String Test

[Annagain]

I bumped into a friend out hacking last weekend who hasn't seen Charlie since he arrived - she couldn't believe how much he'd "grown", although I think he's just filled out so looks bigger. He was supposed to be 16.1 when I bought him and I didn't measure him but I've always suspected he was taller so I won't know if he's grown but I am curious as to whether he's stopped growing so this weekend I'm going to:
a. bite the bullet and measure him; and
b. do the string test on him, just to see if he's done growing. (I hope he is, he's plenty big enough!)

I'm going to do both string tests to see if they match but I have a few questions:
When you flip up from the ergot, do you flip straight up or do you wrap the string around their barrel and then see how far the other side of the wither it reaches?
When you measure knee to foot is it to the top of the hoof or the bottom and again, do you go for a straight line or follow the line of the leg - so go down to fetlock and then along pastern?

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

A) Middle of knee to coronet band in a straight line.
B) Elbow to ergot, flip up in a straight line.

These ate the methods I've been told..??
On my young horse the first is spot on his height now but the second says he has about an inch or so to go ??

 

[Annagain]

thanks

 

[Annagain]

Well I did it!

Measuring his height was a bit crude as we don’t have a stick so we used a whip across his wither and then a tape to measure down. That said 16.2. We did the same with my friend’s horse as a comparison as we know he’s 16.2 and it put him at 16.1 so I think we can add an inch and say Charlie’s 16.3.

The string test from knee to coronet put him bang on 17hh. The least said about the elbow to ergot the better, that suggested about another 6” to go. 17hh seems about right to me if he’s 16.3 at 6.

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

Sounds about right...he's a big chap lol. Don't measure him again though, you'll just scare yourself ???

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Well I did it!

Measuring his height was a bit crude as we don’t have a stick so we used a whip across his wither and then a tape to measure down. That said 16.2. We did the same with my friend’s horse as a comparison as we know he’s 16.2 and it put him at 16.1 so I think we can add an inch and say Charlie’s 16.3.

The string test from knee to coronet put him bang on 17hh. The least said about the elbow to ergot the better, that suggested about another 6” to go. 17hh seems about right to me if he’s 16.3 at 6.

If he gets too big for your liking, send him my way....?

 

[Annagain]

If he gets too big for your liking, send him my way....?

Luckily, I like them quite big, although I think I draw the line at 18hh!