I've browsed the forum but have only just joined now. There's a lot of helpful insight but I figured I would post about my own horse and read your opinions.
She's a Shire x Paint and only just turned 3 years old on August 20th. I've had her since she was 8 months old. When she initially came to me, she was only about 12.3 hands.
Now, her butt is just under 16 hands while her withers are at 15-15.1. Her sire is a 16.3 Shire and her dam is a 15.2-15.3 Paint. My horse's full brother was 16 hands at 2 years old. I've done the two different string tests and both came out to 16.3. I'm not sure if that would be accurate though considering her height right now at 3 years old. Even the breeder was sort of surprised as to how short she is at this age (I like tall horses since I'm 5'7").
I'm just curious as to what anyone thinks would be a good approximation of her full height one day (I know drafts and draft crosses can grow until they're 7-8 years old).
Nobody can really tell you. Remember, tall is dominant most usually, over short. She could mature at the height of her sire or somewhere in between the height of sire and dam. Actually, for a cross I don't agree with the breeder at all. I am surprised she is as tall as she is for her age. I am also your height and have ridden many drafts at well under 15hh. Don't feel the need for a hugely tall horse for my height at all.
Most usually, drafts finish grow into their height at about 4-5 and then fill out for another couple of years. I wouldn't worry about her height at all. Just hope that the sire and dam complimented each other and produced a nice conformed offspring.
Never heard of a Draft or any horse, growing until they were 7-8 years old.
First off, howdy and welcome to the forum. I'm sure I'm not the only one that would love to see some pictures of your beautiful girl.
In my limited experience with draft crosses (2 that are not full grown yet; 2 and 3 years old), you can never really tell. My older draft is a BelgianxQH and he is significantly bigger. He stands about 16.1 right now. His momma is about 17.1-17.2 and his daddy was just around 14 hands. He hasn't grown much in the last few months so I am beginning to wonder if maybe he's about finished. The string test put him right at 16.3.
On the other hand, my 2 year old (technically, he was 2 in the first part of June) is only standing 15.1 (or was the last time I measured him). His momma was a paint that stood around 15 hands and his daddy is an 18 hand percheron. The string test puts him at around 16.1 but he is growing much slower than my older one did. Rafe (the older) shot up very quickly and was hovering around 15.3 by the time he was 2 and hasn't really grown much taller since then.
Well, I've done the two different string tests and both came out to 16.3. Do either of you know how accurate those tests are?
I don't feel a need, necessarily, for a tall horse. I just prefer them. The lowest height that I personally like is 15.3 which is how tall my older horse is. I just try to avoid looking awkward on small horses in addition to the fact that I just like 15.3+ hand horses. I like their longer strides and all.
I feel like my horse will reach past 16 hands at least, but I wasn't sure because she really hasn't grown in height for about 5-6 months or so. She's been thickening though.
So, from both of your experiences, do you think that each horse just grows differently based on breeds they're crossed with and gender? Like I said, I'm just curious. I'm nosey and want to know if I'm going to need a parachute when I ride her one day. Oh and here's just a couple pictures of her
The second picture is of her standing next to my 15.3 QH gelding.
Breeding and genetics do have a part to play regarding the final height of a horse. From what you are saying she may certainly grow to around the 16hh, especially if her bum is already measuring that. I still get confused with the terminology for draft horses but I am getting my head around it. In my country we call cross breed horses cobs and heavy cobs and she looks like a heavy cob type to me. (Draft horse tends to be used to describe heavies like Shires) Heavy cobs tend to stop growing at around 5 +/- whereas true 'Heavy Horses' mature very slowly and don't stop growing until 6 or 7. By the age of 4, in heavy cobs their growth rate slows right down and they do start to fill out beautifully. My guess (and it is only a guess) is that she will end up at around 16.1 hh or 16.3hh which is a pretty good size for a cob type of horse. As for parachuting, you'll be fine. My Clydesdale is 18.1 hh and I am 5 ft 3"...and I have to abseil down his side when I get off him LOL. I think your horse is a very, very pretty looking mare. Are you goning to breed from her? I think her foals will be stunning. She really is a beauty and you can see she is very well cared for and very much loved (am I allowed to say that or is it too sentimental?)
Realistically draft and draft crosses can grow REALLY slowly. I have a 15hh friesian arab cross that shot up in her sixth year unexpectedly. But realistically the breeder told me that she can keep growing until she's 7. So be patient. I think you have a ways to go and your horse is going to be on the larger side.
I did both string tests on my geldings right after I got them home. They were long yearlings. Smell string tested at 16hh and his half brother Stink at 16.1. 3 yrs later the one that should be 16hh is 16.2 and the one that should be tallest is only 15.3. String tests are fun but only time will tell.
That is impossible to guess-more so with draft crosses. I've owned a lot of draft crosses in my day, and some of them have ended up at heights that were way off what I was guessing they would be. One in particular I was sure would end up at about 16'2 is now over 17hh and is coming on 3 and is far from being done growing.
Some might turn out smaller or a more "average" height but grow in thickness, as in weight not so much height. Really there is no way to really know.
I've got a two-year-old Percheron cross. It really is a waiting game to see how they're going to develop! I bought him at 8 months and he was 14.1 at the withers and 15 hands in the hind when I got him last April.
Now a month after his 2nd birthday he is approximately 16.2 hands. His dad was a 17 hand Oldenburg and mom a 17+ hand Percheron.
I have heard from others with draft crosses that they've seen varying rates of growth. Some seem to stretch up at the last minute, others like my guy keep on a steady march upward.
Also, I believe geldings tend to grow taller, faster than stallions/mares? I do not know if this is true.
I wouldn't be surprised if your girl finished off over 16 hands.
I've got a two-year-old Percheron cross. It really is a waiting game to see how they're going to develop! I bought him at 8 months and he was 14.1 at the withers and 15 hands in the hind when I got him last April.
Now a month after his 2nd birthday he is approximately 16.2 hands. His dad was a 17 hand Oldenburg and mom a 17+ hand Percheron.
I have heard from others with draft crosses that they've seen varying rates of growth. Some seem to stretch up at the last minute, others like my guy keep on a steady march upward.
Also, I believe geldings tend to grow taller, faster than stallions/mares? I do not know if this is true.
I wouldn't be surprised if your girl finished off over 16 hands.
I have read that gelding allows their growth plates to stay open longer. It seems that the testosterone is what helps in the closing of the plates and removing that creates a situation where the plates stay open longer thus allowing more growth.
Heavy horses don't stop growing until they are 6 or 7. Sounds like yours may get to around 16.1 hh to 16.3 hh. Hard to tell. I got my Clydesdale as a 4 year old and he was 17.1. Here we are in 2012, he's almost 6 and he is 18.1HH. Can't see him getting much bigger. His sire was 17.3 hh Clydesdale and his mum was 16.3 hh.
Now I have a Clyde colt (yearling) who was 15.3 at 15 months. 3 months down the line and his bum is 16. 2hh and his withers are 16.1 hh. He still looks like a wee bairn though.
I'm so sorry, somehow I completely lost track of this thread! I guess because I didn't know how to use this site or anything haha.
Thanks so much, everyone!
I just measured her again the other day in hopes that she grew, but no. I don't know what changed but her withers are 15.1 1/2 and her butt measured at 15.2 1/2. I think when I measured initially, it was slightly uneven ground? I don't know... Some people talk about their draft crosses being 3 years old and already around 16+ hands in addition to my horse's full brother being 16h when he was only 2 (now he's 4 and 16.2+ hands). I'm hoping she'll grow some more eventually, but she's been about the same height for over a year. She's gotten a little thicker, but that's all :/
So do mares grow slower than geldings/stallions? I'm so antsy and excited to see what height she will eventually grow to. For a while she was growing like a weed but then stopped around August of 2011. I keep a little book that tracks her progress and stuff
Good lord, Bluebird, 18.1 hands?!?! I'd be afraid of dismounting hahaha
Unfortunately, I don't think I would ever breed her. She has such an amazing temperament and she is beautiful, but she has some conformational faults She's a bit cow-hocked in the back and back at the knee in the front. Fortunately, I just changed farriers so Callie's legs are starting to straighten out so we'll see.
It depends on what her parentage is regarding her draft breed heritage. Cow Hocks on a Clydesdale are a breed standard not a fault so if she has some Clydie in her, its not a fault. Don't be too critical about her. Mares tend to be smaller than the boys and as long as she is healthy and you love her, does it really matter what height she is going to be? As for the 18.1 hh, that is for my pure bred Clydesdale. My 'baby' Clyde aged 18months is now 16.3hh and may make 17.3. Both boys have beautiful cow hocks! LOL
Well, her sire is a Shire. The only issue I have with the cowhocks is the fact that I'm hoping she will be a jumper when she is of age. I don't think cowhocks would be good for jumping, but maybe she won't be bad off since she isn't HORRIBLY cowhocked.
Eh, I just like tall horses haha. I've ridden a 15.3h QH for 13 years (my old man, Blaze) but rode a 16.3h Holsteiner at school. I just fell in love with the longer strides because Blaze has short, quick strides. Of course, I love Callie no matter what. I just hope she hits 16 hands haha. I'm also just so anxious :P It's been awesome watching her grow up and I wish I could look into the future to see how tall and elegant she will look. Right now when I ride her (mostly just walking and a 5+min trot to build a little muscle and get her used to having someone on her), I still look big on her and she's measuring at 15.1-ish. Of course though, she's still a baby.
I guess I'm also still in high hopes of her growing a smidge more (at least in the withers) and having a better conformation (which is improving with the new farrier) because there is doubt at the barn. A couple people are like 'she'll probably be built down hill... she won't be a good jumper... you won't be able to do what you want with her... etc.' so I just want them proven wrong
Just a heads up. Depending on how much 'heavy horse' she has in her, she will not necesdsarily make a good jumping horse. If she is taking on a heavier frame from her Sire (Shire) with the majority of her weight across shoulders and front legs (think pulling), I would advise against jumping her competitively as you could do some damage to her in the longer term. However, if she takes more after her mothers side and is more of a 'cob' type which tends to make a good all rounder, then go for it. We tend not to back/break pedigree heavies until they are at least 3 years old. We wait until they are around 6years to start them on pulling.
Yup! I'm always keeping her body type in mind. I wouldn't be jumping huge obstacles with her though. Plus, I'm not even introducing her to jumping until much farther down the road she she can grow and mature more.
Since she is still growing, she'll thicken then even out, thicken then even out again. Here is a more recent picture of her with a saddle on though. I wish I could post a video on here but I don't know how.
Pardon her leg conformation. Her last farrier screwed her a bit so she is in the process of improvement now that I've switched to a better one :P
She is lovely. She is what we call in the UK a 'cob type' in her body. She looks more like she will take after her mum than her dad in that way. But, take note, her head is huge in comparison to her body which means a bit of weight for her to carry at the front end at the moment. She will even out though and be a very pretty looking horse. this is good news for you because it means she is going to be a good all rounder. Leave jumping for a little further down the road though until her hooves improve and her body matures. She may make around 16hh looking at her. Never will be a top show jumper with her conformation but I can guarantee you are going to have a lot of fun with her. Don't overdo it while she is still so young as she still has some growing to do but enjoy her. I think she is absolutely gorgeous!
Yup! I'm trying to take it slow. I'm in no rush since I will have her for her entire life but I'm still anxious/excited about it haha. She's typically described as having a "baby doll head" so maybe it's the angle of the pictures? Or she's hit an awkward stage haha. Fortunately she doesn't have the mammoth sized draft head like a couple of her siblings did (beard and all, but they were still adorable). As for showing, she would just do the local shows when she is of age. I'm considering putting her in one or two classes in a show next summer just doing walk-trot.
Thank you! She definitely knows she's pretty. SHe's the flirt at the barn haha
Those string test don't work much on drafts! At least the ones around here!
Not sure about crosses but the purebreds can grow until they are seven. Mine had his last growth spurt the summer after he turned seven and I was like come on!! You have got to stop! He finally did. LOL!
My full Percheron had a last growth spurt when he turned 7. It was pretty crazy. He finally topped out at 18 hands. Those string test never worked on him though.
And his full brother stayed at 16 hands which we thought was weird.
I've done three different string tests on Aires and gotten anywhere from 16.3-17.1hh. He will be 4 in May and is a percheron/paint cross. His paint sire was 15.1hh (Aires was taller than him at 2). His Percheron dam was right around 17hh. Aires is about 16.1hh right now. Posted via Mobile Device
You need patience with a Heavy Horse. They finish growing when THEY decide usually at around 6 or 7 +/- You genuinely can't tell how big they will grow. My Clydesdale is 5 and he is already 18.1.hh I recoiled in horror at Solon teling us his Heavy put on another growth spurt at 7 (EEEEEEK). My baby Clydesdale is 18 months and 16.1 hh at the withers and 16.3 hh at the bum. OMG....I already have to use step ladders to get on my 5 year old and have to abseil to get off. I'm 5 feet 4 inches tall. LOL Tell you what though, you could offer me a million pounds each for my boys and I wouldn't take a penny. They are part of me and I love them to the end of time!
I don't know... my cross is 15.3 and he's only 8 months old...
I keep telling myself that he's like I was; that he'll grow early and then stop growing. I was 6'2" when I was 12yrs old and have only grown 1" since. We'll see at time goes on I guess... :shock:
I know it's a long waiting game but I'm always so anxious and excited haha. It's been amazing watching her grow since she was 8 months old. It's just weird how she was growing like a weed for the longest time and now for the past year or so she has stopped.
I should try teaching her to stand square - that should make it easier to get a good measurement on her. She'll stand as she wants and I feel like it isn't totally accurate. My friend from a looong time ago taught his horse to stand square with just a jiggle of the lead rope. It was so cool haha.
There's that tiny part of me that's jealous when I hear about everyone's draft crosses being like 15.3 or so at 2+ years old and here callie is 3 and only 15.1-ish lol. I'm just super duper eager
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