How big are your sport pony yearlings?

[KingstonFarm]

Typically how big is a yearling sportpony that will end up a large pony? I'm trying to gauge how big mine will end up being. :-)

[dorthyinoz]

My sport pony who's mother is a big 13.2 and her sire is 14.2 currently sticks at 12.1(ish) at 9 months. She is from "riding pony" bloodlines (mixed) My 3 year old who's sire is a sec B and mother is of unknow breeding was under 10 hh as a yearling and is now 13.1.
What breeding is yours?

[KingstonFarm]

Her dam is a 15h paint and her sire is Art I Decked Out who is 13.2h but has Art Deco in the dam line. My filly is 13.1 hands already! Think I should worry? She's out with my big warmblood babies and I always refer to her as the little pony but maybe she's not so little. If she does get bigger she'll make a super fun ride for a junior or small adult. She's a great mover and was born on the bit. Here's a link to a video clip of her last month in the mud: http://media.putfile.com/Cookie---Feb-2008

[Mel0309]

At that height I wouldn't worry, my friend has one out of a 15 h. paint/tb by Art I Decked Out and he was / is much bigger, over 14 hands as a yearling. I would think yours will stay under 14.2.

[erinwillow]

At that height I wouldn't worry, my friend has one out of a 15 h. paint/tb by Art I Decked Out and he was / is much bigger, over 14 hands as a yearling. I would think yours will stay under 14.2.

Hi, thanks! I just had a friend email me with her Connemara/Art Deco baby. . she is gorgeous!!! LOVE these babies ;)

[092556]

Mel0309 is right about my Art I Decked out Colt
His dam is 15 hands Paint/Tb Here is a picture take the day he was weaned at 4 month. I think he will be closer to 15.2 than 14.2, darn.

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa170/hacooke/blackcolt.jpg

[MagicRoseFarm]

Hot Shot's first colt , out of a 13.2 hand mare is not even 10 hands yet.. I measured from knee to ground at birth and got 13 1/2 inches so I think he will be a medium.
Back when i had a half dozen pony babies I wish I had documented more so I would have a better idea today....


PSP ( pony size prediction) is definitely an acquired skill!!!!!!

[goodpony]

I have full siblings from the same 15.3 HH mare. The 2006 filly (2yrs) is 13.3 + the 2007 (yearling) colt is 13.3 +.....they are almost the same size out of the same horse mommy:winkgrin: Our pony mares are coming on line this year and we'll be measuring the babies from here on out...hoping for larges from our pony girls.

[Dalriada]

Our ASRP filly is barely pushing 13hh. Sire is 13.1hh (Sect B) and dam is 14.1 1/2hh (Arab cross). This filly is not predicted to be very tall. Her full sister at 3 only stands 13.3 1/2 with maybe 1/2" of growth left.

Half-brother by a 13.2hh Sect B is 14hh as a 2 year old. He had early growth and has just about maxed out now.

Half-sister by a 15.1hh Arab is 14.1 as a 4 year old and has finished growing.

[VirginiaBred]

Typically how big is a yearling sportpony that will end up a large pony? I'm trying to gauge how big mine will end up being. :-)

Are "sportpony" yearlings supposed to be different than a cross bred yearling, if both are to be large ponies???

[Mel0309]

I think typically if the pony has a lot of "pony blood" in them they are just about finished at 2 -with maybe a 1/2 inch or so when they bulk up.

When you throw in a lot of "horse blood" esp. WB, I think you get slower growth for a longer period of time. The pony babies (mine anyway) tend to grow quick and then stop. JME

[butlerfamilyzoo]

My coming yearling, b-day May 7th... Is pushing 13h... Sire was 13, dam is 13.3... both string tests taken at birth show he will mature 14h... The dam's dam was 14.2, and sire was 14.1... So i'm guessing he's getting the hight from that line. The dam herself was "supposed" to mature at 14.1... But um, didnt... Perhaps she threw back to something smaller in her pedigree... These are purebred welsh cobs. I think with ponies its an "anything goes" issue. I have a POA filly that i bought 3 months ago and has grown 2.5" in that length of time... Better groceries? i dont know... lol. Then have two half-sibling POAs, a year apart, the gelding will be 14.1-2 when he finishes and the filly maybe 13.3 if she's lucky... Both dam's were the same hight?? I give up guessing! LOL

[KingstonFarm]

I haven't done the string test on her yet. Maybe I'll try that tonight. I do know when I was a kid I bought a 2 yo QH gelding that was 14.2h. We all thought he'd get at least 15.2h. Nope. He was the perfect 14.3h. He grew 1 full inch. Maybe there'll be some magic pony dust in her pasture and Cookie will do most of her growing early and quit before the magic 14.2h. Time will tell. :-D

[slantedhorse]

Last year's baby is a MONSTER! Or at least bigger than I expected. About 6 weeks ago she started looking huge - outgrew her blanket in 3 weeks. Was a 54 now she's a 60. She's 12.3 in front and 13 1/2" behind. I know the string test isn't reliable at this age but the one from elbow to ergot and flip says she's going to be 15.2! Measuring from mid-knee to coronet gives me 15 1/2 inches! That 1/4 connemara must have given her the extra height!

Her mom is 13.1 1/2 (connemara x welsh); dad is section B welsh and not a huge 13.2. The 4 yr old out of the same mare is 13.1 1/2; the 2 yr old looks like we're right on the mark for a top of the line large as expected - the dad on that one was a large BRP....

Time will tell but anyone think she'll be the MEDIUM she was bred to be? ;-) At this point, I will be happy with a good size large .... and 15.2+ is nice, too!

[VirginiaBred]

I think the string test is all wet myself. We don't ever use it, but for the heck of it a few years ago I did it on my Farnley Belshazzar x TB bred yearling. It said she'd be around 15 + hands. She 14 1/2 hands.

I never understood people using it, to be honest. I'll bet your connemara x welsh will stay a pony, slantedhorse.

[Mel0309]

Slanted Horse,

It would be hard for me to believe that your pony would get to 15.2. My top of the line (13.1 1/2 - 13.2) mediums are usually 12.3 at a year, 13 -13.1 hands at 2, and then fill out and finish off at 13.1 1/2 to 13.2

Now yours may get to 14 hands or so but I would think it would be highly unlikely for it to get over pony height.

[slantedhorse]

I guess the string test needs to wait until they are over two years? I surely would like a good sized PONY!!!

[twinlights]

One is 13.1 H and is by Ballywhim An Luan (15H) the other is 11.1 and is by Crown Heartbreaker (14.1).:winkgrin:

[Windswept Stable]

I guess the string test needs to wait until they are over two years? I surely would like a good sized PONY!!!

I totally agree with VaBred... String test is all wet. We do not use it either.
Size will be what it will be. No fretting or speculating will change it.

No guarantees at all. However, your 12.3 "monster" your name for the yearling--sounds to me like a pony. Wearing a size 60 blanket as a yearling =sounds totally normal for a pony. My big smalls all wear 60's--so thats pretty much where you are at the moment.
Now--as far as a "good" size pony--only time will tell. Keep your fingers crossed and if you are inclined pray. Both will get you as far as the string test. A good size medium is a long way from a good size large. I think you are safely in the pony range. Good luck.