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Post by angelsdream on Feb 7, 2011 14:55:55 GMT -5
Ok - so Bella is almost 3 years old now and every bit almost 15.1 hands. I know everyone says they will grow til they are 7 but from everyone's experience, how much more do you think she will grow and if she'll have anymore major growing spree's?? She's huge....well to me, when I was wanting a 14.3 hand horse..ha! TOO much good nutrition I guess. She did go thru another growth spurt this past winter...Im just hoping she STOPS soon...! I still love her to death....but wowzer!! I guess Im the total opposite of most people as most want a taller horse..!
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Post by Brandy Deck on Feb 7, 2011 17:09:40 GMT -5
This is somethig I also wonder about. I have the opposite problem. My little mare is coming 4 this spring. She is almost 13.3 hands. When I purchased her in December of 2009, she was 13.1 hands. I believe she is going to be a fabulous cow / reining horse...if she gets big enough. She is really filling out, but I am worried that she is not going to get tall enough. I would like her to at least make it to 14 hands.
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Post by Michelle Clarke on Feb 7, 2011 22:30:52 GMT -5
Our horses tend to grow another two inches on average between 4 and 5 years old. I've been told from owners of our horses that they grew after 5 also...Fuego was one of these, grew another inch.
Brandy, my guess is your filly will get to that 14' hand height over the next year.
Bella may not grow much this next year, but maybe next year!!!
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Post by stlkigers on Feb 7, 2011 22:53:23 GMT -5
Hmm, like this thread....My colt is 14.2 and a coming 4 yr old.....I'm good with 15 hands! When do you find these Kigers tend to really broaden. Seems like he's spent the last year spurting up and now I"m wondering when he's going to broaden out (he has already started this but I"m comparing him to the 8yr old plus Kiger geldings/stallions I've seen in person....so obviously he is still more immature looking then they are...
Angela
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Post by kimk on Feb 8, 2011 0:11:23 GMT -5
In my experience the girls are finished with thier height around 5, and the boys around 7-8. The girls should finish with thier bulk by about 6 and the boys around 8. angel, you done bought a horse whose bloodlines scream BIG! She may get another inch or 2.....
Dianne chime in here on this one!
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Post by elikiger on Feb 8, 2011 19:58:52 GMT -5
This is a great topic. My filly is 3, and roughly 14 h, I am wondering where she will top out at. OH! And when do we get a wither? She really has no wither. I hope she will get one!
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Post by DianneC on Feb 8, 2011 21:17:20 GMT -5
Its really funny, I've had some foals that finished tall, Quil will be one of those, almost 15 hands at three but not very broad or long yet, still fits a 74 sheet. Other foals are born good sized and finish smaller, Bravo is about 14.3 and Blue is about 14.2. Bulk comes from work or testosterone. Smoke was as narrow chested as I've ever seen a horse and he was skinny when I got him. I fed him like crazy and nothing much changed except he wasn't so skinny. He filled out nicely with work and grew another couple inches between 6 and 7 to about 15.1. I had to find a hill and put him downhill of me to get on, I'm just 5'3" myself. Angel, you'll just have to teach her to lay down so you can get on, that solves all the problems.
Elikiger, she may not get much of a wither, Lark didn't have much of one. And Chinook's shoulders were so big and high that everything slipped backward. There is a pad called a Limpet that I swear by but they are so hard to find. They are out of England and I've only found them on occasion on EBay and at Hope Saddles. They are fabulous. You make sure your saddle is on perfectly straight and then warm your horse for a while. To reposition the saddle you have to remove it, it will not move. Do be careful of saddle fit too, they tend to be very flat backed. You could eat dinner off of Chinook's back and not lose a plate or glass.
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Post by elikiger on Feb 11, 2011 9:24:02 GMT -5
Thanks for the info Dianne. I don't seem to have a problem with the saddle yet slipping around. I do use a fleeceworks half pad under my saddle. My saddle fits ok on her, but this just helps. She's 3 of course and things may change. I sure hope my saddle works with her as I love it dearly and would have no interest in replacing it.
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Post by angelsdream on Feb 11, 2011 11:15:45 GMT -5
Well maybe she won't grow too much more...i'll keep my fingers crossed. Maybe she'll start filling out more now. I do love her to pieces but not sure I can handle a 15.3 horse, Im only 5'2 or 5'3 on a good day!! ha However I have been taking YOGA for a month now and it has limbered me up ALOT and has really helped my balance on my horse - so I may be able to stretch and get up on her. If anyone is having issues with balance, not being able to stretch or get comfy, not enuff muscle to post, etc YOGA helps ALOT. My instructor said she has a lot of horse riders/instructors that come to her and it makes the world of difference in there riding and I believe it. I love yoga!
She's goes to the trainers next month - Im very excited to see how she comes along and what she is going to like to do. I've rode her twice and hoping this weekend will be the 3rd time, just for about 30 minutes but so far she's loved it and has never spooked, bucked or anything - acts like she's been doing it for years. Luckily I have taught her to move forward from clucking from groundwork, so I can get forward motion from her without any confusion. Im so excited for our adventure this year - been 3 years coming!! but it has flown by for sure. I guess Lakota will get a much needed break this year as Bella will take over most of the rides. Ive already got people lined up to ride Lakota with me and I ride Bella on the trails - figured I'd be letting Bella follow Lakota for a while til she gets more comfortable and confident since Lakota has raised her, I know Bella will be more calm with Lakota around for a while.
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Post by elikiger on Feb 19, 2011 9:53:12 GMT -5
I would love for my filly to get to 15 h, but I know that is not going to happen. It's ok, she dosen't feel small when I am on her. I am 5'3 as well so for me to go small is not a bad thing, I have not owned anything smaller than 16 h all my life!
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Post by rghstkcwby on May 29, 2012 22:51:52 GMT -5
New here....just found this thread & thought it was interesting. My Avatar pic is of George & I. We got him from Jason (ctxkiger) at 5 months old. He is now coming on 16 months & stands 13.3...me being 6'5" I'm hoping he bust the 15. - 15.3 mark. He gets the best of everything I can give him for sure!
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Post by gotkiger on May 29, 2012 23:49:44 GMT -5
Sadly some are just midgets. I had a filly like that that never grew. Nutrition is a big help but so are genetics
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Post by Michelle Clarke on May 30, 2012 6:28:37 GMT -5
Is George the QH cross? If so, he should have more height than his parents due to hybrid vigour. My yearlings are now 13'3 - 14'2, all just turning 12 months or so. On the smaller end, I know those will be a good 15', on the larger end, 16'. They all go through different growth spurts at different times.
Is George gelded? Testosterone prohibits long bone growth - so a young gelding will grow better than a stud colt as far as height. Lots of play time and a good amount of quality protein - no sweet feed or corn; too much sugar and gmo stuff to inhibit growth.
Mine usually grow steady until three, then they settle down until about four. Between four and five they will grow another 2" and many grow an inch or two after that. Something I found pretty reliable is measuring from the middle of the knee to the top of the hoof on the front leg. Whatever it is in inches, they will be in hands. So, 15 inches will be 15 hands and so forth.
Oh, BTW...we LOVE pictures!
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Post by rghstkcwby on May 30, 2012 17:31:47 GMT -5
No George is outta Paloalto (Silver Dapple colored Full Mustang) can see her on Jason's website. Have not gelded him yet, but will be doing so soon.
We feed Strategy, Alfalfa/Timothy Mix, free range salt & mineral, plus he has been getting Grow Colt & B12. Well post some pics soon, my wife just took some last night
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Post by Michelle Clarke on May 30, 2012 18:13:00 GMT -5
Ah, now I remember who George is by. Looking forward to pics!
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