At 2 years and 8 months old...

[Personal Champ]

My filly is 16 hands and a smidge :eek:. She is an Appendix QH, by Artful Investment, out of a TB mare. Her full sister was 16.2.

I'm new to the Appendix as a breed, and new to babies in general. And I certainly may be wrong, but I thought that she would be a bit shorter at this particular age, considering how tall her full sister is. I never did a string test or anything, and I'm not sure how to or when to, really.

So I'm just looking for some experienced opinions - is she right on track for growth, or is she going to be bigger than I expected?

[not again]

You may have some size in the pedigree. Is she related to Indian Artifacts? Here is an Indian Artifacts son who every bit as big (and sweet) as he is advertised.

http://americanwarmblood.com/files/roster/pdfs/indian_artbeat.pdf

[Personal Champ]

I believe Indian Artifacts and Artful Investment (my filly's dad) are both by Artful Move.

[Hillside H Ranch]

I would guess, with that breeding and at her age that she won't grow a huge amount more. Generally those QH bloodlines and the TB lines are quicker to mature than the warmbloods. I would guess that she will be about her sister's height.

[tidy rabbit]

My appendix mare didn't get any taller than she was at nearly 3 years old. She filled out a lot but stayed the same height wise. Of course each horse is an individual and you may or may not see a lot more growth. I thought those "Artifact" horses were typically quite tall.

I believe for the string test you need to measure from the coronary band to the middle of the knee. What you get in inches will translate to hands.

My 2 1/2 y.o. & my 3 1/2 y.o. both string test to 17.2 hands. The 3 1/2 y.o. is a solid 17.1 now and the 2 1/2 y.o. is 16.2 at his withers and 16.3 at his croup. I string tested them about 2 years ago. I should do it again and see what I get now.

I also measured my adult horses and they all string tested true to their height.

[Personal Champ]

Hillside and TR, that's what I was wondering - I was hoping she would be a quick maturing filly, because if she isn't, she's going to be BIG!

She is already starting to fill out and get some width to her - would that also suggest that the height is slowing down??

Re: the string test - can I do that now, at her age? I thought that had to be done on younger horses. How do I do it??

[AKB]

It is hard to predict eventual size. We bought a 2yr 8 month old a 4 years ago. He was 15.1h. We also liked another 2 year old, who, although 3 months younger, was a little bigger. We chose the smaller one, since the breeder said he would likely stay small and the other would be huge. My then 19 year old daughter was about 5'4".

Now, my daughter's horse is about 16.3h. The bigger two year old grew to 15.3h, and stopped growing. Fortunately, my daughter grew and is now 5'6". It just shows you can't consistently predict height. My daughter loves her horse, and is not at all concerned that he grew into a gentle giant.

[Bugs-n-Frodo]

That Artful line is tall, Artful Move was 17.2h wasn't he? How tall was your filly's dam?

For example, my gelding is by a stallion who is about 16.3h and out of my baby girl, Bugs, who is a 15.3h (on her tippy toes and with shoes on) TB mare. Frodo is 5 and is just about 16.3h himself. He string tested at 16.1h and I really only expected him to get to about 16.1h. :eek: Joke's on me! Fortunately, even though I am 5'4, I fit him perfectly because, for one, I have long legs for my height, and for two, he is NOT built like a tank.

[Personal Champ]

I don't know how tall her dam is - only her full sister.

Height isn't an issue for me, I'm 5'9", so the bigger the better. I was just suprised how big she is for her age!

[tarragon]

I think it's just hard to tell at her age how much more she'll grow. The string test is somewhat accurate for most horses, but there are always exceptions.

I'm wondering how big my filly will end up too. Mine is 2 years and 5 months, and she's just a hair under 16.1. Both of her parents are 16.2, so I assumed my filly would be around that height, but it looks like she's got a lot more growing to do and she string tests around 17. My friend has a filly 1 week younger than mine, out of a 16.3 mare and by a 16.1 stallion, and she is 14.2 :confused:

[Artie]

My friend has Appendix baby thats related to yours, but shes a full 14.1h at 9 months!! LOL :eek:

[Personal Champ]

My friend's trimmer string tested her when we first brought her home (just shy of 2 years old), and said she tested to 17.1. I would be shocked! :eek: