What would you do...

[No_Angel]

If your youngster turned out to be to small for you?

I have been thinking about this lately. Kiki is 2 but looks quite young for her age. She should be a 15.2 middleweight, as her parents are both decent middleweights at 14.3 and 16hh, but my vet thinks she will make 15hh. Her knees and hocks tell me she should be quite a chunky sort, and she's around 14.3, but every time I look at her I think if she stays like that I am going to squash her!

So what would you/have you done if your youngster that you bought as a foal didn't turn out suitable for you, would you sell them?

[Tazanne]

its unlikely with xander, as he's already 15.1 & gonna be chunky, so he'd be ok with me even if i was too tall. he's gonna grow more anyway.

but if for any reason (injury, illness, too small or anything), xander is stuck with me for life now. i dont have another horse to ride now & dont mind, so if it turned out i could never ride him, it'd be devastating, but not the end of the world. i couldnt afford a second, rideable horse either. he's my best bud now - i couldnt sell him just because he cant be ridden. we do loads together anyway. plus who else would want him if i didnt?

obviously that wouldnt suit everyone, as most people are more bothered about riding. but that would be me.

[No_Angel]

Kiki has got such potential as a western horse. My mum and I were talking last night and I would probably find a rider for her so she can compete her in ridden classes and I will do in hand classes and then if she's suitable breed from her. I have my other horses, but they are all oldies now my youngest apart from Kiki is 16.

[haylekins]

it depends on the circumstances really. you have to look at these things with an openmind and deattach yourself from the situation and look at it from an outsiders view. (which is easier said thean done :rolleyes:)

What I would do is write down the pros and cons of keeping her and the pros and cons that would benefit her staying with you.

personally I *think* I would sell but it reallys depends on how I felt in the situation. :o:o

[greymare]

If it were me, I would keep them and try to find rider, however, our two boys are primarily 'pets' then riding horses.

If I were requring the horses for serious competing or for some kind of income then I could understand the owner wanting to sell the horse.

Its very personal decision I think. very good suggestion regarding the list.

[devonlass]

There were other reasons to do with my health it's true,but I did sell my filly partly due to her not making the size she should have.

I too was convinced I would squish her:o Have to say wasn't just the height with her though,was more about weight carrying ability.I would have put up with being a bit all on her,but she didn't turn out as chunky as she should have with her breed type either.

I did try loaning her,but no-one was interested as she was so young and only just backed,so had to sell her in the end.

Did break my heart,and still does,BUT she went to a fantastic family who adore her and are doing all the things I wanted her to be able to do,but couldn't do with her myself,so was the right secision for her.

She was smaller than your girl though,and I would have kept her if she made the same height as your girl is now even!! Are you very tall or heavy?? (am sure you're not heavy BTW,but as you mentioned squishing her am not sure??),if not could you not ride her if she makes 15hh??

[Melting Moments]

Keep them untill you know for sure how big they are going to make.


One of mine was 14'2hh at 2 years old, I expected him to make 15'3hh max, he made 17hh!

My other 2, full brothers, oldest made 15hh and the other 13'3hh, sire 13'1hh, dam was 15hh.

[No_Angel]

My boy Shay is a 14.3 welsh x arab, but Kiki looks so fragile!

I'm 5ft5 and a size 10/12, but I'm quite heavy for my size.

[Elly Koopman]

I would hold out until you have a better idea of how big she's going to be - my boy is nearly 4 and has grown an inch since we've bought him (OH calls him a Porse as he's on the cusp of pony/horse :D)

I'd say she could still get to the height you're expecting - she's only two and sometimes they put in a late spurt, just like humans :)

ETA - 2 inches IMO isn't really that much of a difference and depending on the build of the horse you can look the right height. My dad makes Rosie who's 16.2 look small, yet has a 14.2 now and looks the right size as Hugo is as round as he is tall :D

[Kit]

At 2 and 14.3 hh she will definitely level out at 15.1 hh +

[Zani]

There is still chance to grow!

My boy was 14hh at 3 years old and a year later is 15hh, so I think she might just make it.

My boy was also quite babyish at 3 and seemed to mature into himself quite slowly, so if yours is looking very babyish I think there is hope that she will have quite a bit of growing to do!

[xRobyn]

It doesnt sound like you will be too big for her at all. My lad is 15.1/15.2hh and chunky and carries me no problem (13 stone and 5ft 7) so i doubt she will be to small for you. As others have mentioned, i would keep her and see how you feel when she has finished growing and filling out.

[No_Angel]

It's not really her height that worries me, as I would love her to be 15hh, it's her build more than anything.

[xRobyn]

So do you mean you wanted a 15.2hh m/w and might end up with a 15hh h/w? lol

[No_Angel]

No, I thought she was going to be a 15.2 decent middleweight, now she might be a 15hh lightweight. I would be be happy if she was a 15hh middleweight.

[xRobyn]

Oh, sorry, your post saying she will be chunky made me think otherwise. I do see your concern now though and understand why you are having doubts and thoughts.

[No_Angel]

This is my girl with her mum, I would be happy if she turned out the same build, her sire is more of a sports horse build, although still middleweighty, she seems to be more of a sport horse type than a stock horse type.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/madams_walk/Caoimhe/caoimheandspotty.jpg

[newforest]

i'd wait until they were three and relook at how they've filled out and grown before making a choice.

i bought mine at 3 as he was going to be too small for the owner, he was 13.2hh and they wanted him to make 14.1 which he wasn't going to. however he turned out to be a late developer and he's filled out and stands at 14hh.:D:D

with shoes 14.1hh:o

so i guess i'd wait a bit longer and just see what happens

[Skippys Mum]

At 3 I was convinced Arnie was never going to be big enough for me. At 4 I still wasnt fully convinced. By 5 he had filled out a fair bit more and at 6 he is fine for me.

Dont panic just yet.

Selling him was never an option though:D

[Palomino Mare]

i bought a 4yo at 15.2 and sold her at 6 as a 16.2 so i wouldnt dismay just yet. Although i can see the frustration if someone couldnt afford that gamble

[Showjumper]

I'm fretting about this with Kai as well. He's 20 months and 12.2hh...I need him to make at least 13.2hh or preferably 14hh to carry me comfortably and I don't think he'll make it. My backup plan though is firmly in place in the form of a very competant 10 year old girl on my yard who can back him, bring him on and take him to competitions and Pony Club. When she outgrows him, he will go out on loan to another Pony Club home.