Post by heathera on Mar 21, 2010 11:29:15 GMT -1
I thought I'd redo the height charts for the youngsters. Please join in with your own youngsters.
For general height estimation there are a few methods and some of the experienced breeders on here have some good suggestions.
First one is to take a tape measure when the youngster is a year old and measure from the centre dip in the middle of the knee to the middle of the coronet band, pulling the tape tight between them rather than following the curves of the leg. The number of inches gives you the eventual adult height.
The second is to take the string and go from point of elbow to the ergot. Holding the string steady at the elbow rotate it upwards until it's vertical above the withers and that's how tall your foal will grow.
Doing these string tests on R, who is a full grown 13yr old mare, the measurement of her canon bone (knee to ergot) puts her at 13hh so is out. However, her elbow to ergot then swing up puts her at 13.3hh. From what I remember of D doing these with him put him at the right height with the elbow to ergot but not canon bone measurement. Makes sense as the breed standard says short canon bones are good.
The third is to add 2hh to the height your foal is on their first birthday (real one, not 1st January)
If they look gangly, fugly and out of proportion as yearlings they'll grow higher than a similar height yearling that looks balanced and in proportion.
The earlier you geld a male pony the taller he'll grow.
More scientifically different breeds have been found to grow at different rates. At birth foals are 61-64% of their adult height, at a year they are 90-92% and at 2yrs they are 96-98% reaching final height at 5yrs of age. For draft horses (which we could argue Dales ponies are) the growth rates are slower than for TB types. At 6 months they are around 79% of adult height, at 12 months they are 89% and at 18months they are 92%.
There's an excellent blog post available that gives all sorts of methods and links.
Drummer arrived with me when he was 3yrs 3m old. He grew from 13.3hh then to a tall 14.2hh as a 6yr old.
Tola
Dad was 15.1hh and mum was 13.3hh so estimated adult height was half way between, with mare having slightly more influence than stallion. So around 14.1 to 14.2hh
At birth she was 39" (9.3hh) at her withers.
Eight months = 12.1hh at the front and 12.3hh at the bum
Ten months = 12.3hh at the front and 13hh at the bum
On her first birthday the percentage estimates put her at 15hh as an adult except the 'add 2hh to yearling height' which puts her at 15.2hh.
Two years old = 13.3hh at the withers
2yrs 10 months = 14hh at the withers and 14.1hh on her bum
Three years = 14hh and half an inch at the withers and 14.2hh on her bum
3yrs 5 months = 14hh at the withers and 14.1hh on her bum (now she's more relaxed about being height sticked she's smaller
)
3yrs 7 months = 14.1hh at withers and 14.2hh on bum
4yrs = same as above
4yrs 10 months - same as above
6yrs = 14.1 and a half at withers, 14.2hh at bum
In March 2010 both string estimates put her at 13.3hh, the percentage estimates put her at 14.3hh.
Merlin
Both parents are 14.1hh or under so he wasn't expected to make any higher.
Eight months = 12.3hh at the front and 12.1hh at the bum
Ten months = 13hh at both ends
On his first birthday some estimates put him at 15hh, others at 15.2hh.
Two years old = 14.2hh at the withers
2yrs 10 months = 14.2hh and a half front and back
Three years = 14.3hh at the front and 14.2hh at the back
3yrs 5 months - 14.3hh at the front and 14.2hh at the back
3yrs 7 months = 14.3hh and half inch at withers and 14.2 and half an inch at bum
4yrs = same as above
4yrs 10 months - 15hh at wither, 14.3hh at bum
6yrs = 15hh and half an inch at wither, 15hh at bum
In March 2010 his knee to coronet band puts him at 14.3hh but his elbow to ergot estimate puts him at 15.2hh. Percentage estimates put him at 15hh
Legato
As a comparison here's L's measurements. Mum was a 15.1hh Standardbred mare whilst Dad was a 14.1hh gypsy trotting cob.
Birth - 38" (9.2hh) at birth. Doing the estimates: his elbow to ergot and then swing it up measurement put him at 12.2hh, his knee to coronet band measurement put him at 14.3hh, his estimates from percentage of height at birth and then at a month old put him at 15hh.
Ten months = 13.1hh at the withers and 13.3/14hh at the bum
1yr 9 months = 14.1hh at withers and 14.2hh on his bum
1yr 10 months = 14.1hh at withers and 14.3hh on his bum
2yrs 4 months = 14.3hh at withers, 15.1hh at bum
2yrs 8 months = 15hh at withers and 15.1hh at bum
3yrs = 15hh and half an inch in front, 15.1hh and half an inch at bum
3yrs 9 months - 15.1hh at front and 15.2hh at bum
4yrs 10 months = 15.1 and a half inch at wither, 15.2 and a half inch at bum
In March 2010 his string estimates both put him at 15.2hh. His percentage measurements put him at 15hh.
For general height estimation there are a few methods and some of the experienced breeders on here have some good suggestions.
First one is to take a tape measure when the youngster is a year old and measure from the centre dip in the middle of the knee to the middle of the coronet band, pulling the tape tight between them rather than following the curves of the leg. The number of inches gives you the eventual adult height.
The second is to take the string and go from point of elbow to the ergot. Holding the string steady at the elbow rotate it upwards until it's vertical above the withers and that's how tall your foal will grow.
Doing these string tests on R, who is a full grown 13yr old mare, the measurement of her canon bone (knee to ergot) puts her at 13hh so is out. However, her elbow to ergot then swing up puts her at 13.3hh. From what I remember of D doing these with him put him at the right height with the elbow to ergot but not canon bone measurement. Makes sense as the breed standard says short canon bones are good.
The third is to add 2hh to the height your foal is on their first birthday (real one, not 1st January)
If they look gangly, fugly and out of proportion as yearlings they'll grow higher than a similar height yearling that looks balanced and in proportion.
The earlier you geld a male pony the taller he'll grow.
More scientifically different breeds have been found to grow at different rates. At birth foals are 61-64% of their adult height, at a year they are 90-92% and at 2yrs they are 96-98% reaching final height at 5yrs of age. For draft horses (which we could argue Dales ponies are) the growth rates are slower than for TB types. At 6 months they are around 79% of adult height, at 12 months they are 89% and at 18months they are 92%.
There's an excellent blog post available that gives all sorts of methods and links.
Drummer arrived with me when he was 3yrs 3m old. He grew from 13.3hh then to a tall 14.2hh as a 6yr old.
Tola
Dad was 15.1hh and mum was 13.3hh so estimated adult height was half way between, with mare having slightly more influence than stallion. So around 14.1 to 14.2hh
At birth she was 39" (9.3hh) at her withers.
Eight months = 12.1hh at the front and 12.3hh at the bum
Ten months = 12.3hh at the front and 13hh at the bum
On her first birthday the percentage estimates put her at 15hh as an adult except the 'add 2hh to yearling height' which puts her at 15.2hh.
Two years old = 13.3hh at the withers
2yrs 10 months = 14hh at the withers and 14.1hh on her bum
Three years = 14hh and half an inch at the withers and 14.2hh on her bum
3yrs 5 months = 14hh at the withers and 14.1hh on her bum (now she's more relaxed about being height sticked she's smaller
) 3yrs 7 months = 14.1hh at withers and 14.2hh on bum
4yrs = same as above
4yrs 10 months - same as above
6yrs = 14.1 and a half at withers, 14.2hh at bum
In March 2010 both string estimates put her at 13.3hh, the percentage estimates put her at 14.3hh.
Merlin
Both parents are 14.1hh or under so he wasn't expected to make any higher.
Eight months = 12.3hh at the front and 12.1hh at the bum
Ten months = 13hh at both ends
On his first birthday some estimates put him at 15hh, others at 15.2hh.
Two years old = 14.2hh at the withers
2yrs 10 months = 14.2hh and a half front and back
Three years = 14.3hh at the front and 14.2hh at the back
3yrs 5 months - 14.3hh at the front and 14.2hh at the back
3yrs 7 months = 14.3hh and half inch at withers and 14.2 and half an inch at bum
4yrs = same as above
4yrs 10 months - 15hh at wither, 14.3hh at bum
6yrs = 15hh and half an inch at wither, 15hh at bum
In March 2010 his knee to coronet band puts him at 14.3hh but his elbow to ergot estimate puts him at 15.2hh. Percentage estimates put him at 15hh
Legato
As a comparison here's L's measurements. Mum was a 15.1hh Standardbred mare whilst Dad was a 14.1hh gypsy trotting cob.
Birth - 38" (9.2hh) at birth. Doing the estimates: his elbow to ergot and then swing it up measurement put him at 12.2hh, his knee to coronet band measurement put him at 14.3hh, his estimates from percentage of height at birth and then at a month old put him at 15hh.
Ten months = 13.1hh at the withers and 13.3/14hh at the bum
1yr 9 months = 14.1hh at withers and 14.2hh on his bum
1yr 10 months = 14.1hh at withers and 14.3hh on his bum
2yrs 4 months = 14.3hh at withers, 15.1hh at bum
2yrs 8 months = 15hh at withers and 15.1hh at bum
3yrs = 15hh and half an inch in front, 15.1hh and half an inch at bum
3yrs 9 months - 15.1hh at front and 15.2hh at bum
4yrs 10 months = 15.1 and a half inch at wither, 15.2 and a half inch at bum
In March 2010 his string estimates both put him at 15.2hh. His percentage measurements put him at 15hh.
I think Heather's right about the uneven growers making more adult height though and they seem to grow for longer too.
Ridgelane Duke 
Country Rose
