How accurate are string tests on 3yr olds?

[DistinctiveEquine]

Hello, I'm worried my horse could maybe be stuck at 15.2, according to the vet she just turned 3. I've heard from most people horses are nearly done growing by 3, and both string tests said she would mature to 16 or 16.1hands, from the elbow to the ergot it's 30inches. Do y'all think she'll eventually hit even close to that height?

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[ycbm]

She doesn't look 3, how has the vet aged her? What's her breeding and background? Teeth are a bit unreliable. She has a TON more growing to do, I'd say. If be surprised if she didn't make the height you want by 6, and plenty of horses grow a hand or more after 3 years old.

Welcome to the forum!
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[MissTyc]

I've never yet had one stop growing at three ... or even four ... and usually they stick on a bit of height until they're 7ish with final growth + schooling/muscle bringing everything "up".

Your horse looks a lovely young gangly youngster so I agree with ycbm.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I agree with ycbm, she does not look like a rising 3 yr old. I would guess at rising 2. Loads of growing there I think. Do you know anything about her breeding?

 

[DistinctiveEquine]

She doesn't look 3, how has the vet aged her? What's her breeding and background? Teeth are a bit unreliable. She has a TON more growing to do, I'd say. If be surprised if she didn't make the height you want by 6, and plenty of horses grow a hand or more after 3 years old.

Welcome to the forum!
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The vet checked her teeth and said she was 3 due to the adult teeth she had and the baby teeth she still had.

 

[DistinctiveEquine]

I agree with ycbm, she does not look like a rising 3 yr old. I would guess at rising 2. Loads of growing there I think. Do you know anything about her breeding?

I wish I knew her breeding but she came to me grade. I was thinking she was probably an appendix or something similar.

 

[DistinctiveEquine]

She doesn't look 3, how has the vet aged her? What's her breeding and background? Teeth are a bit unreliable. She has a TON more growing to do, I'd say. If be surprised if she didn't make the height you want by 6, and plenty of horses grow a hand or more after 3 years old.

Welcome to the forum!
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Also I don't know her breeding as she came to me grade, she looks a bit like an appendix, but I probably get a dna test on her. Her previous owner had gotten her from an auction.

 

[ycbm]

An appendix? That's a frequently troublesome bit of the human body in the UK.
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[ycbm]

The vet checked her teeth and said she was 3 due to the adult teeth she had and the baby teeth she still had.

That's a very rough guide. I had a three year old shed his four year old baby teeth but he was chipped and definitely three.

I would guess your mare is only just two. It's possible she's 3 and had a very bad start, in which case she will catch up, but from your photo whatever her true age I would bet you'll get at least another hand on her current height, she's all legs at the moment.
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[DistinctiveEquine]

An appendix? That's a frequently troublesome bit of the human body in the UK.
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My bad It's a breed in the US, a cross between a quarter horse and a thoroughbred.

 

[Prancerpoos]

My bad It's a breed in the US, a cross between a quarter horse and a thoroughbred.

Wow! Who knew, never heard that one before! Probably because we don’t have a lot of quarter horses here - appendices (?) must be very speedy horses.

Welcome to the forum

 

[ycbm]

My bad It's a breed in the US, a cross between a quarter horse and a thoroughbred.

Shorthand I guess for only able to be registered in the appendix of either of the breed registers?

I think it’s a nice cross and when she fills out she looks like she's going to be a nice filly. Does she have a name?
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[DistinctiveEquine]

Shorthand I guess for only able to be registered in the appendix of either of the breed registers?

I think it’s a nice cross and when she fills out she looks like she's going to be a nice filly. Does she have a name?
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Her name is Ginger and it suits her personality.

 

[Cortez]

Actually a grade horse is one without a pedigree, of any type, and I very much doubt that she's 3. Teeth can be unreliable, and vets often don't have a clue about teeth (sorry vets, but I speak from experience - and knowing the birth dates of all my horses, which very often don't match what their teeth are saying). Even from the photograph I can tell you she will grow a LOT. Where abouts are you in the States?

An appendix quarter horse is one with verifiable TB blood, and yes, registered in an appendix.

 

[DistinctiveEquine]

Actually a grade horse is one without a pedigree, of any type, and I very much doubt that she's 3. Teeth can be unreliable, and vets often don't have a clue about teeth (sorry vets, but I speak from experience - and knowing the birth dates of all my horses, which very often don't match what their teeth are saying). Even from the photograph I can tell you she will grow a LOT. Where abouts are you in the States?

An appendix quarter horse is one with verifiable TB blood, and yes, registered in an appendix.

I'm located in Mississippi and I wasn't saying she was a full bred appendix, I meant to imply that I thought her conformation looked similar to an appendix horse.

 

[Cortez]

I'm located in Mississippi and I wasn't saying she was a full bred appendix, I meant to imply that I thought her conformation looked similar to an appendix horse.

Oh it wasn't a comment correcting you, it was a further explanation for people in the UK who may not be familiar with the term. She looks very like an appendix QH, or perhaps there is a touch of saddlebred in there? I used to have stud farms in Colorado and Missouri (a long time ago), so know a bit about the horse business in the US. She looks like a nice, growthy youngster, I'd say no more than 2 years old; what are you planning to do with her?

 

[maya2008]

She's not 3 yet for sure with that body shape. Easily could make 16hh.

 

[DistinctiveEquine]

Oh it wasn't a comment correcting you, it was a further explanation for people in the UK who may not be familiar with the term. She looks very like an appendix QH, or perhaps there is a touch of saddlebred in there? I used to have stud farms in Colorado and Missouri (a long time ago), so know a bit about the horse business in the US. She looks like a nice, growthy youngster, I'd say no more than 2 years old; what are you planning to do with her?

I got her originally for a project horse and I sort of fell in love with her! She has some nice movements that would make a great dressage horse or even a jumper. I may do both with her when she's a bit older.

 

[GypsGal1718]

Just give her some time and she will fill out. They are big after all so just be patient with growth.

 

[Ratface]

My Arabian gelding didn't stop growing until his seventh year. He's 16hh now.
Your youngster is very nice. I'm sure she will continue upwards for quite some time.

 

[Shinx]

My TB grew three inches between age 3 and 6. I would have preferred he stayed at 15.3!

 

[Hormonal Filly]

I’d say the string test was about right. My mare was 15.1 as a 3yo and the string test put her at 16.1. She is now 16hh as a just turned 6yo

 

[LilMyPony]

Don’t know, but my pony should be 2 inches taller according to string test. She’s 20 so a growth spurt is not likely!!

 

[DistinctiveEquine]

Don’t know, but my pony should be 2 inches taller according to string test. She’s 20 so a growth spurt is not likely!!

It's possible she could've been stunted. My sister's off the track thoroughbred had broken withers and it said she was supposed to be taller. It could be a number of reasons. I'm hoping mare didn't get stunted, if she did it's not that big of a deal.

 

[Cortez]

She's not stunted, she looks very growthy - meaning she has a lot of growing to do.

 

[ycbm]

It's possible she could've been stunted. My sister's off the track thoroughbred had broken withers and it said she was supposed to be taller. It could be a number of reasons. I'm hoping mare didn't get stunted, if she did it's not that big of a deal.

Agree with Cortez she is certainly not stunted. Being that leggy looking means she's going to grow.... a lot!

I think she could be really nice, I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of her at 4, but that will be 2026 I reckon.