob15]

Breed? Warmbloods mature at a slower rate, usually not until at least 6/7. Hence why a lot don't start work under saddle till over the age of 4.

Based on what you said I would expect she'll grow a bit more

 

[Mimi2005]

This was April 22 when we viewed/purchased and she measured 15.1hh


This was December 22 so just taken a week ago, she is measuring 15.2hh now

This was taken at a similar time in December, the most level one I have. Sometimes she looks croup high and sometimes not.

 

[Mimi2005]

Breed? Warmbloods mature at a slower rate, usually not until at least 6/7. Hence why a lot don't start work under saddle till over the age of 4.

Based on what you said I would expect she'll grow a bit more

She's full thoroughbred. I've added in some pictures of her - I can't decide whether I think she's level or croup high.

 

[Mimi2005]

In my experience it’s not something you can predict especially height wise. Some stop early and some keep growing. Even harder to tell without a photo or breeding. I would expect a rising four yr old to still grow upwards a little at least and definitely then fill out.

Photos added, she's thoroughbred but her breeder felt she would be too small and weak for racing so she was sold unbacked to me.

 

[Mimi2005]

Most do not stop growing till 6/8 so plenty of time ?

? Indeed! Hopefully she just fills out rather than grows up too much more after this year!

 

[Mimi2005]

She should grow more, a lit depends on breeding but most grow til they are 8 ( more out rather than up in the latter stages but she has a lot of growing time left

Thank you, and do they grow more at certain points such as during the warmer months or is it completely random?

 

[L&M]

My cob measured 14.1hh as a rising 5 yr old, he stopped growing at around 7 yrs and got to 15hh.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Oh goshhhhhh she is stunning!!! Just my type!
Wow she is filling out nicely and looking amazing, keep doing what you are doing for sure!
I think she might get to 16.1 ish but thats just a guess!
Look forward to more piccies as you go along

 

[Mimi2005]

My cob measured 14.1hh as a rising 5 yr old, he stopped growing at around 7 yrs and got to 15hh.

Goodness that's quite a lot at that age!

 

[Mimi2005]

Oh goshhhhhh she is stunning!!! Just my type!
Wow she is filling out nicely and looking amazing, keep doing what you are doing for sure!
I think she might get to 16.1 ish but thats just a guess!
Look forward to more piccies as you go along

She certainly puts it away, loves her food...never stops eating!

Well if she gets to 16.1 my daughter will be elated as she would then become her mount rather than mine as that's a tad too big for me but we'll see. If she does grow again I'll update this post.

 

[Barton Bounty]

She certainly puts it away, loves her food...never stops eating!

Well if she gets to 16.1 my daughter will be elated as she would then become her mount rather than mine as that's a tad too big for me but we'll see. If she does grow again I'll update this post.

My boy is 16.1 and its a perfect height. I have never had anything under 16.2 since I have been an adult or bigger but I think 16hh woukd be the lowest ?

 

[Chiffy]

Oh Mimi, it really doesn’t matter! She is lovely…..but then I am a ‘thoroughbred’ person. She looks so well. She could make 16h, certainly not too small to race but your the winner here!

 

[Mimi2005]

Oh Mimi, it really doesn’t matter! She is lovely…..but then I am a ‘thoroughbred’ person. She looks so well. She could make 16h, certainly not too small to race but your the winner here!

Thank you me too and, I agree, I did not argue with them when they said they didn't want to put her in training

 

[Vodkagirly]

My 12 year old has changed a rug size this year, suddenly his rugs of 5 years are mini skirts. I don't think his girth has changed but not sure about height.

 

[Cortez]

I suggest you do the string test (search on here) which has been remarkably accurate for me over many, many horses. She looks as if she still has some growing to do.

P.S. Warmbloods don't grow more slowly than any other type of horse, that's a myth.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

She’s matured lovely, if she’s rising 4 in 2023 I’d say she’ll definitely go up a bit. I’d say she’d make 16hh but does depend on the horse.

My mare was 15.1 when I bought her in summer 2021 as a 3yo. She’s now rising 5, and measured last week at 15.3 barefoot. I think sometimes it’s a spurt, you might notice she looks bum high but often we don’t notice.

Mines just been shod and feels even bigger! I always said I’d love her to reach 16hh but I’m happy if she stays where she is.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

I suggest you do the string test (search on here) which has been remarkably accurate for me over many, many horses. She looks as if she still has some growing to do.

I saw your previous posts about the string tests. I have found it accurate on my other 2 youngster previously so worth doing. It showed my current horse would reach 16-16.1 2 years ago and she’s now 15.3 at rising 5 so possible.

 

[Mimi2005]

I suggest you do the string test (search on here) which has been remarkably accurate for me over many, many horses. She looks as if she still has some growing to do.

P.S. Warmbloods don't grow more slowly than any other type of horse, that's a myth.

Thank you, I'll have a look for it - I take it you can do it at any age and it should be there or thereabouts?

 

[Mimi2005]

My 12 year old has changed a rug size this year, suddenly his rugs of 5 years are mini skirts. I don't think his girth has changed but not sure about height.

Perhaps he's muscled up more?

 

[Mimi2005]

She’s matured lovely, if she’s rising 4 in 2023 I’d say she’ll definitely go up a bit. I’d say she’d make 16hh but does depend on the horse.

My mare was 15.1 when I bought her in summer 2021 as a 3yo. She’s now rising 5, and measured last week at 15.3 barefoot. I think sometimes it’s a spurt, you might notice she looks bum high but often we don’t notice.

Mines just been shod and feels even bigger! I always said I’d love her to reach 16hh but I’m happy if she stays where she is.

Thank you, I'm glad she's filled out a bit now at 3yrs 8mths, what breed is your girl? For me, 15.2-16hh is a nice height (I'm not very tall) - my girl has a big stride and walks like a bigger horse so even if she stops at 15.2hh I think she'll feel plenty big enough.

 

[windand rain]

All my youngsters have stopped going up by 3 and just filled out and looked bigger. The ponies all made full height by 2 and a bit. Even the two year old hannovarian had stopped going up by 2.5 years old but he look like a much bigger horse by 5. He stopped at 15.1

 

[Mimi2005]

All my youngsters have stopped going up by 3 and just filled out and looked bigger. The ponies all made full height by 2 and a bit. Even the two year old hannovarian had stopped going up by 2.5 years old but he look like a much bigger horse by 5. He stopped at 15.1

2 seems quite young to be fully grown, were they small ponies? There's an ID on my yard who was 17.1hh at 4 and is now over 18hh - too big to measure with the stick now - aged 6 and is only just starting to fill out so it does seem very variable.

 

[Mimi2005]

My mare was 15.1 when I bought her in summer 2021 as a 3yo. She’s now rising 5, and measured last week at 15.3 barefoot.

I was struggling to find the correct way to do it. Measuring from the ergot to the point of elbow, then spinning the string around up. Do you keep the string straight vertical or follow the shape/touching the coat up to the shoulder?

Following the shape of the shoulder puts it at 15.3, Going straight up vertical put another 3 inches on her current height so over 16.1, but I don’t think that’s right?! Even though it would be nice!

I did the string test search and found this post - it seems like following the contour of the body was more accurate then? I watched the youtube video and they too followed the contour of the body - I'm going to try it tonight and see.

 

[Ali27]

My ID x Welsh was 14.3 at 2 years and 2 months but hope she doesn’t grow too big! Not measured her since but she does look much bigger than my Irish 14.2! I only want her to make max of 15.1?

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Thank you, I'm glad she's filled out a bit now at 3yrs 8mths, what breed is your girl? For me, 15.2-16hh is a nice height (I'm not very tall) - my girl has a big stride and walks like a bigger horse so even if she stops at 15.2hh I think she'll feel plenty big enough.

She’s an irish sports horse/traditional irish horse. Sire was thoroughbred x ID but dam was cob cross. Sire was 16.1 and dam 15.2

Although my last horse grew to 15.2 by 8 and both his parents were under 14.2

I did the string test search and found this post - it seems like following the contour of the body was more accurate then? I watched the youtube video and they too followed the contour of the body - I'm going to try it tonight and see.

I went straight down to ergot then twisted, straight up the leg but followed the shape of the shoulder at the top.
What height did it say?

 

[ihatework]

Most will grow on a little bit more at least from rising 4.

I’ve got a homebred mostly warmblood who was disappointing small, measured about 15.2 rising 4 and now at rising 7 is about 16hh - so not massive growth height wise but combined with muscling and schooling he certainly looks bigger