Equine Maturity

[Dizzle]

At what age would you say a horse matures?

Would you expect a six year old to still be babyish and would you expect them to chill out a bit more at the ages of seven and beyond?

 

[black_horse]

My Pure bred hanovairan mare i would say is only just starting to mature now at the age of 8 but will still fill out till about 10.

Deeis very babish at times, and her balance is only just starting to really show itself.

 

[NOISYGIRL]

My 31 year old cob/arab will never mature ! he still thinks he's 3 bless him, I think it just depends on the horse

 

[JVB]

my 8 yr old dutch wb is just starting to settle down this year, although I think it will be a few more years before she is fully mature, can't wait - we might one day be able to do dressage!

 

[Theresa_F]

It really can vary. My WB mare at 8 was more like a 3 year old. My gypsy cob at 2 was very mature and steady, at 3 he would safely hack out alone and at 4 you could put a nervous rider on him or a confident child to ride out and come back safely. My old TB at 29, though very safe still would attempt to go flat out at any given chance.

Chancer is now rising 6 and very mature, ditto our clydie mare to ride and handle, both have old heads on young shoulders. However, they will both still play like mad and anything within reach of the teeth is doomed and it will be investigated and chewed.

 

[soulfull]

There are always exceptions but it does mostly depend on breed
now did you mean physically or mentally

Most Welshies don't physically or mentally mature until 7 or 8

TB physically earlier and some never mature mentally

The more cold blood in the horse the quicker they mature mentally

My WB is rising 7 and still very immature mentally, and not just silly he is still baby in a lot of ways