[quicksilverponies]

In October of last year I purchased a weanling colt from Maple Side Farm - the last of the foals bred by Carol Lush - name is Maple Side Finale. He is a lovely boy and very sweet with great movement, but he is sadly not going to be a pony. In fact, I believe he will be a full size horse. He is a Welsh/TB/Holsteiner cross by Maple Side Mr. Magic http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/maple+side+mr+magic
and out of Maple Side Postscript http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/maple+side+postscript
He was born in April so is now 16 months old and measures 14hh. I would like to sell him, as we do only ponies here, but I need to be able to advertise him appropriately. How big would you guess he will be? Here are a few photos.
Thanks so much!

[Merle]

I would guess around 16 hands so not pony sized but he is very cute!

[JB]

The general rule of thumb is add 2 hands to the yearling height.

So yes, I agree, somewhere in the large 15h to just maybe 16h range.

You can also do the string tests and see what they say - he's old enough. Pull a string from his ergot to elbow, and swing the ergot end around the elbow end, and where that ends up is his final height.

The other test is lay a string along the contours of the front cannon bone from the middle of the knee (bend the leg to find it) to the coronet band. Inches = hands, ie 15 1/2 inches = 15.2h

[quicksilverponies]

Thanks for the input! I am able to guess well with most pony cross babies, but the Holsteiner/TB mix has clearly kicked in in this case, so I am appreciative of input. He is a wonderful boy and my rider would love to keep him as her Jr. Hunter, but I like the ponies I am hoping he will end up a decent sized small horse that a young woman or older child might like at some point. He has a huge step and is super quiet. Thanks again.

[feed lady65]

Thanks for posting these pics. Have been waiting to see how Finn turned out--he's a big boy now. I feel bad that he is unfortunately too big for what you want. Never even suspected he would get that big.
Would love to have him myself, if I were better off financially.

[SilverBalls]

He is very nice Melinda.

[sixpoundfarm]

The general rule of thumb is add 2 hands to the yearling height.

Uh oh. Just sticked my graybie yearling, and he's 15.1 1/2
Crossing my fingers he doesnt make 17hh.

[Auventera Two]

The general rule of thumb is add 2 hands to the yearling height.

So yes, I agree, somewhere in the large 15h to just maybe 16h range.

You can also do the string tests and see what they say - he's old enough. Pull a string from his ergot to elbow, and swing the ergot end around the elbow end, and where that ends up is his final height.

The other test is lay a string along the contours of the front cannon bone from the middle of the knee (bend the leg to find it) to the coronet band. Inches = hands, ie 15 1/2 inches = 15.2h

I hadn't heard the "add 2 hands" rule, but that would mean my Arab who was 14 hands as a yearling would be a 16 hand adult? Sweet! She's 15 hands, and 15.1 at the hindquarter right now and she is 2.

The string test on my other Arab said she would be about 15.3 and she just barely squeaked by 15 hands.

Maybe those tests aren't accurate on some breeds? In any case, it's fun to dream. LOL

[Cindy's Warmbloods]

Adding 2 hands has been pretty accurate with mine (at least within an inch). Most of my yearlings that are 15HH wind up maturing 16.3-17HH.

[fordtraktor]

Which yearling height? Age at 1 year exactly? Age at middle of year? My yearling has been all sorts of heights!

[JB]

Uh oh. Just sticked my graybie yearling, and he's 15.1 1/2
Crossing my fingers he doesnt make 17hh.

My WB was 14.3 on his 1st bday, and finished at a hair under 17h.

Which yearling height? Age at 1 year exactly? Age at middle of year? My yearling has been all sorts of heights!

LOL, sorry, yes, on their 1st bday/12 months.

[katarine]

Cindy, if adding two inches to 15.0 makes a horse 15.2, or 15.3...how can you say it's an accurate measurement when most of yours grow on out to 16.3-17.0?

Sounds more like adding two to seven inches is pretty accurate

My SSH mare as a yearling stood about 15. She's 16.3 pushing 3. She passed the 2-3" line a long time ago LOL


I think the string test ergot to elbow is more accurate.

[Cindy's Warmbloods]

I think I posted hands Katarine, I am not seeing I posted 2 inches anywhere....Anyways, it is hands and where I mentioned inches it was within an inch of the 2 hands over their 12 month old height when mature. Or did I just make this even more unclear, lol!

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

I know someone with a mare by the same sire out of a TB dam and I think the offspring ended up being the same height as the dam (I don't think she grew 2 hands after 1). She also has a gelding by him out of a QH and I think, again, the offspring finished the size of the mare.

Neither are pony sized, but neither are giants, by any means.

[Cindy's Warmbloods]

I think there is an exception to every rule. I knew a guy once that bought a 15HH yearling because he wanted something big and I am not sure he grew much more than that, lol. But as a general rule the 2 hands does seem to apply.

[camohn]

this is a tough one to guess with the really mixed breeding of pony, Arab, TB and WB in the pot. Will it mature at the speed of a pony or a horse? As a guess by present size I would say around 15.2 to 15.3H but the string test would proabably help more with the "melting pot" pedigree.

[not again]

The only rule I know is that if you sell him he will stay pony; if you keep him he will grow into horse size.
I have had all variations of growth: the 16.2 yearling that finished 16.3, and the 15.0 yearling that finished 16.2, and even the 15.3 yearling that finished 15.3.

[password]

The only rule I know is that if you sell him he will stay pony; if you keep him he will grow into horse size.
I have had all variations of growth: the 16.2 yearling that finished 16.3, and the 15.0 yearling that finished 16.2, and even the 15.3 yearling that finished 15.3.

LOL, agree with this!

[VirginiaBred]

String test is not accurate.

[VirginiaBred]

I have a yearling and I am very concerned about his growth. He is 13 hands at the hip and 12.3 hand at his wither. I string tested him and got 14.2 hands at the most. I was wondering if he could actually make that. He is 1.5 yrs old. does this seem right. Has anyone had a 13 hand yearling reach 14.2 hands?

They definitely can, depending on the pedigree. What is yours? Remember, warmblood in the mix produces slower growth patterns. Crossbreds are famous for hidden height.