How big will my boy make???

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loulabelle

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Below (hopefully) is a attachement of my wee boy. He is a 3 1/2 yr old, old line Welsh Section D Cob. He is currently standing at 13.1. I brought him at 7 months from a guy who aquired him from some travellers for a debt that they owed him so didn't get to view either of his parents. At the time he was standing at 11.1 and I was informed that he should make 14.2 which to me seemed quite possible, I do have a fear tho that he may have been weaned too early as the guy I brought him from had had him a good couple of months and I know this can affect growth as well as being riddled with mites! The poor boy didn't get a very good start to life which is why I think I couldn't resist him.
We currently have our boys on our small holding which has very very limited grazing (we have to re seed every year) although he is feed all year round and has a daily supply of hay.

Back to original question, and I know there is no science to this he will make what he makes but... do you think he will reach his potential height of 14.2? And can anyone recommend anything that will help encourage growth and making sure he gets all the correct nutrients?

The last couple of months he has really begun to chunk out and I know he will be able to carry my weight (i'm 5ft 10 and 10 1/2st) I just don't want to look silly riding him, and I did hope that we could do some xc together. He has such a character and would never want to sell him because of his height just want to do everything possible to help encourage his growth, and not hamper it any more than it has been.

Any advice will be very much appreciated

Laura

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v79/loulabelle/Image016.jpg
 
I think you can measure from back of knee to fetlock and that gives approximate adult height e.g 14 inches - 14 hands.. I think thats right but can't really remember.
 
Anything is possible - and he looks like he as got quite a lot of filling out to do. So even if he doesn't make quite as tall as you were hoping, he will probably have a good amount of chunkiness behind him!

I would have probaby though it unlikely that he will make 14.2hh - but not impossible. He looks like a sweety though!
 
He is a right sweety, such a cheeky chappy. Aslong as he makes 14hh I think I will be happy. This picture was taken a few months ago and he has chunked up quite a bit since, I figured at the minute all his growing energy is going on bulking out rather that growing in height.
 
Yeah your probably right, especially originally being from travellers be probably is more irish than a welsh, you know I never thought of it that way lol x

His bums levelled out at the minute, this picture was taken a couple of months ago
 
Get a piece of bale twine place it at the back of his fetlock/ergot and up to his elbow once you have this length, keep it, then place it from the elbow to his wither - whatever is left over is how much growing he has left to do.... Hope that makes sense. Good luck.
 
Looks lovely but I don't think he will make 14.2hh, maybe 14hh at a push as he is 3 1/2yrs already. However if he's a chunky sort then he should take up your leg if that's what your worried about.

For comparison my new forest gelding is 18 months now and stands at 13.3hh withers and almost 14.1hh bum, I expect he shall make 14.2hh, I'm even slightly worried he may go over that!!
 
Maybe I'm expecting too much of him :-( I've never had youngsters before its my partner who has and all he keeps saying is to have faith in him, and that what he will be will be. His a great family pony tho and have a young son who Prince loves, infact just an excuse for me to get another lol.

I am a little worried about my legs, but as he has already bulked out a fair bit then in this picture maybe I'm just being silly. I wanted a youngster that would make 15.2+ but as soon as I saw him just had to have him, especially when I was told by the guy who previously owned him that when he turnt 1 he was going to break him to harness!!! I couldn't have let that happen!
 
He looks a chunky sort so I expect he will take up your leg no problem once he's filled out fully, he is only 3 1/2 and really still a baby at the moment.

Well then keep him for you to and your little boy to love and you'll just 'have' to get another one for yourself!
laugh.gif
 
He is not a welsh, he is a traditional or gypsy cob. He is coloured and has far too much feather to be a native.

My chap who is a gypsy cob at 3 1/2 was just over 14.2 and he is now at nearly 4 1/2 over 15 hands at the front and his bum is about 15.1 so will end up about 15.1.

Your chap looks like he could be nice with some work and time to mature. He has nice straight hair and a short back. You need to get the apple round bum and top line muscle but that will come. Mine has only just started to get this recently with work and careful feeding.

You may end up with 14 hands max, but I would not say any more. There are a lot of trad cobs between 13.2 and 14 hands size with adults riding and they look fine as they are so chunky.
 
He is a stunner, well when his had a bath and a good groom that is lol, and he has the personality to match x I'm a big fan of the natural look even if it is more work maintaining it!
 
Don't be tempted to push too much hard feed into him as he could end up with joint problems in later life. I'm 5'8" and I had a coloured cob of 14.1hh a few years ago. I loved riding her and her depth of body took my long legs.
 
The only real reason he has hard food all year round is because of the very poor grazing, the amounts are reduced in the summer months, although i will take that on board.
I'm hoping you are right with his body depth
 
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