?
Usually around five but I have had some grow a little as seven year olds.
I think my guy added a little height at 7. I will have to stick him again and see.
[QUOTE=PeteyPie;7005098]
http://www.equinestudies.org/ranger_2008/ranger_piece_2008_pdf1.pdf[/QUOTE]
I stopped reading when I got to the part where it says futurities are for three year olds and that every horse must break their maiden before they turn four.
Laurierace -
I’d be interested in hearing a little bit about what you think about the subject. I’ve got a two year old filly that I’m planning to put into training in about a month. Articles like that make me a little nervous. My trainer is great, I’ve got no trust issues there. But as for myself, I have pretty much zero experience in this industry, so I’m always open to advice and things I should be looking out for.
My standardbred gelding grew almost an inch in his seventh year.
[QUOTE=shea26;7006370]
Laurierace -
I’d be interested in hearing a little bit about what you think about the subject. I’ve got a two year old filly that I’m planning to put into training in about a month. Articles like that make me a little nervous. My trainer is great, I’ve got no trust issues there. But as for myself, I have pretty much zero experience in this industry, so I’m always open to advice and things I should be looking out for.[/QUOTE]
Race training? If so, make sure your trainer is familiar with the Maryland shin study and follows that protocol more or less. In a nutshell it says you have to stress the skeletal system with twice weekly breezes so insure they lay down enough bone. We used to think that they needed miles and miles of miles and miles but now we know all that prepares them for is more miles and miles.
Thanks! Yes, race training. I actually read about that study pretty recently. My trainer mentioned early on he has been very fortunate in not having to deal with shin buck. I guess it wouldn’t hurt to see what he thinks about that study though. Thanks for the advice.
Bought a 16.3 4yr old, that ended up as a 17.1 5yr old.
[QUOTE=PeteyPie;7005098]
http://www.equinestudies.org/ranger_2008/ranger_piece_2008_pdf1.pdf[/QUOTE]
I had one horse that I had started when he was four. Reading this article I agree with the writer because of how well my horse turned out for the remainder of his life.
Geldings grow…and grow…and grow. It really is amazing/cool to see how differently different horse grow out. Some in spurts, some up, then out, or the other way around, etc.
[QUOTE=Hippolyta;7011723]
Geldings grow…and grow…and grow. It really is amazing/cool to see how differently different horse grow out. Some in spurts, some up, then out, or the other way around, etc.[/QUOTE]
LOL I’m going through this with my 4 yr old. I didn’t expect him to change as much as he has, and he looks like he’s got and inch or two left to go.
Funny though, I remember a few years ago I bought a really nice filly who was about 15.2hh. I was soooo sure she was going to grow a lot because I knew a few people who had geldings by the same sire and those horses grew a hand between 4 and 6. My filly stayed about 15.2 her whole life. Oh well.
One of mine (Rue) grew a little bit every year until he was about 8. He’s 17.2 now.
Be interesting to see where Fen tops out.
We have one mare who we got as a 3 yr old, and almost turned down since she was to be my 14 yr old sons horse, and he was already 5’7". Well she came to us as a 14.3 hh and by the time she turned 6 she was 16.2. His second OTTB mare never added any height much to his dissapointment…he passed her to his sister. My daughter just got a 4 yr old OTTB filly in January. At 15.hh we thought she would be the right size, maybe put on another inch or so…she is already 16.hh and growing.
I bought my TB at 5yrs old and he was 17 hands tall. He’s coming 7 now and he’s still the same height.
That article by Dr Deb Bennett (cited by OP) gives a very clear description of how the equine skeleton matures from the ground up, to the final maturation of the spine round about 6-8 years of age, towards the end of the piece.
I guess it all depends how long you want your horse to last - the earlier you start to ride/work it, the shorter its working life-span is likely to be.
(Of course I KNOW that there are exceptions but will the one you have be one?)
TBs are generally expendable. They are expensive & the money is in the 2/3/4 yr old races, and if the horse isn’t any good it’s discarded.
If you want a TB for your own riding use, you would be better to start its riding career when it’s 4 years of age, and even then keep the workload down. By the time it’s 6, you’ll have a strong, sound horse.
