Age Terminology Query

[Debutante]

Hi Everyone,

I'm sure among all you knowledgeable horse-lovers, there is at least one who can answer my question... ;)

In the ads you often see horses listed as 'coming' two-year-olds or 'coming' three-year-olds. I presume this means they're almost two (or almost three) but exactly WHEN does say, a two-and-a-half-year-old, become a 'coming three-year-old'? :rolleyes: Is there a rule or is it just a different way of putting it?

Thanks! I know you guys will be able to enlighten me! :D

Debutante

[Sarah]

I guess that coming is used like rising in the UK.

Tnago will be 11 this summer (july) so she is described as being Rising 11 from Jan 1st till July 7th then as being 11 till 31st dec of this year from when she'll be rising 12.

I hope that sort of makes sense!

bye!

[Alibi]

Makes sense to me Sarah, couldn't have put it better!

[Debutante]

Sarah,

Thank you! That makes perfect sense! Now I'll be able to decipher the ads with a whole-new clarity.

Cheers,
Debutante
(Rising 49 'til March 22nd) ...yuck... It doesn't sound any better that way now does it? :(

[Debutante]

So let me make sure I have this right…

There seems to be wide variability within the term. For example, if one horse was born on February 1st and another horse was born on December 29th of the same year, they could both be called ‘Rising whatever-year-olds’ during the month of January…correct?
I guess the moral of the story is that it’s important to find out exactly when the horse celebrates his birthday! :D

Cheers,
Debutante

[intouch]

Isn't it TBs on 1st Jan, "common" horses 1st March? Or is it April?
I think Arabs are 1st April, but I'm sure someone will know.

[Yann]

I was led to believe commoners celebrate their birthdays on 1st May? The insurance company seem to think so anyway:)

[kelsey]

Hey Debutante - how is it going? Have you found your Canadien yet?

Just wondering if this question means that you're looking for a young one!

[Showjumper]

lol Yann, Dolly's birthday actually IS 1st May! LOL :D

[Shiny McShine]

Over here it's the 1st of August :).

[entreat]

Thanks Shiny!! I thought I was going mad!! I was sure it was August! lol.:rolleyes: :p

[ros]

There's another term that you don't often hear - if a horse has, say, turned five but is still closer to five than six, he's "five off" as opposed to "rising six".

[OlavS]

In Norway all horses get a year older on January 1st. We don't have a term for rising etc. So my mare is now 5 in Norway, rising 5 in English I guess, and 4 1/2 to anyone not into horses :rolleyes:

By the way, with these different dates for different breeds that were mentioned, what would a TB x arab be?