Rising 4 will he grow any more?!

[MrsKB]

Interested in views / peoples experiences I have a rising 4 year old (4 in July) who is currently 15.2 ish maybe a little more. It was hoped he’d make 16/16.1hh, dad is 16.3 and mum is 15.3 will he grow anymore?

He’s due to be backed this summer but I’m now considering options as he’s currently too small for me at 5ft8, I will be gutted to part with him having had him since a yearling but his height has been worrying me for a while now.

Photo of said midget from last spring!

 

[Prancerpoos]

He will probably grow a bit, but sounds like a good height now. I am 5’9” and for many years rode my barely 15hh Anglo Arab. After a couple of 16hh TBs, when my 16.3 warmblood had to be retired I had great fun riding her 14:3 Haffie companion and never felt I was too big. If he’s nice in every other way then I wouldn’t worry about his height. I think I actually preferred the smaller horses.

 

[Lucky Snowball]

I think he will grow a little more. Don't worry. You can always let me have him!

 

[MrsKB]

Thanks both, not sure why the first photo didn’t work!

I think my worry is he’s short coupled and I worry about saddles & also I’m used to 16.3 plus and he seems to be a midget!

 

[blitznbobs]

He may grow a couple of inches in the next few years and will certainly bulk out yet … but I doubt he is really too small for you ..

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

He will fill out and look and feel bigger his definitely not too small for you even at the height he is now.

I have a 15.3 substantial Arab and my friend at 5'9 rides him and looks fine, his also had a few men ride him and thet have all fitted in his saddle, I would say his quite a compact horse but wears a 17 inch saddle which will be plenty for most adults.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

How is he bred he looks lovely?

 

[ycbm]

He isn't too small for you unless you weigh a lot more than me, but as another 5ft 8 who like big horses I know why you would think him too small to keep. I think you will be lucky if he gets over 16 hands but he'll look a lot bigger than he does now by the time he's 8.

Pretty boy!
.

 

[MrsKB]

How is he bred he looks lovely?

He’s TB x trakehner

 

[MrsKB]

He isn't too small for you unless you weigh a lot more than me, but as another 5ft 8 who like big horses I know why you would think him too small to keep. I think you will be lucky if he gets over 16 hands but he'll look a lot bigger than he does now by the time he's 8.

Pretty boy!
.

Thank you! I guess always having bigger horses he just feels like a midget, he’s such a fine / thin boy! I’m just waiting for him to chunk out!

 

[Prancerpoos]

He’s lovely! My 16.3 was a trakehner. She was just over 16hh as a 4 yo, and quite fine looking, although she had 9” of bone. By the time she was 7 she was just under 16.3 and very substantial. Just wait until he fills out a bit.

 

[Snow Falcon]

Handsome chap. I bought a 4yo part TB many years ago. Did some work with him then gave him a few weeks off. He went from 15.1h to 15.3h in that time. At 5'8 I don't think you'd be too big for him anyway.

 

[Lucky Snowball]

Beautiful - definitely room here !

 

[exracehorse]

Thanks both, not sure why the first photo didn’t work!

I think my worry is he’s short coupled and I worry about saddles & also I’m used to 16.3 plus and he seems to be a midget!

My 15.1 is short coupled with a short neck. I’ve had her since she was two. She’s now 6. My other horse is 17.1 so, it took a while to get used to the size difference. I feel like I’m sitting on her neck. Nothing in front of me. I do get a sore back after a very long ride. But I’m so 56 so my back isn’t great anyway! Saddle wise was a nightmare. As she’s an XW 16”. And my knees are nearly over the knee rolls. However. She’s such a lovely little horse , she’s not going anywhere

 

[sbloom]

There are different ways to fit the rider to a saddle - the very best is to fit to your pelvic size and shape and for me this takes me from a 17.5, fitted to hip measurement and an element of height/leg length, to a 16.5 with the right shaped open seat. There are so many different approaches to fitting the rider and none of them should be rooted in fitting to the rider's height/femur length as a priority, whatever the Thorowgood website says. Stability of the pelvis is the most important thing to help us as riders, and that needs the seat to be shaped to suit our own skeleton.

I wouldn't worry about height per se, better posture can bring 1" growth, easily, at any age. Look to ribcage depth and shape, do they take up your leg, does your knee hit in a place that's helpful, how wide is the ribcage at the top, and at your knee, relative to your hip articulation/width? So often we can't tell much of this until we actually sit on them, but having these aspects work in our favour rather than against us is important in selecting a riding horse.

 

[Fanatical]

At only rising 4 I would say plenty of growing in him yet. I would say most grow and fill out until about 6 - some even take until 7.
I'd wait until at least mid way through the 5 year old year, but even then they can change a surprising amount between 5-7.

 

[awelshandawarmblood]

Mine is was around 16hh at yours ages, he's now rising 7 & he's just stopped 16.3/17hh!

 

[sport horse]

We bought a 4 year old Selle Francais in France one December so nearly a 5 year old. Our one worry was she was too small at just 16 hands. She ended up 17 hands!!

 

[MrsKB]

Thanks all

 

[Jellymoon]

He’ll be absolutely fine for you to back and ride away, and of course he may also grow, but if you still feel he’s too small for you once you get him under saddle, he looks very saleable!

 

[Goldenstar]

The first horse I bought with my own money was sold because he had failed to make the size they expected he was 15.1 at three .
From the moment he walked off the Ghillies truck he grew, at six he was 17 .
I think given the size of his parents he is likely to finish at 16 hands or just over .

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Looking back at his picture he still looks like a real baby I think his got some real changing to do, some mature quite late and seem to look small and weedy for ages I wouldn't worry his so lovely hang on in there.

I know mine are Arab's but Arabi didn't look like a proper horse until he was about 7, then he suddenly just filled out and completely changed.

 

[Snow Falcon]

I may fancy a change. Always had a soft spot for palaminos. Send him my way if you want.

 

[MrsKB]

I may fancy a change. Always had a soft spot for palaminos. Send him my way if you want.

Childhood dream to have a palomino! Lots of thinking to do, as my only horse I’m missing riding and continuing to pray he grows more!

 

[Snow Falcon]

I showed my friend's 2 palaminos many years ago. Oh the joy of blue bags on wash day!!

I nearly bought NF foal a couple of years ago. Had to stop myself!

 

[MrsKB]

I showed my friend's 2 palaminos many years ago. Oh the joy of blue bags on wash day!!

I nearly bought NF foal a couple of years ago. Had to stop myself!

he’s a proper hippo!! Next time I want a bay or a chestnut, less washing!

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

My youngster has gotten a heck of a load broader and deeper and a good few inches taller and is in a 6ft6 rug now where as he was much weedier and in a bigger branded 6ft rug at 4. He’s still bum high and he’s going to be 6 in April, I’m expecting him not to really stop until this time next year. He’s 15.2hh at the front just now and higher behind.