when your youngster didn't grow big enough..

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Welshie Squisher

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What did you do?

And at what age did you realise they weren't going to be big enough.

I have an odd Welsh cob filly.

At 17 months she measured in at 13.3hh, predicted to make 14.2hh to 14.3hh.
All seemed well.

Well she's now 2 and 3\4 years and she really hasn't grow at all since 17 months, she isn't even chunkier.

What I see is a kids or light weight adults pony, she hasn't got a mass of bone, and there's not much chunky about her.

I'm only short at 5'2" but I'm also 12 1\2 stone meaning we'd probably top 13 1\2 stone with tack.

I'd not be worried if she was growing but she's not, no sign of it either :(

I do need to lose weight for many reasons and if I was to lose 3 stone and be the weight I should be I'd not even be writing this.
Can I realistically be a weight I've not been in 20 years for a horse, and maintain it?
Hell I can't even get started :(

I've had her since 9 months, she was to be my forever horse, and I'd be loathed to sell but I can imagine never being able to ride her :(

I'm really quite fed up about the whole thing.
 
Maybe she'll just mature late? My filly is 5 and looks nowhere near fully cooked, she looks like a 3yo and has alot of filling out to do. Just give her time :)
 
Mine was going to make 15.1 (ALL his siblings, his parents, his grandparents, his relatives on the Ark, were all 15.1 and more). He barely scraped 14.2 :eek: I think I finally gave up on him growing when he was about 20 :D

A 13.3 Welsh will prob ride big if that is any help :) and I wouldn't give up on her yet, she is only 17 months! I would think you could dispose of 2 stone somewhere else and keep it off :) You have at least a year or more before you will be vaulting on her. Any chance of a photo? The horse that is :p not you! :)

I competed a 13.3 for most of my adult life (at 5ft 4ins, 9 -10 stone) and in fact he was my ride of choice over much bigger horses. Sometimes the fences did look awfully big from down there but we just went for it.
 
Oh RebelRebel she's not 17 months now, she's nearly 3 :( and she's not chunky at all, she's narrow and the weigh tape says 350kg, now going by the 20% rule, my ass is way too big :(

I do have pics but am on a phone, no idea how to do that from a blackberry??

She's the bay in my signature, not a lot to go on I know :)
 
I have a 2yo and 3yo full brother and sister. I was hoping they would make 12hh, but the 3yo doesn't seem to have progressed beyond 11hh for a while now and her brother is a hand smaller. If they don't get quite big enough they will probably be broken to drive instead of ride. Unfortunately they are not the same colour, they would have made a great driving pair of they were.
 
Please don't write her off yet!

Welshies can be VERY late to mature and at any rate she's not even 3 yet!

My CB boy was quite weedy right up until he turned 4 and he was only 4 in october so I expect him to chunk out significantly more. That said he has grown from 15.2hh at 16 months old to 17hh now but there is no way he has stopped! lol!

Welshies are weight carriers and I think your estimated height is still achieveable in the next 3-4 years... I probably wouldnt look at backing til 4 though rather than 3.
 
This is an interesting topic because it is one of the reasons I have steered clear of buying a young horse. I would be heartbroken if it did not get big enough for me.
 
I was convinced my appy wasnt going to make more than 14.2hh, i was told he'd likely mature to 15.2hh. I wrote adverts and was so sad as he was a birthday present for my 18th. Im 5'3" and would've looked silly on a 14.2hh.
Though, he's now 15.1hh and bumhigh, and im told appy's dont stop growing til theyre about 6. So dont give up hope yet, she might just surprise you!
 
Sorry WS, it would help if I could read properly :o

She is rather lovely, she may put a bit of a spurt on and just scrape over 14 hands. Personally if she is a great girl and looks like she has the temperament and attitude to do what you want her to do then I would hang on.

I did not feel underhorsed at all on the 13.3 because he had such a huge front, big neck and big big attitude.

I do know what you mean though, I did worry about the 13.3 weightwise thinking I was on his top weight, but I still have him in very old age and he is suffering absolutely no ill effects from lugging me about.
 
I wouldnt right her off honestly. I would give her at least another year or 18 months. They really do chunk up and out!

e.g. my 13.3hh traddy cob at 3 years old grew 2 inches in 6 months at the wither (14.1) and was bum high at 14.3hh. Not sure what he is now as I sold him. But he really did chunk up in those 6 months.

another e.g. my 15.1hh 5year old shrunk 2.5 inches when I took his shoes off! Not so helpful....but kinda funny. Has since grown another inch and remains 14.3 and a half at 6.
 
Is it a UK myth or a UK fact that ponies/small horses can't carry adult weights (eg 12-14 stone?)

If it's a fact, then UK ponies/horses must be weaker stock than foreign breeds.

eg Mongolian horses tend to be 12.2-14.3hh and their job is to carry Mongolian herdsmen (Mongolians are often tall, 6' is common) all day long. Also US Quarter horses, 14.3-15.2hh carrying tall and/or heavy Western riders with heavy Western tack. What about Icelandics at 12hh?

If it's a myth, then UK small horses/ponies must be as strong at Mongolian ponies or US quarter horses, so should well be able to carry 12-stone plus.

Weren't Highland ponies bred to carry dead stags all day and Exmoor ponies to carry farmers out hunting all day, both on boggy uneven ground?

At 6'1" I'm often asked why I ride a 16.1 when I could ride something taller and "much more suited to your height". I have no wish to be 17.3hh off the ground when I fall. 16.1 does nicely thank you very much, 15.2 would do just as well too.

Also, the UK setup of ponies and pony classes up to 14.2hh for children, and adults ride 14.3hh plus but bigger horses equals bigger strides, faster speed, etc, so that setup reinforces the adults-should-ride-tall-neds hypothesis.

The UK family horse tends to be 15-15.2hh, otherwise Dad can't ride it.

In Europe, the family horse is more likely 14.2hh (eg Fjord, Hanoverian).
 
That is a really interesting point Suechoccy.

I am very intersted in this topic at the min, as I plan to get another steed ;) in about 12months. I previouly owned a 14.3hh (15hh on tip toes!) connie as a teen as about 9stone and 5'3-5'5.

As an adult I loaned a chunky 14.2hh cob at 9.5stone....

Two children later I am 10.5stone.... and haven't grown upwards...

I would love another ponny/small horse but I worry that I would be too heavy now. :(

It's nice to think maybe I'm not!
 
But they do grow in fits and starts, they don't all tend to grow much between the ages you have given.

If she's say 2.5 years old now for example (give or take a month) and she's standing at 13.3 she should grow to 14.2 without a doubt, the fact that's she's still gangly would suggest that she's going to do some more growing.

How big was her sire and dam?

Obviously all breeds vary but for exmaple two youngsters I've had (all be it different breeds) but they have all grown a lot between 2.5 to 4, for example an 18month old from 11.3 to 14.1 at 5 and a 2 nearly 3yr old from 15h to 16.1at 5.

So I wouldn't worry just yet! :)
 
I'm hoping my NF filly will make 13.2hh, she is currently rising 2 and about 12.1. It may be touch and go if we get there! However, I am not worried. If she won't make it, then I do have a rider to get to started and from then on my plan was to loan her to a PC family. If she does make it, then I will just hack her and get her to see things and then loan her. I'm 10.5st, 5'4''. I love riding the smaller ones if they are the type and sort to take me.
My riding mare was by a 16.2 TB out of a chunky good 15.1 welsh D. When she was born she was like a little dog and it was clear then she wouldn't get to her estimated size of '15.2hh'. She is now rising 16 :eek::eek: and would be 15hh and her highest high heels, but I LOVE her, and am so glad she is what she is!!

I'm 99% sure OP that your filly WILL grow and fill out. Give her time. She sounds lovely.
 
TelH said:
Ummm...why? :confused: :o I'm 5ft4 and my New Forest is only 13.2hh :o I often see people my height showing ponies :o
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Might as well jump on the same band wagon too..... :D

I'm 5'6 and used to ride (as ridden showing classes) a 14.1 and I didn't look massive nor was I too heavy.
 
Kenzo said:
Might as well jump on the same band wagon too..... :D

I'm 5'6 and used to ride (as ridden showing classes) a 14.1 and I didn't look massive nor was I too heavy.
Click to expand...

Can I join you? Both mine are 15hh and I regularly ride a lot smaller! Who wants to look like a pea on a drum? :D
 
Kenzo said:
Might as well jump on the same band wagon too..... :D
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Will jump on it too, DH is 6ft2" and has been placed showing and won dressage classes on a 15.1hh, no negative comments about his height or weight.

He has ridden ponies, but only for a bareback potter to the fields.

I'm 5ft8" and neither look nor feel too big on a 14.2hh. I have a 15.3hh that I share with the husband, she is plenty big enough for me, and while he looks a bit big on her he does on anything that isn't 17hh and built like a house. She carries him fine and he is comfy though.
 
Don't give up hope just yet.

And for those of you who are shorter saying that 14.2hh is too small :eek::eek:
I have ridden a 14.2hh most of my life to date and just bought a 14.1hh whom I am expecting to make about 14.3hh, i am 5'6
 
im hoping my boy reachs at least 15hh hes 3\4 cob x1\4 tb he is 9 months old bum hight around 14hh withers 13.2 ish i have heard cobs take longer to grow not sure if this is true
 
I bought a 2 year old newfie cross a couple of years ago out of pity tbh as he was such an ugly runt! He hasn't grown a lot taller but now at 4 is a chunky monkey and I will ride him this year, I'm 5'7"
 
I wouldnt worry to much about height yet, give time to fill out, once they fill out it makes all the difference.

I'm 5"2 and my boys 14.2hh, i ride a 13.2hh welshie and she's more full of energy when I ride than her lighter riders. Also ride a 14.1hh 4year old whos very narrow and needs filling out. I also ride bigger horses and feels no different than the smaller.
 
Ditto others, welsh are really slow maturers. I bought Row (who is half welsh) at 2 1/2 years old and he was approx 14.1hh. Now at 4 1/2 he is nearing 15.1hh and has just gone a little croup high again. I expect him to make around 15.2hh.

And I am 5ft6 and my tb is only just 15hh on tippytoes and I look fine on her.
 
Thanks for all the replies, hearing how others have grown significantly from 3 has given me hope :D

Well I really hope she grow upwards and outwards and I shrink by a good couple if stones, I think that will be the hardest part :(
 
Welshie Squisher said:
What did you do?



I do need to lose weight for many reasons and if I was to lose 3 stone and be the weight I should be I'd not even be writing this.
Can I realistically be a weight I've not been in 20 years for a horse, and maintain it?
Hell I can't even get started :(

.
Click to expand...

If you want to lose weight you can. I lost almost 2 stone from nearly 13 stone to maintain at around 11. My 14 h NF baby can carry me happily. It took me 2 yrs to loose the weight & I've kept it off for 3yrs. I don't see it going back on any time soon. I went to Slimming World there was no other way for me & though I am at 'target' I go back at least once/fortnight. It is possible, I only wish I'd gone 15 years ago. Good luck if you decide to tackle it.
 
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