I would like some thoughts on a coming 3 yo (April) who was recently gelded (December). Strings tests to 16’1 or 16’2. He is now 15’2+ but looks like a 2 yo - very underdeveloped and quite narrow. I will tell you before gelding this guy was a hormonal, out of control mess - now he is sweetest guy ever. I really dont think this is a nutrition issue, the little guy looks good…just tiny! His parentage is not small so he should be a nicely boned, good sized horse. I am hopeful now that there is less testosterone, he will start growing. Thoughts?
since when did you own him??
At 15.2+ as a coming 3yo, there’s every reason to think he’ll be 16.1 or more when finished.
I had a stallion that I sold as a 4 year old that sticked 15.3 hands and then was gelded and ended up finishing 16.2 hands. I personally don’t think that 15.3 as a coming 3 year old is that small 
whew - feeling better!
My mare at that age was 15.1, she is now just a hair over 16hands at 6y/o. Though, she is 50% WB and seems to be following the slow to mature and fill out rule.
Depending on breed I would say 16.1 for you.
My 16 and 1/2 in WB gelding grew 1 1/2 inches in his 6 yr old year, he now sticks at 16.2 hh, yet his full sister was 15.2 hh at 3 and is still 15.2 hh at almost 7, go figure.
Where is his butt compared to the front end?
I had a 3 year old that grew at least 2 inches into the fifth year. Not uncommon at all.
My now-7yo was 16h, maybe nearing 16.1h as a 3yo when I sent him off to be broke. I remember the trainer laughing that he was such a weenie little guy. As a coming 8yo he’s now 17h+ (not quite 17.1h) and seems to still be growing. I’m ready for him to stop because I definitely don’t need a horse that big! So I would say that yes, a 3yo can still add a fairly significant amount of growth…or not…totally dependent on the individual. Though FTR, my OTTB came to me as a coming 6yo as a 16.2h horse and grew another couple inches between 6 and 7 to finish at 17h up front and 17.1h behind, and he was pretty darn mature looking when I got him. So while I think you have a better chance at future growth in a horse who still looks immature, there’s also a chance for growth on one that looks less so.
My coming 3 year old … Bought her as a baby… It was predicted she should make 16.2 Haven’t had the stick on her recently but lots of growing this winter. She is probably 16.3 now. Love this filly. Absolute sweetheart in every way. She will be 17 hh and possibly more. She is 5/8 Hanoverian descending from Spruce Meadow’s Simply SM. Current registry is with Canadian Sporthorse.
My 15.3 tb gelding as a long three year old is now about 16.1 or 16.2. He was butt high and had no developed shoulders but both parents had big shoulders and his sire line going back to great grandfather had the exact same big shoulder big withers.
So those did come in and he’s a big boy now. But he didn’t stop growing until 6.
Right now he is just slightly butt high - he is a beautiful guy not gangly at all - however he looks very much like a youngster. He is currently turned out with a 2 yo and they look very similar. I am hoping that with the raging testosterone curbed, the growth I would expect to see at this age will just be late starting. As for breeding he is by Pablito out of a old style G line Hanoverian mare.
My coming 3yr old (June) is not as big as some of mine have been either and REALLY immature looking. She had a rough start before I bought her as a weanling though (dam was very underweight) so hoping she will have lots of growing yet to do. She is 1/2 warmblood, 1/2 TB and is about 15.2HH at 2 1/2yrs of age. However, I don’t think she has grown much in 6 months though she does appear a bit butt high still so I am hoping she will make at least 16HH. Dam is 16HH and sire 17+HH. A bit worried though as I have had some 3yr olds that have not grown an inch more even, filled out yes but nothing in the height department. Hoping she isn’t one of those!
I have the same concern for my coming 3 filly. She does’t really look lanky or awkward but she seems to still have long legs compared to her body. Same as the above she sticks 15.2hh, tad butt high right now, but strings to solid 16.2. I wouldn’t expect less being that both her sire, Landkönig, and her dam, by Pablo, are both taller and BIG bodied. I keep double guessing that she will ever get there!! But I am used to QH and she’s just going to take longer to grow. Im getting anxious for her to get there though!
HeatherMcI - you and I are in the same boat! My guy is definitely not going to be afraid of the measuring stick because he sees it so frequently!
There’s plenty of hope. My girl was a good sized foal/yearling and constantly string tested to 16.1h, but was only around 15.2 at 3 y/o. She crept up to about 15.3 by 4 y/o and stalled out there for what seemed like forever. She had me thinking she was done growing.
Around 6 y/o, she finally made it over 16h. I was pleased with that, and again, assumed she wouldn’t get any taller. She had one more HUGE growth spurt as a 7 y/o and is now 16.2h! :eek:
Yay for late growth spurts!!! I know a lady that had a Belgian WB mare that had another growth spurt at 8… i hope that my girl doesn’t wait that long 6 is good with me but 8 lol. This is why we will be playing with dressage for a while, she can be my hunter when she’s closer to being done
Darcy W. same with my girl! I think that I think she has grown just about every time i go to feed her. She’s so smart i think she may learn how to measure me with it 
My filly (3 at the end of June) is barely 15.0-15.1 at the butt, and I’m afraid to measure her at the withers 
She has grown verrrrrry slowly, and I am worried that I’ll end up with a shrimp! She has looked like a “finished horse” for most of her life, with few “growthy looking awkward periods” (she has a long back and a long, elegant neck–but is not leggy.)
I didn’t want a big horse (my mare is 15.3, sire was Escudo 2, 16 hands on a tall day–and can throw small!), but I would like to hope that she winds up 15.2?? I did the cannon bone string test on her as a long yearling, and it indicated around 15.2 1/2.
She has VERY short cannon bones, and small feet! Kind of like a pony…
I’m hoping for a latish growth spurt, and a visit from the “withers fairy.” Has anyone had a filly that simply did NOT grow after 3?? IF she gets withers, she may reach 15.1. sigh Obviously she will not be started until later this year, no hurry!
so yesterday I measured my guy and he hasn’t grown…AT ALL…nothing since I originally posted this. He hasn’t gotten wider, literally nothing. His weight is good, he is happy living with friends in pasture. He turned 3 in mid-April. By Pablito who I have noticed that has some smaller offspring. Is he done?
It’s only been a few months. Do yourself a favor and put away the tape
(or stick).
I have no idea if your horse is done. I really doubt it. Mine grew almost an inch in her 4th year. I can’t remember, but I think she grew an inch as a 3 year old too. Your horse is barely 3.
