Granite's still growing!

[bmw]

Would like to know what ages other peoples horses stopped growing. My horse is 8 and was 16hh when I bought him, I've had him over a year but all of a sudden he has shot up to 16.2hh. He was quite big as a 2 year old and didn't grow much after that. Don't know if thats why he's shot up all of a sudden. Does it differ with different breeds? He is a Part Bred Arab. Any information appreciated.

 

[tasteofchristmaschaos]

My boy didn't stop growing until 8. Growing until 7 or 8 is fairly common in some breeds.

 

[competitiondiva]

A horse technically can grow up to the age of 8, which is why when you look at the life height certificates you cannot get one until the horse is 8.

 

[bmw]

Oh thanks, thats interesting to know, I was always led to believe that a horse stops growing between the ages of 5-6.

 

[competitiondiva]

Most breeds won't grow much if at all after the age of 5/6 i.e tb's are fast maturing and are usually done growth wise at 4 or so, whereas you look at warmbloods which are re-knowned for being slow maturing and are more likely to grow until 8. Again these will vary within themselves, warmbloods with alot of blood ancestors can mature earlier than those with more traditional lines. similarly big steeplechasing bred tb's will grow later in life than their sprinter bred counterparts!

This is why people tend to think that horses dont' grow past 5-6. but in reality any horse can grow up to the age of 8, as their growth plates are not fully closed until then.