how much will a 3yo grow?

JanetGeorge

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She MIGHT make 15.2 - but I'd be surprised. A number of factors dictate mature size. Obviously there is her genetic make-up - which isn't the average of sire and dam (although it CAN work out that way.) But size genes may come from any of her grandparents/great-grandparents.

Then there's size at birth - a foal who is born 'small' CAN catch up - but it's harder, and how MUCH they catch up will depend on Mum's milk supply, time of year born, feeding of mare and foal, etc. etc.

Then there's rate of growth over the next couple of years - if they grow slowly - due to nutritional factors, worms, illness or accident, then they'll end up smaller. Age gelded (if male) can make a difference - geldings tend to grow taller than colts. All these things might make a difference of up to a hand at the time upwards growth stops.

But - speaking VERY generally - height is USUALLY fairly close (2-3 inches) to mature height by the time a horse is 3 - after that height growth slows right down and the horse fills out a bit/lot more.

This chap is 3 and is 16.3 now: his mum is 15.2 - dad - 17hh

Rambo-stand.jpg


We think (HOPE!) he'll only end up 17 hh but will fill out to be pretty much the size of his dad in bulk! He has several full siblings - a 4 year old mare who is 16.1, and two younger colts who look like they'll be considerably smaller judging on their size now compared to his size at the same age (the later colts were born later in the year - and that makes a considerable difference as the FASTEST growth rate seems to be in the first year - and the first summer at grass has a big influence.
 

lannerch

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mine grew one inch. 17.1 to 17.2

But he is mostly tb, which tend to grow earlier rather than later. warmbllood types on the other hand usually take longer to reach their mature height

I too though would be surprised if your youngster grew a full hand, but it is certainly not impossible.
 

volatis

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I have given up predicted mature size. We had a very small, elegant little foal born three years ago. Sire 16hh, mum a 16.3hh TB. Would have sworn he would never be bigegr than 16.2hh, especially as he was orphaned at a week old. He's 3 and about 17.2hh now, and dont think he's mature yet!

I bought a 15.1hh Hanoverian at 3, by 6 he had finished at 16.0hh.
 

BlackWhite381

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I bought my boy as a just 4yr old and he was around 16.3hh now he is in his fifth year and is 17.3hh i think he has stopped growing now! He is a belgian warmblood

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