how does my 3 year old look?

R

rowy

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 February 2010
Messages
2,548
Location
leicestershire
Visit site
I have backed my youngster and have just turned him away (on the 1st) due to him growing loads and being bum high, plus he was doing everything i wanted him to do.
Anyway, I am comcerned as to how immature he looks for his age?
He is just on grass (bad quality) as he is a good dooer and fat (does he look fat in these pictures?) but should i be feeding him to help supplement his growth?
He is 3 years and 2 months and 14.3hh at the front and over 15hh behind. These pictures were taken on the 1st.
Oh and how high do you think he will make?
135.jpg

025.jpg

070.jpg


Thanks for your help :)
 
what a wee stunner. Nothing too constructive to add as never had a youngster, just wanted to say that he is lovely and very laid back looking. Height, 15.3 - 16h perhaps?
 
Looks fine to me. I certainly don't think he needs more weight as I hate seeing overweight youngsters - just storing up trouble for later life.

If you are worried about the quality of grazing you could add a vit & min supplement although I personally think that as long as they have been fed correctly in the first three years this should not be a particular necessity.

I think you are doing the right thing in turning him away - especially as the ground is so hard. I tend to back my youngsters at three to the stage where they can walk and trot (and usually, but not always, canter) in the school under a degree of control with respect to speed, direction and balance. I then turn them away until the following year.

Don't know what height he will make would guess he has a couple inches more growing to do. One of my six year olds is still bum high but growing (Dutch warmblood) so I am hoping he will level up!
 
Thanks. He is welsh x tb x appy. Think he has inherited the welsh gene for slow growing though! I would be happy with a few more inches. would like him to make at least 15.2hh really to give us a chance in dressage.
I had got him to the stage where he was walking, trotting and cantering well on both reins, been out for a little hack 3 times and was so good. even starting to round, as shown in photo, in trot and i didn't want any more of him so decided to stop while ahead.
unfortunately now he is getting very bored in the field so i have to still bring him in lol.
 
rowy said:
I would be happy with a few more inches. would like him to make at least 15.2hh really to give us a chance in dressage.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you have done really well with him. I saw your earlier post with photos and thought you were rather hard on yourself - I saw nothing to criticise in a three year old. I hate to see them over produced but then I don't produce them to sell so am not in any rush.

Don't worry if he doesn't make 15.2 for the dressage. I had a 15.1 who got to advanced medium. You don't need a big flashy warmblood to do well. The advantage of a smaller horse is that you have far more space in the arena!
 
Thanks that makes me feel better. I thought some people might think we were cruel riding him or that i was doing too much with him from what was shown on the pictures :/ i am hoping to get him to at least advanced medium, possibly higher if he can :) prix st george would be amazing!
 
I would definitely feed him a balancer to make sure he is getting all his vitamins and minerals, especially at such a critical age. If you are worried he might put weight on you can get low calories ones. He's a gorgeous horse and it is very refreshing to hear of someone turning their youngster away even when they are doing so well to give him a break and time to mature some more. Well done, he's a lucky boy.
 
He is lovely and well done so far.
I think his weight looks fine. If you are worried about the grass then you could get a field lick to provides vit and mins.
 
He looks lovely, i would say he will grow a bit more as to me looks slightly bum high, Can i just say how amazing your facilities look, i'm green with envy right now :D
 
He looks lovely and in great condition. If you really want to feed him anything a broad spec vit and min supplement will be plenty but at the moment he's not looking like he needs anything.

If he drops off I'd just give him some hay.
 
What everyone else has said. Lovely, lovely horse with someone who seems to know what they are doing safeguarding his early career.

Phew! Never know what to expect when you open these threads and I usually have to sit on my hands.
 
Thanks for the lovely comments. makes me happy when people agree that i'm doing the right thing backing and turning away etc. :)
He is being moved to lush grass the end of this week so i think i will leave feeding but may give him a vit and min lick. when the grass is eaten down i may start feeding him again.
Does any one know a good balancer like suregrow?
 
Lovely, lovely horse and fab to see him getting such a good start. If it helps, my appy was 15.1hh at that age and is now 15.3hh fully grown. My welsh cob only grew an inch from his 3rd birthday, but filled out a lot.

Best of luck with him!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top