[eventerwannabe]

So I finally got the chance to take Bear's blankets off and brush him today. He is doing really well on the beet pulp, corn oil, and cool cals. I am happy to say that he is going to be a fat pony by early spring! =] Anyways, so I thought it would be fun to measure him, as he seems to grow every month (He went from 17hh, to 17.1, to...), and guess how tall he is now? 17.2 HANDS! o.o I dont get it. I am measuring him on even ground, I am using a tape, but I use a solid, flat object to get the right height (lay it on his withers and having it touch the tape to show where his withers are, if that makes sense).

The only thing I can think of is that he has gotten a layer of fat over his withers and that we are raising him hoof angle. Do you think that those could make him go from 17hh 3 months ago to 17.2 now?

I dunno, but im not complaining!

 

[upnover]

Are you putting the tape on the same part of his withers?

Is his head up any higher then when you first measured him? or is he less tired?

I know several trainers who lunge the tar out of their border line ponies before they get measured for their permanent cards so they're tired and measure a little lower.

 

[eventerwannabe]

Yes, I was taping at the exact same spot (I even did other spots, which I normally do anyways, to make sure). His head was at about the same spot as it was before, somewhat relaxed and low.

I just dont get how he could have "grown" that much! He is 14, for crying out loud. Really the only things that I can think of are: 1. He was over at the knee when I got him; 2. He has gotten a layer of fat over his withers; 3. We have raised his heel a little (which needed to be done very badly, hopefully by next year his hooves will be perfect. ;]). Do you think that it could have something to do with those things?

 

[November Rain]

Taihoa on here has a horse just like that... Tai is still growing up past 17.2hh and he's only 5 years old...horses can still grow even at five or six. But yea like you said, it could be fat or maybe just the way he's standing..the way they put their feet can affect how high they stand. Gen always seems taller than he really is cos he always stands square and tall

 

[eventerwannabe]

Bear is 14, so that is where I am confused. xD
I always have him square up in the front to be measured (parked out in the back). I will attach a picture or two showing how I have him stand when I tape him. He tends to keep his head at a relaxed angle when I tape him, so he always feels shorter to me (shorter as in 17 hands :lol. I dunno, but he is a BEAST..! O.O I really wish I could get to the bottom of this. If he gets up to 17.3 or 18 hands im going to die. :shock:

 

[FGRanch]

Holy Moly he looks sooo much better!

 

[smrobs]

I don't have any idea!! I know Koda shot up another 2 inches after I started riding him at 5 years old but Bear has me confused. Maybe he is standing taller because he feels better, and couple that with the taller heels and more fat and that might just make up 2 inches.

He looks so amazing in that second pic.

 

[eventerwannabe]

Thanks you two! =]

Just wait... By April he is going to look AMAZING!! I cant wait! I am getting us back into lessons, I am getting him some side reins, I will be working him 4-6 times a week (with 10 mins of side reins first (lunging)); he is going to be even more beastly then he was before (as in now)! ;] I cant wait to make people stop and stare.

Yeah, I guess what you said, smrobs, is the only thing that really makes sense. "/ If he gets up to 18hh then I am going to have a little chat with my vet/farrier/trainer and see what they think. It is impossible for him to still be growing, esp. since he stopped growing at the age of 3-5. Funny thing is, when I bought him, the owner said that there was no way that he was over 16.2 (that was what he was listed at). Everyone that meets him now agrees that he is 17+ hands.

 

[MIEventer]

He looks amazing!

What are you feeding him? Just Beat Pulp, Corn Oil and Cool Calories?