Ugly Duckling Phases

[winchester]

Ok so im still new to breeding so please bear with me if it comes across wrong!

My Foal was beautiful when he was born and through the early stages of his growth but now at 6 months of age has become a very long, long legged with a nice size back end but a very skinny neck! Is this common that they go through this phase at 6 months old?

He is up to date with his worming and is now being fed stud balancer but just seems to have lost his excuse the showing term "lost his top line". Is this ok for him to be going through this phase or should i be worried that his feed intake/something is wrong?

Is it just because i am used to breeding ponies instead of horses - he has shot up in size!

 

[millitiger]

don't worry too much- some horses go VERY ugly indeed but come out the other side as swans!

here is a picture of mine at 5 months when i went to view him;

and this spring as a 3yro;

he is also a big boy (standing over 17hh already).

 

[winchester]

Oh wow thank you so much - yes thats just like how he looks now!! He looks a big foal how big was he when you got him?

 

[millitiger]

he was quite a big foal- around 14hh in that pic i would think when he was 5 months.

 

[oaklodgeshires]

I breed shires and i tend to find they do through the a ugly phases but they can tend to have a couple of them up to the age of two so dont worry to much just dont try to feed to much to compensate as the tend to go pot bellied and you will struggle to get rid of this hope this helps you just feed small amounts regular

 

[kerilli]

lots of them can go through very ugly duckling phases, don't panic! i bought a yearling who looked like a giraffe with an upside-down banana neck, but now has a lovely topline.

 

[CrazyMare]

Mine went through a hideous phase as a weanling!! Shes looking lovely again now at 18 months old

7 months

18 months

http://www.stephenhammondphotography.co.uk/?Action=VF&id=862322619&pcp=21&ppwd=fm9298rg

 

[Simsar]

Ours too have gone through a stage, that's why we are not brave enough to post pictures!! x

 

[winchester]

ha ha thanks all for the support!!!

Was planning to take him to a foal show in November but now he is going through the Ugly phase dont know whether to just leave him at home or take him for some experience!

Decisions decisions...

 

[volatis]

One of my fillies was fautless as a foal (well near as damn it) was highest scoring in her section at the Futurity that year, and as a yearling went through the big head, no neck, weedy phase. Now she is 2 everythign is back int he right place and she is beautiful once again!

 

[Worried1]

Ron was stunning as a foal but as a yearling (March time) he was hideous. By the time Kent came round in the july he was looking much better but is now well and truly rough looking again - my heart sinks when I look at him
As a foal

Shortly before weaning

The moment I thought OMG what did we buy?!?!?!?!

At Kent looking a bit more like a horse!

I am sure he will be lovely again but I too am in the ugly duckling phase and looking forward to the end!

 

[winchester]

Oh wow Fab thank you for all the pictures feel a little sigh of relief...

 

[Colleen_Miss_Tom]

And now at 3 and a half .....

All go through that phase

Nothing to worry about

Col x

 

[Miramis]

Wow i never would have believed how much some of your youngsters have changed! Definately some beautiful swans by the later pics!

Ang x

 

[Resupgirl]

I have a mare I have owned since a foal I don't know how to post pics but she is now 17hh + and was the ugliest youngster who is now stunning. I used to show her to get her used to going out and we were always at the end of the line!

It was a shame as in the true sense of the breed she is a sports horse (holsteiner) and is now proving her worth. On the contrary my TB mare who is a sports horse too was placed everytime out because she was more mature.

Will be interesting to see how my TB mares foal gets on being ID x TB!