How does my 3 year old look?

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showjump

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Having never bred anything before, please be gentle on me.. this is Darcy she is 3 on the 19th of this month! Currently she is on grass livery, but im hoping to bring her home this weekend and get started on her slowly.
Interested in how you think shes looking, thanks. Please excuse the state of her mud galore!!
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I don't want to seem harsh, but to me, she looks too immature to be starting work any time soon and I would be giving her a few more months in the field and then reassessing.

She looks a bit back at the knee but it may just be the angle of the photo.

She looks the type who will be quite late to really blossom, but a nice type- I had one of them and she was unrecognisable from 3yrs to 6 yrs old :)
 
Charlie77- i know shes already big, no idea how big she will end up. Mum and dad are both 16hh!
Millitiger- currently costing me money at grass livery, so im going to bring her home and start having a little play, only bridle on etc. Then leave her till the winter. Not sure if its the photo or not, when i get her back i will take some better ones.

Thanks
 
Thanks amymay, unfortunately im only 5ft2, so i fear shes going to be far too big for me! Shes inherited her mums massive ears too!!
 
showjump said:
Thanks amymay, unfortunately im only 5ft2, so i fear shes going to be far too big for me! Shes inherited her mums massive ears too!!
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Big ears = generous nature.

I'm only 5ft3, and regularly ride 17hh horses and an 18hh.

She'd make a cracking hunter :D
 
Hope your right, her mums super talented and generous so hope she follows suit!

I'll package her off to you then?! I like little ones, less of a way to fall..
 
If on grass livery I would expect her to have more condition, I would only work on a horse with a bit of condition, and would make sure she has a good feed with mins and vits, every day.
It costs to keep a horse on grass livery, but a lot less than on any other kind.
She is big, so even if well fed and exercised, will not be fully mature three, four or five years.
Does not look like she should be backed for another year.
 
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Miss L Toe said:
If on grass livery I would expect her to have more condition, I would only work on a horse with a bit of condition, and would make sure she has a good feed with mins and vits.
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This is a big horse, with lots of bone, and lots of growing still to do. The last thing you would want to do is pile the condition on.
 
Miss L Toe- maybe i didn't make myself clear? She is on grass livery, as i do not have the grazing for her to be out 24/7, however i keep my horses at home so she costing me money where she is, as appose to her being at my place. I don't think she is in bad condition tbh? Im wary of feeding her as when she was younger we were worried about OCD,as she was/is so big.
I'm planning on bringing her home, bitting her and getting her used to everything. Then she will be left till winter, be sat on, then left till the new year. However if shes not ready, we will wait.
Woodykat- landing on your feet?!- i've never managed that yet!!
 
showjump said:
Miss L Toe- maybe i didn't make myself clear? She is on grass livery, as i do not have the grazing for her to be out 24/7, however i keep my horses at home so she costing me money where she is, as appose to her being at my place. I don't think she is in bad condition tbh? Im wary of feeding her as when she was younger we were worried about OCD,as she was/is so big.
I'm planning on bringing her home, bitting her and getting her used to everything. Then she will be left till winter, be sat on, then left till the new year. However if shes not ready, we will wait.
Woodykat- landing on your feet?!- i've never managed that yet!!
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yes, quite clear, she is at grass livery because you don't have enough/ any grazing at home, but she will need fed if stabled, I think this will cost you for forage and stabling and bedding. She will lose out on her 24/7 freedom. You asked for peoples opinion, so I have given mine: I would expect a horse which has been on spring grass for the last three months to be in better condition. OCD and all that is usually due to "force feeding" concentrates to young TB's, and also to their genetics.
I still feed Fast Fibre plus mins and vits to my boy who came to me as a four year old [looked two], and had never been fed, it has taken me four years to get him to grow to his full size and to have a decent amount of strength. He has never been in "show" condition until this year but since I bought him he has had mins and vits every day, due to the fact that he had nothing when he needed it.
I am not suggesting your horse has been starved, I am just saying I would expect a horse on grass livery to look better at this time of year.
All horses need vitamins and minerals, but this will not be provided at many grass liveries.
 
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Miss L Toe said:
yes, quite clear, she is at grass livery because you don't have enough/ any grazing at home, but she will need fed if stabled, I think this will cost you for forage and stabling and bedding. She will lose out on her 24/7 freedom. You asked for peoples opinion, so I have given mine.
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Such an odd response.

As for the backing issue - being such a big girl, I too would be more inclined to start her slowly this year, rather than next.

Good luck with her Showjump. Really look forward to your updates on her. She's smashing!
 
She was on grass livery because my fields were not fenced when we bought the yard. However she will be out in the day, and in at night (unless summer arrives, and she can stay out 24/7!) with ad lib haylage. If needed she will get something else, but will cross that bridge when we come to it. THB at home is not going to cost me alot, bulk bedding and our own haylage, just my time doing her!
 
showjump said:
Amymay- thanks for your kind comments, a bit wary to post about her again in case i open a can of worms!
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If you feel your horse is in perfect condition, and in perfect circumstances, you don't need to ask other peoples opinions.
If you feel you need other opinions then please don't get your back up when they are given: I have worked for twenty years with horses, on racing yards and T.B. studs, but as far as you know I might be a teenager with no experience at all.
 
Im not getting by back up Miss L Toe, im the first to admit im not an experienced horse breeder, hence me asking peoples opinions. Maybe she is not in perfect condition, but for her size i think shes looking ok. Bringing her home is maybe not as good as leaving her on grass livery but the cost, and also her being away from home isnt ideal with me wanting to start her very slowly and also to keep eye on her condition first hand.
Hopefully she will look different again in afew months time.
 
Pretty looking mare :-), IMO she looks fine, I am having a similar argument atm with MIL - she has an 11 month foal who is VERY well covered - not fat but slightly over "perfect"... the vet said he is in show condition and because of this needs to lose a little bit of weight - need i say more.

she keep's going on about not wanting him to go back down to a ok weight (perfect IMO) as he might be hungry and the poor baby will starve (:rolleyes:) - he's on a full scoop (big round scoop) of Alfa, 1 scoop of mix (was mare and foal mix until about 2 weeks ago), 1 scoop of beet - every day (was twice a day until 2 weeks ago)..he is turned out 24/7 now and fed the above once or twice a day.. :eek:.

I have always felt that youngsters go through thin and lanky stages and well covered/fat stages.. throughout there life until they reach around 6.. i shouldn't worry to much about her condition, if she drops weight and is looking awful, she's young and able to pick it up quickly.. :) good luck with her, shall be following with interest!
 
Looks good, please dont pay any attention to those who say she needs more condition. Shes a big girl and you dont want any excess strain on those big joints. I like to keep my 2yo a little on the leaner side as he is going to push at least 16.3hh. As amymay has said, i'd leave her for a little while and then start slowly this winter.. leave her then begin again next summer.
Please post more pics of her when you do, shes lovely :)
 
showjump said:
Im not getting by back up Miss L Toe, im the first to admit im not an experienced horse breeder, hence me asking peoples opinions. Maybe she is not in perfect condition, but for her size i think shes looking ok. Bringing her home is maybe not as good as leaving her on grass livery but the cost, and also her being away from home isnt ideal with me wanting to start her very slowly and also to keep eye on her condition first hand.
Hopefully she will look different again in afew months time.
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I do not think she is seriously underweight, what I said was at this time of the year, on grass livery I would expect more condition, over the summer the grass gets poorer.
 
Hello there,

I am a hobby breeder who breeds show jumpers. The last thing I would want to see is a thickly covered three year old. Maybe the showing people would like to see more coverage but that is not what you have her for.

You would expect to back her as a three year old anyway, and I assume then turn away until next year? She looks a strong type, and will fill dramatically between now and her 5th/6th year. My best horse grew half an inch- I bought him at 7 years and 17.2hh.

I believe young horses should be at grass with others as babies. Show jumpers have many years stood in a lorry and stable ahead of them. I have mine at a professional stud and their youngsters are so well behaved and polite. My colt is still entire, as are the others in his group and they are all super youngsters. Mine are all intended for high level competing, but I like them to enjoy their life right now.

Good luck and enjoy your filly!
 
She looks lovely and best of luck with her :) I have a 2yrold by the same stallion and would love to hear how you get on with her :D
 
Miss L Toe said:
If on grass livery I would expect her to have more condition, I would only work on a horse with a bit of condition, and would make sure she has a good feed with mins and vits, every day.
It costs to keep a horse on grass livery, but a lot less than on any other kind.
She is big, so even if well fed and exercised, will not be fully mature three, four or five years.
Does not look like she should be backed for another year.
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amymay said:
This is a big horse, with lots of bone, and lots of growing still to do. The last thing you would want to do is pile the condition on.
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totally agree with amy last thing you want to do is pump feed into this lovely girl
 
mellissa said:
The last thing I would want to see is a thickly covered three year old. Maybe the showing people would like to see more coverage but that is not what you have her for.
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Im one of the showing people and I wouldnt like to see any more coverage on a 3 year old either ;)
IMO she looks immature but a nice sort :)
We have a gangly 2 yr old who is ok looking one minute, not the next, and Ive had advice from a couple of the 'fatty feeders' about feeding him this that and the other to bulk him up. No need imo.
 
Pigsmight- ld love to see your youngster!

Thank you everyones comments, I was not worried by her condition the ways see it she's not looking bad considering the weather, field she's been in etc etc. when she returns I can keep an eye on her condition and if needed supplement her.

I am still planning on lightly and slowly backing her soon, whiles she's the size she is. After winter and new year bring her back into work.

I shall keep those interested in her progress, and hopefully I can produce her to the best of my ability. I'm rather excited for the future with her, today her mums gone treble clear in the british novice finals to qualify for Scope!

Thanks guys.
 
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