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Post by lilnagy on Apr 8, 2009 20:27:21 GMT -5
I was just reading in the foal colors thread, and fantasykiger raised an interesting topic, saying that Wickee grew a hand between 3 and 4 years old. I would love to hear more from those of you who have more years of experience with kigers than I do about their late growth, and is it typical? I have two 2 year olds, at 13.3 1/2, and 14 even, and a 3 year old at 14 even, and I keep wondering, and sort of hoping, for a bit more height. Lil
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Post by Michelle Clarke on Apr 8, 2009 20:42:32 GMT -5
What we have noticed in all of our horses, is growth even between 4 and 5 years old - usually 1-2 inches; we have even had 1/2" to 1" after 5. So your 3 year old should put on more height I would guess - probably up to 2 inches.
Our yearlings range from 13' - 14'2. Our 14' and ups get 15'3 - 16'+. The ones around the 13' hands or so range in the 14'2 - 15'+ sizes when grown - except when the mare is a young maiden, then they may stay smaller, like 14'.
Most of our two year olds go about 14' to 15' range. The ones that are 14' usually end up in the 15'+ range; the 15' ones go close to or over 16'. One of our crossbred colts, Gringo, will be 2 in May, and he is almost 15'3 - yikes! He string tests at 17' but I am hoping he does not reach that! One of our pure Kiger fillies (2 next month), is 14'3+ right now - string tests at 16'.
We have had pretty accurate results when doing the string test. When they are over a year and a half to two years old, we take a soft tape measure and start at the middle of the knee and follow the conture of the leg down to the corronet band - whatever it is in inches, will be the height as an adult.
Lots of other things affect height, including nutrition during the growing years, exercise and condition of mare and milk when being nursed.
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Post by kimk on Apr 8, 2009 21:03:05 GMT -5
Lil,
Banner grew an inch and a half between 6 and 7 years old. I think you can count on growth in height with your girls until the end of thier 5th year anyway.
Kim
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Post by stlkigers on Apr 8, 2009 21:56:23 GMT -5
Cordero will be 2 around July....I will have to go out and try the string test....A friend of mine measured him at approx. 6 months and said he's gonna be 15 hands so we will see...At 1.5 yrs old he is now 14 hands.
I do think this is a very interesting topic....The other 2 kigers I've had from a young age were full brothers...They are both 4 and 5 now and both over 14.3 hands...What I'm amazed at is the bulk these Kigers put on between about 2 and 4....It's like the gangly teenager stage, you know?
Angela
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Post by lilnagy on Apr 8, 2009 23:57:26 GMT -5
Michelle, on the string test, do you mean from the front middle of the knee, or the back center of the knee?
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Post by angelsdream on Apr 9, 2009 7:02:58 GMT -5
Bella's not even a year old yet and she's already close to 14 hands, around 13.2 or 3 I'd guess - I hope she stops growing tall and starts filling out more. She has shot up like a weed. Is that normal? She'll be one on June 4th.
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Post by Michelle Clarke on Apr 9, 2009 7:22:50 GMT -5
The string test is done on the front of the leg, from the middle of the knee to the cornet band.
Foals grow up and get gangly, then pudge out only to do it again! I have found ours don't really fill out until after 4-5 years old. Most of our three year olds look like string beans right now! Our yearlings are butt high and leggy...
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Post by kigerfan on Apr 9, 2009 11:03:17 GMT -5
Firefly is still growing too. Our neighbors at the new place commented yesterday that she is growing. Just more of her to love  |
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Post by JoanMRK on Apr 9, 2009 11:08:50 GMT -5
I just took a colt down to a trainer's in the Big City near us, he's one that I bred for by my (now) gelding Sunnie and out of our mare Etta -- He'll be 3 next month and he's atleast 15.2 and gawky... He's still really growing in height and still fairly narrow in body. I have to laugh every time I see him because I told my friend/lady who bought him, that he should be about 15 hands tops -- not so. LOL ;D
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Post by kimk on Apr 9, 2009 17:48:32 GMT -5
I personally have not found the string test to be accurate. According to that, my old mare Dani should have matured to 16.1h!1 She ended up at exactly 15h. A couple others tested out at 14h and they ended up at 15 and 15.2.... and yes, i was doing it correctly. |
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Post by fantasykiger on Apr 10, 2009 13:55:33 GMT -5
Wickee is most definately in her gangly stage...no doubt..LOL. ;D
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Post by kigercat on Apr 10, 2009 14:23:17 GMT -5
I wouldn't mind some late growth. I have two mares, 4 and 5 yrs that are both just hovering around the 14 h mark...I'd love another 2 or 3 inches on each of them =)
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Post by mustangdara on Apr 10, 2009 23:07:33 GMT -5
My mare Ellie grew ALOT in the spring of her 5th year..i never did any mesuring but i really think it was about a hand...she also really bulked in muscle mass up that spring.
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Post by canadiankigers on Apr 11, 2009 6:17:47 GMT -5
After reading this thread, I got to thinking about our stallion, Doc Holiday. Last year he measured just under 15hh. I went out and took a really good look at him and he seems to have really started to bulk up this spring. He is really coming into himself and hopefully will hit the 15hh mark. We presently have him up for sale but I am thinking about keeping him for a riding horse. Hmmmm..... that will make 17 Kigers. Do I really need another one?  ? LOL!!!!! |
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? LOL!!!!!