I have a four year old Morgan, not registered but mostly old government lines. I bought him when he was 6 weeks old for $300 basically to "rescue" him. The woman I had bought him from used to run a breeding farm but her health had really gone down hill & she wasn't able to keep up with things. She had an unregistered stallion running with a couple of registered mares and so ends up with a few babies each year that are not registerable. Fausto (the foal) hadn't had any human contact so was pretty much wild. The woman's grown son decided to be helpful by jumping onto him to force him in the trailer but that just sent them both tumbling on the ground. He ended up going right in on his own since his dam was already loaded (I took his mother home until he was weaned). He will still hop on a stock trailer just fine but he is afraid of men. None of that really pertains to my question but I thought I'd include his background. The woman said that her horses tend to be slow to mature, he now stands 15 hands which is a fine size for me but I am wondering if he will still grow taller. My sister bought a 4 year old Arab stallion hoping he would stay the height that he was but he grew at least another inch but likely 2 after that. My aunt has a TWH x mustang that stands about 15.1 as a two year old, does this mean he will be huge or do different breeds just grow at varied rates? I am interested to hear what others have experienced while raising horses & when to consider them fully mature.
Growth rate
- Thread starter CodaSpot
- Start date
Im told some colts (breeds) grow faster than others.
Was also told that diet can grow up a horse faster but there bones joints are still imature even though you have a big colt.
I have two 5YOs out back that are still growing. The one QH was over 15 Hands as a two year old but it wasnt until this spring when she turned 5 that her whithers really started to come up. And I was always lead to believe that QHs tend to grow quicker than other breeds.
Anyway I dont consider them fully grown until 6. I dont really ride (start)them until they turn 4.
Was also told that diet can grow up a horse faster but there bones joints are still imature even though you have a big colt.
I have two 5YOs out back that are still growing. The one QH was over 15 Hands as a two year old but it wasnt until this spring when she turned 5 that her whithers really started to come up. And I was always lead to believe that QHs tend to grow quicker than other breeds.
Anyway I dont consider them fully grown until 6. I dont really ride (start)them until they turn 4.
Penridergirl
Active member
Just like people, horse families mature and grow at different rates. Generally, most horses are done growing by the time they are five; but I have seen horses that will hit another growth spurt late in their five year old year. Most young horses will grow tall, then fill out and then grow tall and fill out again.
Don't count on the sire and dam's sizes to determine the final height/weight of your horse. Full siblings can vary in sizes. One may be tall and heavily muscled; while the next foal from the same cross with be short and less muscled.
Feed also plays a factor. Good nutrition is important in the growing years and this will be a determining factor on your horses final size. Halter horse people will feed tremendous amounts of high protien feed to promote intense growth on their animals because the bigger they are the better they place in the halter arena; however this can backfire when their show horses begin to break down physically.
A foal that has been short changed on his feed while still growing can develop all kinds of problems, not just growth related. Over sized heads, crooked legs, digestive problems, etc. can all be attributed to poor feed intake.
My suggestion to promoting a healthy growth in your colt would be to keep him wormed with a good rotational schedule, feed him good quality hay, and if you must, supplement his diet with a vitamin/mineral supplement that is generic for all animals. Purina and Land o Lakes both make a good generalized supplement that you can feed to anything on the place without over doing the intake of the minerals and vitamins.
Just remember that all of this health care will not only improve his physical appearance but your colt will become more active and will need to be challenged mentally, too. You will notice a distinct personality change when he begins to start feeling better. (Nothing mean; the colt will just have so much energy he will find ways to get into trouble!)
Don't count on the sire and dam's sizes to determine the final height/weight of your horse. Full siblings can vary in sizes. One may be tall and heavily muscled; while the next foal from the same cross with be short and less muscled.
Feed also plays a factor. Good nutrition is important in the growing years and this will be a determining factor on your horses final size. Halter horse people will feed tremendous amounts of high protien feed to promote intense growth on their animals because the bigger they are the better they place in the halter arena; however this can backfire when their show horses begin to break down physically.
A foal that has been short changed on his feed while still growing can develop all kinds of problems, not just growth related. Over sized heads, crooked legs, digestive problems, etc. can all be attributed to poor feed intake.
My suggestion to promoting a healthy growth in your colt would be to keep him wormed with a good rotational schedule, feed him good quality hay, and if you must, supplement his diet with a vitamin/mineral supplement that is generic for all animals. Purina and Land o Lakes both make a good generalized supplement that you can feed to anything on the place without over doing the intake of the minerals and vitamins.
Just remember that all of this health care will not only improve his physical appearance but your colt will become more active and will need to be challenged mentally, too. You will notice a distinct personality change when he begins to start feeling better. (Nothing mean; the colt will just have so much energy he will find ways to get into trouble!)
Thankyou both for the feedback.
[Anyway I dont consider them fully grown until 6. I dont really ride (start)them until they turn 4.]
Good to hear, I have been feeling a little guilty that he hasn't been started yet but as of today I am 7 days overdue to give birth to a baby girl. I plan on working with him every chance I get once I am on my feet again (which I realize might not be as often as I'd like). He tacks up with no problems & is very respectful of my space moves to the side or backs with very little pressure from my fingertips. It took me forever to get my hands on him as a baby but now he trusts me to no end, I think he will be fun to ride![/quote]
[Anyway I dont consider them fully grown until 6. I dont really ride (start)them until they turn 4.]
Good to hear, I have been feeling a little guilty that he hasn't been started yet but as of today I am 7 days overdue to give birth to a baby girl. I plan on working with him every chance I get once I am on my feet again (which I realize might not be as often as I'd like). He tacks up with no problems & is very respectful of my space moves to the side or backs with very little pressure from my fingertips. It took me forever to get my hands on him as a baby but now he trusts me to no end, I think he will be fun to ride![/quote]
Thankyou both for the feedback.
[Anyway I dont consider them fully grown until 6. I dont really ride (start)them until they turn 4.]
Good to hear, I have been feeling a little guilty that he hasn't been started yet but as of today I am 7 days overdue to give birth to a baby girl. I plan on working with him every chance I get once I am on my feet again (which I realize might not be as often as I'd like). He tacks up with no problems & is very respectful of my space moves to the side or backs with very little pressure from my fingertips. It took me forever to get my hands on him as a baby but now he trusts me to no end, I think he will be fun to ride![/quote]
[Anyway I dont consider them fully grown until 6. I dont really ride (start)them until they turn 4.]
Good to hear, I have been feeling a little guilty that he hasn't been started yet but as of today I am 7 days overdue to give birth to a baby girl. I plan on working with him every chance I get once I am on my feet again (which I realize might not be as often as I'd like). He tacks up with no problems & is very respectful of my space moves to the side or backs with very little pressure from my fingertips. It took me forever to get my hands on him as a baby but now he trusts me to no end, I think he will be fun to ride![/quote]
