Maturity of breeds

[druid]

[ QUOTE ]
Ranger is not mature, as I said, as a 2 ½ year old. This is not because Ranger is a "slow-maturing" individual or because he comes from a "slow maturing" breed. There is no such thing. Let me repeat that: no horse on earth, of any breed, at any time, is or has ever been mature before the age of six (plus or minus six months). So, for example, the Quarter Horse is not an "early maturing" breed - and neither is the Arabian a "slow maturing" breed. As far as their skeletons go, they are the same.

[/ QUOTE ]

(Ranger is a saddle bred being analysed by the original author)

Discuss?

 

[Halfstep]

Agree with this completely. In terms of their skeletons, their biological development, it doesn't make sense to claim that some breeds mature faster than others - they don't. This is surely not something that can vary within the same species. (not a scientist here but I think this is correct???).

 

[Orangehorse]

Agree with the above.

www.equinestudies.org for the full Ranger article, and lots and lots of other good stuff as well.