Should I be worried that my yearling isn't growing much?

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Rocky01

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I have a yearling colt who is supposed to grow to 16.1hh (hanoverian) but he seems over the last couple of months to have all but stopped growing (1/2" in 2 months from 14.2 to 14.2 1/2") and I'm getting a bit worried that he's not getting enough minerals to grow, though he is getting 11/2 scoops of youngstock mix, 1 chaff and 4 slices of haylage a day and he lives out 24/7 with a rug, he hasn't lost or gained weight though he has filled out and he has lots of energy and runs around constantly playing etc and he seems incredibly happy. He now has a Horselyx that he has eaten half of in 11/2 weeks after before chewing everything he could get he teeth on. So am I worrying for no reason?
 
i wouldnt worry to much most youngster's slow down there growing this time of year, when spring comes he will start shooting up with the rich grass, be careful on feeding him up to much on hard feed as this could cause more harm then good with his joints..
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Madequine (great name) is right - youngsters don't grow steadily...they grow in bursts when they suddenly look ganglier...and thinner...then they spend a bit of time fattening out...then up they go again.
One of mine is 1 year older than yours...she was probably about 14.2 at his age...and is now 15.3hh.
She's supposed to be 16hh and won't be three until the spring...
Don't worry!
S
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Thanks, that makes me feel a lot happier. I was worried just because the field mates that he was with have all grown more than him. Just to clarify, I'm not feeding those quantities for growth but to add the correct vits and minerals for him to grow more, I cut the chaff back if he starts to grow too quickly or gets even slightly overweight. Thanks again
 
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Thanks, that makes me feel a lot happier. I was worried just because the field mates that he was with have all grown more than him. Just to clarify, I'm not feeding those quantities for growth but to add the correct vits and minerals for him to grow more, I cut the chaff back if he starts to grow too quickly or gets even slightly overweight. Thanks again

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I fed my girls about 1/2 scoop of youngstock mix, some graze on (dried grass) and Speedibeet in very small amounts....I also fed hay and haylage
You mention that yours isn't growing at the same rate as the field mates...but I have two (the other is 9months older), kept in exactly the same regime, fed the same...but they grew at different times.
To me, it sounds as if you are managing your boy beautifully...especially giving him all that time out to play and grow stronger.
S
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PS Can I have him?
 
I have worried about mine, so you are not alone. Makes it worse when you see photo's of these huge looking foals, then you look back at your own & start wondering. I am sure he will catch up in his own time.
 
My yearling has grown steadily and not reached any time where she looks gawky - but she is on a spurt again now that she's on box rest. We've increased her hay and cut back her hard feed whilst she's in, so goodness knows why she has chosen this time to grow!
 
I worried when mt now 3 yr old was a yearling as she just seemed to stop growingg but when the spring grass came she just shot up and is now nearly 17'2" and at the yearling stage she was about 14'2" so dont worry.
My yearling at the mo is living out with no added extras yet and is as fat as the proverbial pig and is growing in fits and starts. dont wish for them to grow too much coz when they do you will so want the cuddly little bundle back
 
You don't want your yearling to grow too fast, that's when you start to get joint problems. as long as he is getting the recommended amount of vits/minerals, he will be fine. There is no guarantee when you breed that the offspring will grow to its' expected height, it is always a gamble.

My 4yr old ID has grown to over 17.2 and she won't be fully mature until she is 6ish and she was a first filly out of a 16.1 mare!! Because of her size, she has had locking patellas but fortunately this is correcting itself now that she is muscling up naturally. That is without pumping her full of extra hard feed as she was growing.

Do not try to rush nature, it will take its' own course and you will probably find that in the Spring, he will have another growth spurt. Don't worry and good luck, bringing on youngsters can be very frustrating but extremely rewarding.
 
god these posts have helped me alot , my shirex tb x cob,is 20 mths old and 14.2, im sooo worrid she wont make the height 4 me, shes meant 2 make 16h plus, my vet thinks shel make 15.2, god i hope he is wrong, shes just on hay and out 24,7, but shes quite a fatso, wat do u think guys????
 
Thanks everyone so far. Just to clarify I'm not feeding the 11/2 youngstock mix to make him grow faster but to give him the appropriate vits and minerals and also give him enough energy to stay warm. He seems to be taking his own time about growing and I'm pleased with that I was just worried that I wasn't giving him enough vits and minerals in case he wanted to grow more but couldn't. Seemingly he's just a slow grower. I reckon he will make 16/16.1hh because his mum was 15 something and his dad was 16.3/17hh and until recently he was at about the same growth stage as the other colts who were due to make 16.1hh when the same age as the others.
Bessy, I'm glad these posts are helping you too. I would buy a supplement for your filly, not a mix but a youngstock supplement to provide enough vits and minerals without adding any energy. She may well make 16 + when she's fully grown, you can never tell, wait until she's two in the spring and then see how tall she's getting.
Thanks everyone again, and keep them coming.
 
Oh dear I have the opposite problem. My yearling has grown a fair bit in the last few months he now stands about 15.2hh and his back end is even higher. He is only supposed to make 16.hh!
 
The other colts who were with Rocky are around 15.1/15.2 and they are also supposed to only reach 16.1hh so who knows, I think some horses grow more when they are younger and others grow more slowly regardless of feed.
 
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