Youngsters - when will they stop growing?

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Shilasdair

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Hi all
I have a Shire x TB who will be four in late summer...she's 16.3hh approx at the wither, but very croup high.
I also have a three quarter TB, quarter Bavarian who has just turned three. At a guess she's somewhere around 15.2hh at the wither, but also croup high.
All their rugs are shrinking...I'm bankrupt buying new ones....I'm 5'10" but can't see the top of the Shire x TB's ass to groom it...
Please tell me if they'll ever stop growing....
S
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Nope - sounds like you've got some 19hh horses in the making there
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Better start saving for rugs and feed
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(joking, I don't have a clue! but sounds like they're gonna keep growing a bit!)
 
On the brightside at least they won't be croup high if they keep growing
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Hopefully the TB side will kick in as these tend to mature faster than Shires and Bavarians. I agree that they will probably feel like they are getting bigger for ages as they start to fill out and muscle up.

P.S. If you think going through rugs is bad, just wait until they start doing the same with saddles!
 
Wider?!
Growing til age 8?!

The Shire x TB can't possibly get any wider - she's already in a 6'9" rug....and weighs about 700kg....she does look like she may grow a couple of more inches though....

The 3yo isn't needing to get any wider either - she's built like a barrel (not fat, just broad). I thought she would stay a 2ft 3" rug size forever.....what went wrong?
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I have a 3yr old 3/4 warmblood who has the same problem, she's 16.2hh now. Dentist reckons she'll hit 17hh. It's not so much the endless rugs I have a problem with as I now just buy cheap or second hand ones (knowing full well she'll grow out of them), it's the endless amount of feed! On the verge of needing my own feed mill.... They've got to stop sometime though.
 
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I have a 3yr old 3/4 warmblood who has the same problem, she's 16.2hh now. Dentist reckons she'll hit 17hh. It's not so much the endless rugs I have a problem with as I now just buy cheap or second hand ones (knowing full well she'll grow out of them), it's the endless amount of feed! On the verge of needing my own feed mill.... They've got to stop sometime though.

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I don't really feed mine much in the way of concs, only a couple of handfuls of pasture mix, and a bit of Speedibeet (to stop them eating my old mare's feed).
I do give them hay/haylage though....and vit/mins.
Maybe if we hot wash them....like woollens...they'll shrink?
S
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*shakes head sadly*

They never stop. Never, ever, ever.....

ever....

The 8 year old cob has, in the last year, decided that growing an even wider chest and more shoulder muscle is the way forward.

Last year's foal is croup high and only a few inches short of her mum (who grew til she was 8 too, finishing at 16.2 and a bit) and will probably be at least 17hh

(The only one with any sense is the arab. But he is 33....
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ETA: If hot washing doesn't work how about Bonsai-ing them. Regular pruning of ears & legs??
 
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You tell me .

Missy is going on 16.2hh and 2 years old , shes also a 3/4 tb .

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Have you tried any stunting methods?
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S
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PS Don't tell the RSPCA I said that, will you?
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Stunting method -you could always put them in foal in the hope the energy eill go to baby rather than growing. That way you can just keep the pretty small ones and sell the rest
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Stunting method -you could always put them in foal in the hope the energy eill go to baby rather than growing. That way you can just keep the pretty small ones and sell the rest
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I like your plan. I tried colic surgery on one of mine but contrary to opinion, she didn't lose any weight at all and has been eating and growing constantly since.
I should have sold them once they outgrew the 3ft rugs....
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Never mind, Colleen_M_T - according to Three we only have to wait til they're 33 before they stop this expensive growing business.
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Ah well thats not too bad then
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by that stage someone else can have them .

We have bought 4 different rugs, 2 different bridles and 4 head collars , " im going to stop growing ......... and no Im not.... stop growing ..... nope Im not " They seriously like to take the p
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Well I've been through endless turnouts - starting with a 2'3" rug, right the way up to my Shire's current 6'9 - 7'0" rugs....I have given some away, sold some...it's costing me a fortune.
Nobody told me that foals would GROW!
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Shilasdair - you do occasionally let yours out in daylight I assume?

It's just that maybe they're behaving like plants in the dark - you know, getting tall and spindly and etiolating?

You may end up with 20hh greys!
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I was going to suggest the in-foal method, but then what would you be breeding for? They sound like lovely big beasties!! I really miss my ShirexTB, it will be 2 years next month since he was PTS. He was an absolute STAR of a horse! It's a fantastic cross, infact I like anything with a bit of Shire in it tbh. If I could have found a ShirexTB stallion of suitable quality, I would have considered him for my mare when I bred the 2yo....
 
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I thought about the putting in foal method but vet thinks that I'll only stop her growing whilst she's in foal and once she's had it will continue to grow....

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Was only joking with this one
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but actually that's just what one of ours has done. As soon as baby was weaned she went croup high again!
 
Three - mine live out....so do see daylight...although one is grey...I had foolishly attributed that to colour genes
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Titchyfarter - I'd be breeding something small enough to fit all the rugs I have left, obviously
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If you're anywhere near Glos, you're welcome to come and see Shire x TB... you can't really miss her
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Pinktiger - I feel your pain
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. I was hoping it is only the ignorant people answering this thread, not the knowledgeable ones who are hiding somewhere with their growth-stunting expertise.
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S
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On Wednesday I helped one of my daughter's trainers turn her horses out. I was leading this very sweet but a bit daffy 16hh coloured filly I thought of you - this "baby" has only just had it's second birthday!
 
Stinky my gypsy cob will be 4 in July and has gone bum up again - he is now just over 15 hands and vet reckons another inch or possibly two to go. Some people have known then not to finish growing until 6 and then still continue to fill out until 8.

I bought Fleur - TB x Hann at 5 1/2 she was just under 16 hands and very TB looking - at 7 she was a very full up 16.3 and really fillled out - a lot larger than I was expecting.
 
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