is it possible to estimate adult size?

[rosencassie]

i'de like to know if its possible to estimate adult size for a foal. i found out my mare was 10 months pregnant and i didnt know who the sire was. my mare is a 14.3hh anglo-arab. my 9 week old filly seems quite big (i have never worked with foals so she just looks it to me).
possible sires are:
12hh welsh a
14hh welsh cob
15.2hh paint
15.2hh pure arabian
16.3hh pure thoroughbred

i have read that you tell by the cannon bone, but i couldnt remember how. their cannon bones are almost the same size
here is a recent photo of her:

 

[scotsmare]

Cute foalie but how on earth did you end up with such a long list of potential sires??

 

[Fleur100]

I know there is some calculation that people use but it only gives an estimate. looking at the foal's legs & joints I would reckon it is going to end up about the same height as Mum.

Cute foal

 

[Three]

I was told that the distance from the middle of the knee to the ground is 30% of the mature height and that at one year old the cannon has reached its maximum length and the distance from point of hock to the ground is 40% of adult height.

However - the old wives way (as an old wife I'm allowed to use it!

) is to measure from mid-knee to the coronet band. The length in inches is the height in hands at maturity. ie: 16" = 16hh.

Can't tell you if it works but our foal measured in at 171/2" and is showing every sign of making 17HH!

 

[rosencassie]

[ QUOTE ]
Cute foalie but how on earth did you end up with such a long list of potential sires??

[/ QUOTE ]

my mare used to be wild, the previous owner had about 50 horses running wild in 3 very large fields for 10 years. we bought her about 8 months ago then 9 weeks ago i found out she was 10 months pregnant - after breaking her at 6 months and jumping at 9 months. the list is just all the stalilions in the field she was in. my mare is only 3 so im hoping she will get to 15hh minimum

 

[rosencassie]

[ QUOTE ]
I was told that the distance from the middle of the knee to the ground is 30% of the mature height and that at one year old the cannon has reached its maximum length and the distance from point of hock to the ground is 40% of adult height.

However - the old wives way (as an old wife I'm allowed to use it!

) is to measure from mid-knee to the coronet band. The length in inches is the height in hands at maturity. ie: 16" = 16hh.

Can't tell you if it works but our foal measured in at 171/2" and is showing every sign of making 17HH!

[/ QUOTE ]

i'll measure her tomorrow, i knew it was something to do with the legs i just couldnt remember what

thanks!

 

[htobago]

Looking at the (cute!) foal I would doubt that her sire is the pure-bred Arab, unless he was a very off-type Arab, as your mare is a very 'Araby'-looking Anglo and the foal seems to have little Arab type.

But even if I'm right (and I could well be wrong), that only rules out one of the possible sires! Does anyone else have any more educated guesses about the sire? ('Probably not Arab' is the best I can do, I'm afraid!)

 

[rosencassie]

[ QUOTE ]
Looking at the (cute!) foal I would doubt that her sire is the pure-bred Arab, unless he was a very off-type Arab, as your mare is a very 'Araby'-looking Anglo and the foal seems to have little Arab type.

But even if I'm right (and I could well be wrong), that only rules out one of the possible sires! Does anyone else have any more educated guesses about the sire? ('Probably not Arab' is the best I can do, I'm afraid!)

[/ QUOTE ]

i forgot to mention that the arab was my mares sire

a few users on a previous post said she looks very quarter-horse like, makng the sire the paint. but i know nothing about breeding.

my foal does have a very arab head, and someone told me arabs have a very high poll, like a bump between their ears which Rose and Cassie both have. they both hold their tails up like an arab too, its so cute when they run together lol

 

[the watcher]

My guess? It was the Welsh cob, if I am right it is quite a nice mix, if a bit lively.

 

[htobago]

LOL - if the Arab was the sire of your mare, then I think it is even less likely that he is the sire of the foal, as from these photos the foal looks less 'typey' than the dam. If the Arab were the foal's sire, she would look more 'typey' than her mum.

But photos can be misleading, of course! The foal may look more Araby in real life.

 

[rosencassie]

i used your theory, and her measurement was 15 1/2 inches, and my mares was also 16 inches. hopefully she will be bigger than her mum.

thanks for the help!

 

[lornaA]

I'm guessing the welsh cob is the daddy. However i have no idea why.

 

[Shilasdair]

I don't think it's the TB, the arab or the 12hh Welshy.
That leaves the Welsh cob and the Paint. For some reason my feeling is that it looks more Welsh cob, although if it makes 15.2hh as the cannon suggests, it would be closer to the Paint.
Ask the mare

S

 

[teabiscuit]

another welsh cob voter here

lovely chunky foal

 

[magic104]

She looks quiet long through her back, so I am going with the Welsh, but the only way to know would be to DNA. Start with the Welsh cob, I dont think it is the Arab or Welsh pony. At least you have a starting point.