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Post by sweetpea on Oct 20, 2009 20:48:46 GMT -1
How tall are they and what height do you expect them to mature to.
Also, do you have a 'measurement' that you use to give you an idea of their mature height or do you go on the heights of their parents?
Just wondered 'cos I have a little 'Dales' type colt, who vet thinks is 17 months and he seems very short. He was really skinny and wormy when he came to us in July but has filled out nicely since but not got any taller.
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Post by cadeby on Oct 21, 2009 10:18:38 GMT -1
All mine have varied, even those with exactly the same breeding, so I don't think you can totally rely on the parents heights.  Celt was about 13.1hh at 18 months. I thought she'd top-out at 14hh but her new owner Lucy thinks maybe a bit more? Celt's full brother Talisman was 13.3hh at 18 months. He's expected to make 14.2hh. Baby full brother Vanguard is 12.1hh at 6 months. Think he's going to be a big lad and should easily make 14.2hh. Half brother Viking is 12.2hh at 8 months. I think he'll make about 14.2hh. Half brother Jacques is exactly 17 months old now. Hopefully Anna, Julie or Laura will see this post and let you know how big he is now. Maybe your lad has Fell in him rather than Dales? That would maybe drop a hand off him? Now he's wormed and filling out, he may suddenly shoot up and surprise you  Gelding also often adds an extra inch or two. This is the formula I was given by Norma Thompson (manorian on here) who breeds, judges and shows Dales. I suspect she will have been told it by one of the older Dales breeders, and I think a lot of folk use it, or something very similar, as a guideline : To make 14.2HH at maturity : 12 hh at 6 months 13.1 hh at 12 months 13.3 hh at 18 months Hope that helps. Helen  |
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Post by lyndales on Oct 22, 2009 6:14:54 GMT -1
Magic was 14h 1 1/2 at 3 - now he is 15h1 or 15h2! Suits me though as I wanted a big lad
Lynda x
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Post by jay on Oct 22, 2009 7:41:47 GMT -1
My yearling's not a Dales, but he's currently about 15.2 at 18 months. I'm expecting him to make about 17hh or a little more really. His dad was 16.1 but mum was 17.3!
I've been told that if you cut a piece of string to the length between the elbow and ergot, then hold the pice of string vertically up from the elbow, that should be their mature height. I tried this with Axel and it turned out he should make 18.1hh!!! ;D
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Post by Debbie on Oct 22, 2009 17:57:32 GMT -1
I think you can sometimes get growth spurts even after four years of age with the Dales. Not that I expect that of Blossom, but I was hoping beyond hope that she'd stay small like her mummy  There's a very good chance with your lad that he may do some drastic upwards growth after deworming/gelding and all around TLC. He's a lucky lad to have landed at yours  Any chance of a pic? |
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Post by Anna on Oct 22, 2009 20:11:18 GMT -1
Helen, Jacques is about "yey high"  I actually don't know as I've not had the stick out at the same time as he's been on the yard. I will endeavour to do it! I suspect your chap will have spent a little while picking up, getting some internal reserves and you maybe in for some dramatic growth spurts next year. |
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Post by sweetpea on Oct 28, 2009 16:52:40 GMT -1
Cheers everyone. My little lad is only 12.3hh ! He has lovely chunky legs though which seem a really good length compared to 'P' who's 14.1hh and was one of the things I liked about him.
His head is also quite small but very Dalesy !! I have no idea of his history as I bought him from a dealer advertising on Horsemart - just saw his piccy and fell in love !
It doesn't really matter as I will only drive him when he's old enough and not ride. I just wondered about the amount of feed I should be giving him and thought if I could estimate how big he would be all grown up, I could plan a better ration.
Must get to grips with posting piccies !
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Post by manorian on Oct 29, 2009 13:21:19 GMT -1
Remembered to measure Monty and he is 13.3hh
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Post by lucydales on Oct 29, 2009 18:30:54 GMT -1
Worm burden, lack of trace elements, having to live out on the hill over the winter with no extra hay and being worked at a young age all help stunt height growth as the energy they might otherwise use to grow is used instead for staying warm and working. Tim better watch out, Heather, you have now given me a cunning plan! Why does gelding make them bigger btw?? |
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Post by manorian on Oct 30, 2009 12:31:09 GMT -1
They, supposedly, put energy into growing instead of their "manhood" Lucy.  |
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Post by lucydales on Oct 30, 2009 13:16:24 GMT -1
I wonder why we get so many tall blokes.....! We could all be giants!! Tim is putting his energy into making mischief instead of growing, it's far more fun!! |
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Post by nyjinski on Oct 30, 2009 14:40:00 GMT -1
I finally got around to measuring my 3 and a half yr old (Nipna double rocket) and I knew he was big but he is currently measuring in at 15hh!! Does that mean hes going to end up as a giant dales pony monster?! He doesnt even eat that much and his parents are both smaller than he is now!!
Anna, Laura and Julie did you feed him fertiliser when he was growing?!
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Post by Anna on Oct 30, 2009 15:44:49 GMT -1
yikes! Hopefully now he'll just fill out from there and not go up anymore, some lines go up and up and up and then just fill, there isn't any history of beng tall really on either side so he must just be a good doer!! His full brother isn't tall at all so it just goes to show you never can tell. Bet he's still a nice boy though!
I still haven't measured Jacques but it is on my to-do list!! Our two yearling fillies are distinctly different heights but Katy is out of a small dam so will probably end up 14hh and her sister the full 14.2hh I would expect.
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