I’m casually horse shopping and my price range and desires are lending themselves to something youngish and less popular in the dressage world. I have a reasonable idea of how much a QH will grow and level out from 4-6, but I’m not sure when I’m shopping the ones that were 3 this spring. Same goes for Arabians.
How much should I expect an Arabian gelding that was 3 in April to grow? Or is it so breeding / line specific that I need to have a better idea of what I’m shopping for?
I’ve had two Arab geldings, both from heavy Crabbet lines (Al Marah breeding). Neither added significant height after that age, but both bulked up and widened through the chest.
It can vary depending on the individual. My Egyptian gelding grew until his 7 year old year, finishing at 15 2 with a lot of bone and 8" cannons. His sire was 16 H and his dam was smaller. My mare changed in body shape, drying out and becoming more refined as she aged. She finished at 14 3. Both muscled up from solid work as they aged.
My 3/4 Arab, 1/4 Appendix gelding grew 1.5" between 5 and 7 years old. He also went from a size 68 blanket to a 76. :eek: His bloodlines (primarily CMK) are known to be slow to mature, even for Arabs, though. My purebred Arab mare (Khemosabi/*Padron/Bey Shah bred) put on a full hand between 3 and 5.
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