So tell me how much your babies grew from 4 to 6 yrs old (ASB's in particular :))

[ASBnTX]

Mine is 4 years old, 16.1, and still looks like a baby! He has bulked up quiet a bit over the past year, but that's not saying much because he was skin and bones when I got him. An inch or two more in height would be nice, but I'd really love some inches around the belly to take up some more leg! :yes:
So tell me your stories about how much your babies filled out as they matured please. Oh and I don't want to hear anyone say that they stayed the same or shrunk!!!! ;)

[sdlbredfan]

Most Saddlebreds take 5 or 6 years to mature, the Stonewall King lines the longest for sure. Some of the filling out in the barrel has to do with musculature developing in the back, IMO, not just adding weight. Do you have some pix to share?

[ASBnTX]

I'm definitely trying to get those topline muscles working..it's coming along, just slowly. We do lots of long and low, and pole work. Here are a few:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/42013958@N04/3967683338/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42013958@N04/3872566604/in/set-72157622064652661/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42013958@N04/3871778815/in/set-72157622064652661/

This one doesn't show anything, it just makes me laugh :winkgrin:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42013958@N04/3871780223/in/set-72157622064652661/

[sdlbredfan]

I love that angle picture! That is a really nice looking horse, hard to say whether he ever will be stout, but am sure he will fill out more.

[RedMare01]

My mare filled out a lot from 4 to 6. We bought her a 4 1/2 and she was ~16 h and narrow. She didn't get much more height (maybe an inch), but filled out a ton. She now takes a MW saddle tree, and she's not fat in the least. At 4 she still looked like a teenager.

Caitlin

[pintopiaffe]

My NSH mare looked like a gangly 2yo at rising 4. Between 4 & 7 she gained a hand. After that, finally, she started bulking out and put on probably another 250lbs by 8-9.

All her kids and grandkids are also very late bloomers. I have often wondered if it's my climate, bloodlines, or a combo of both. I don't expect a 'horse' until 7 or 8. I cannot even imagine trying to get one of them going for FEI 4 or 5yos. :no: I generally don't back them until 4 and don't start real work until 5.

[nightsong]

Mine is 4 years old, 16.1, and still looks like a baby! He has bulked up quiet a bit over the past year, but that's not saying much because he was skin and bones when I got him. An inch or two more in height would be nice, but I'd really love some inches around the belly to take up some more leg! :yes:
So tell me your stories about how much your babies filled out as they matured please. Oh and I don't want to hear anyone say that they stayed the same or shrunk!!!! ;)

Stunting from malnutrition is most likely going to be MUCH more of an issue than 'growth'.

[ASBnTX]

I hope stunted growth is not the case :( He has grown a hand and gained a few hundred pounds since I got him at 2 1/2. He wasn't starved..just much thinner that he should've been.

[SmartAlex]

From 4-6 my ASB went from 16.1(ish) to an honest 16.3 and I had to buy him a girth that was (I think) 6" longer. Without looking I think he went from wearing a 48" to a 54"

[KJag550]

I got my ASb in the fall of his 4yr old year and I don't think he grew much from that point but he filled out a ton. I think he filled out clear into his 7yr old year. I felt like everytime I was around him he was getting bigger.

[ASBnTX]

Yes looking at him, he does look like a teenager..his dad was pretty substantial, mom was average. SA - I'd be happy with 16.3 and 6 more belly inches :) your Grey looks like a very nice size!

[ASBnTX]

Also, looking back, there's A LOT of Stonewall King, King Genius, and Edna King (not sure if those "kings" are similar in attributes) on both sides...hmm, there's hope ;)

[Griffyn]

Still waiting for mine to fill out... but shes only 18!

[SmartAlex]

Also, looking back, there's A LOT of Stonewall King, King Genius, and Edna King (not sure if those "kings" are similar in attributes) on both sides...hmm, there's hope ;)

If there is a lot of Stonewall yes, he will probably mature late, both physically and mentally. I'm going to presume the Edna May's King comes through some Wing Commander lines, so those are bigger bodied horses as well.

Just be patient. Yes, Grey is a nice full bodied size, and very leggy. I'm 5'9" and fairly well filled out myself and he looks and feels very substantial under me. I checked the giths, and it was indeed 6" in that year on the same saddle. He has a lot of Wing Commander too.

[ASBnTX]

Thanks SA! That's good to know.. yes there's even more Wing Commander. I hopped over to Trot and just posted more details there (under jamiecb1127). I'm more curious than concerened...I'm a fairly fit 5'11" though, so it would be nice for him to fill out to around Grey's size :) BTW you do look like you fit each other well! I enjoy keeping up with Grey and Ace :)

Grffyn - Hey I said I don't want to hear any of that! ;)

[ASBnTX]

I'll always welcome more mental maturity too :) he's grown by leaps and bounds in that dept this past year though. So cool.

[drmgncolor]

Still waiting for mine to fill out... but shes only 18!

I was about to say the same thing... except my girl is 13.

Funny story. My BM told me her dad (the BO) came up to her one day really concerned about my mare's weight. BM laughed and told him the reason my mare looks too think is because she's an ASB and every single horse at the farm other than her is overweight. :lol: Heck, even when she's on the heavy side, she still looks skinny. It's just her.

[SmartAlex]

My broodmare is very slender too. She is one of those gals who remains a size 4 their whole lives. Even when she puts on a bit of pudge, it's in a discrete place.