I have been working on making a hunting horse....First deer he ever saw I threw over the saddle and tied him on...Nothing seems to bother him and he readily takes to most everything...

I just wish he was a little stouter...I am 6'1" and 220...Every now and then I get the feeling he struggles a bit...I am not afraid to get off and walk some and do...

He is quarter/appy cross,15.2 hands and 5 years old...My question is will he grow some and beef up a little after 5...I heard that between 5 and 7 they still put on some weight..

He is the closer one in the pic..



Thanks...

I don't know the answer to your question but you look more proportionate than Richard Kuhl (Jaws from Moonraker) did riding that poor horse in Pale Rider. Lou

Horses are somewhat like people, the mares usually reach full height younger. A gelding will usually continue to grow until 4-6 years of age, while both will fill out some. He will probably still muscle up some, but that is more between 4 and 5 IMO. If he's 15-2, he is sure big enough to do anything, although he doesn't look real stout built.

This may be off the wall but looking at his hindquarters and neck he might benefit with some dental attention. Fred

Thanks,

I pretty much figured he was about done...Still hoping for more mass though...

I was thinking on selling him and going for something a little bigger,but he is just to cool of a horse..A keeper thats for sure..

Last spring bear season I loaded him up with gear and just turned him loose...Stayed with us all day as good as one of my packgoats...LOL

I talked to the wife and she tells me he gets a dental check every spring...Kinda intriqued though on how you can tell from the neck and hindquarters..Fairly new at horses and am always willing to learn something new...

Here is a recent picture where you can see his neck better..

By the way,I have read every thread on the horse forum and am eagerly waiting for more topics...

I would not be suprised ether way. But I bet he puts on 75-100 pounds or more over the next year and a half. He looks like a keeper no matter what his size a good disposition goes a long way. I would rather walk half the time than put up with a pain in the ass horse.

First of all, horses are pretty well grown by 5. They will put some more weight on after that and gain some muscle, but what you see is what you get at 5 yrs. of age. You have to look more at the horses frame and bone more than just how tall it is. If I was to pick or buy a horse for a guy your size, it would be heavy boned and weigh between 1200 and 1400 lbs and have feet with at least # 1's and # 2 shoes. In my opinion your horse looks small for a man of your size. He looks to be fine boned, with small feet. If you weigh 220 lbs, then with all your gear, hunting clothes and boots, backpack, slicker, and saddle, your little horse is packing close to 300 lbs. That might even be pushing the limit on the flats, but if you are using him in the mountains, that is asking alot. If you would go on an Elk hunt with a good outfitter, I am pretty sure that you would not be riding a horse that small. I would much rather ride too big of a horse than too small. Just my experience, Daryl.

He will grow until he is 6 years old, so you will probably get another few inches and he is plenty big right now to pack you if you ride him right and don't weigh him down with stuff..He is pretty stout looking and will develope muscle for some time to come.

More important for you is to keep him in CONDITION and keep him well fed, just like a human if he is in condition he will pull his weight and serve you well and get better and stronger until he is in his late teens or even longer.

Good saddle fit, and proper riding style will take him a long ways, sloppy saddles, poor blanketing, and lousy riding will cave in the best of horses..

Good luck, looks like you have a good horse there and well worth his keep...

OH yeah, get all that stuff in the first picture off his kidneys unless its very light..I won't even use saddle bags on my horses unless they are really small.

Thanks all,

Ray, those are saddle panniers folded up...No worries..

I talked to my wife,she keeps up on the little stuff, but he has just turned 5...Using a formula I found on the internet he tapes out at 1000 pounds...I just got in from a long ride with lots of climbing and had no troubles..I think I will stick with him and hope he makes another 100 pounds..

If I was going to buy a horse for myself I would have probably picked a bigger one,but how I ended up with him is a long story involving daughters and divorce and stuff ...

Now that I have him I find that I like him ..He is a cool horse and I have a LOT of confidence that he isn't going to hurt me...I amd sure I have well over a hundred miles on him(maybe 200) since I got him...I guess if he can make that he is good to go...

This is the first deer he ever saw...I rode him in and watched his reaction...He didn't seem to be bothered so I just threw him up...Like I said,cool horse....

He sure looks like a winner to me..Now let him pack you with that deer in your lap..My horses will do that and it saves me a lot of hoofing it. I think this old boy would allow you to do that also. If you have doubts then let some cowboy pack some calves and deer on him a few times..Feed him good with grain and good quality hay and keep putting those kinds of miles on him and he will never fail on you...That kind of conditioning makes a good horse, a wet saddle blanket is the best thing going for him that I will promise you.

I would tie those horns across to the saddle horn and keep them out of his flank if I was you or he will surely end up on top of you someday..He is sure enough gentle..Don't sell him.

Sorry to disappoint any who say differently, but the last growth plate to close in the horse does so @ around 36 mos. of age. Beyond this, I honestly don't know where any growth in height is going to come from, but it won't be from bone growth. They will, however, continue to put on muscle mass if fed and conditioned properly, and fat will fluctuate with intake/ exercise just as it will in other animals.

If you have questions regarding nutrition, the NRC puts out booklets periodically that outline (in more detail than any of us cares for) the exact requirements for any age, any breed, any level of exercise.

As for dental problems, I've floated many thousands of head, and performed a lot of corrective dentistry and dental surgery, and never figured out how to properly evaluate a mouth by looking at a horse's neck or hindquarters, as was stated previously. But, I suppose everyone has their own methods...

Good luck, looks like you're doing well so far.

Aggie

I can't necessarily tell you where they grew, but they will sure pick up a bit of height after three. My 4-year old has grown a half-inch since her three year old height, she's now a towering 14hands 1.5 in. She is also already a money-winning cutter. I am like you, when someone wants to check a horse's teeth for corrective dentistry, they look inside and put their hand in to feel the sharp edges.

Just my two bits, but many years ago the Cavalry did some soundness tests on horses, requiring them to pack 220 pounds 50 miles a day for 7 days in a row. The horses that most often passed that test were between 7 and 14 years old. The test was then reduced to 200 pounds 50 miles a day for 7 days straight, and of course staying sound. Horses under 7 were more inclined to show some unsoundness after this test. That indicates to me that a horse doesn't reach his optimum stamina and structural strength till about 7, maybe 6, with 5 being a modern accepted number. He might not grow more, but he will add some muscle mass I guarantee, and be a stronger and sounder horse at 7-12 than he is now. Looks like a good one, and his mind is right. Take care of him, lose some weight if you have to, and don't load him down with a bunch of extra shit. Horses like that one are hard to find. I have reason to know. My little foxtrotter is about 14.2, goes maybe 900, and will go about anywhere I ask him to. I also packed out the first elk he ever saw on him, through a real hell hole. I still go back there and wonder how we got in.

paul

No doubt about that, I can wear a three year old out in a heartbeat. I also am showing a 6-year old gelding that you have to lope twenty minutes walk 10 before showing- for four hours. Then he's ready to work. They are a hell of a lot tougher at 5-6 years old, and stronger as well.

I would like to think that nature would finish a horse physically and mentally in harmony with each other. Maybe not. I don't wear them out so bad with what we do, but mine seem to mature beginning around 6 as far as their heads go. Drafts mature more slowly physically than the lighter horses, we don't push them until their 4th year. They gain weight clear in to the 7th year. Some of the toughest I've seen are 10-14 years old.

Look, horses are like you and me. If they aer in shape, they can do the work. If the stand around in the pasture for most of the year, and then you take them out, they will get tired and hurt just like you do when you sit in front of the tube all year and thentry to hike ten miles in the mountains. It aint gona happen.
A horse will ad bulk and muscle with regular work outs just like you will. I does not mean he is "growing" but just toning up and getting into shape. Try to ride him at lease twice a week during the off season for his sake and yours.
I think, and I believe that the referance to dental work was because the flanks and neck looked a little flat, as if he was not getting all the goody out of his feed. Look at his droppings and see if there is a lot of undigested grain. If so he MAY need more tooth work. 220 lbs is not to much for the horse if you keep him in shape and take it reasonably easy. A good horse id harder to find than a good woman and in a tight situation more valuable.
Judge Sharpe

I think a good horse is easier to find than a good woman, however both may cost you a lot of money. That said, I believe there are more good horses than good women. I happen to have a good one.

To say a horse reaches full height at 36 months is just plain wrong..I have been measuring horses for 6o plus years on cement from birth to 12 years old or more...

Horses are like people and breeds alwso vari in growth spurts.

My two good roping horses grew until they were about 6 years old..My old horse was 14.2 as a 3 year old and is now 15.2 at 13..My young horse grew a hand in the last two years, he is now 15 hands at 5 years old.

But then your an Aggie, what the hell are they teaching you guys in school these days and do you believe them...

I think you guys are putting too much emphasis on height here. Some of the toughest nags I have ridded, barely made the name by the 14 hand definition. Just like people, a horse's development depends on proper and adequate nutrition. Then, of course, they have to properly conditioned. Around here, we break them at two, ride them lightly when they are 3 and after that, they are expected to put in a full day.
Grizz

Hello, My wife's mare was lossing weight and the Vet had her add warm water to the feed. She filled out right away. I am no horse person so I would ask around first.

Griz Adams,
Can't say that I disagree with you and good small horse is just that, and he can pack the mail..I have seen many excellent small horses..The best steer roping, team roping horse I ever rode belonged to Jim Bynum, and that horse was a head horse and weighed 850 lbs. in his prime fat...He could jerk a perchon out of his shoes because he knew how...

That said I do like a horse of 15 to 15.2 hands if he is an athelete, that is the ideal size for any cowboy disapline of the quarter type horses IMO....

15 hands is at the edge of too big for a cutter. A 15 hand horse is a huge one for my work.

Measure him from the back of his elbow down to the little horny projection in the back of his fetlock,, then take that same distance and go from the back of the elbow up to his whithers.
When he is full grown that distance will be equal.
I have measured hundreds of horses over the years and there have only been a couple where that did not work.

As for mass, work and feed are the key ingrediants.
If you are not feeding him more than he needs for simply maintenance then he will not build muscle.
Looking at him he is a bit slight for your size but heart and disposition mean more in my book.
he looks like a good one, I would keep him even if it meant walking and leading a little in the tough places.
Good ones are hard to come by.

Time to report back in...My horse has grown...My saddle that fit just fine last year does not fit anymore....To narrow in the gullet..He has thickened up some in the shoulders...I really liked that saddle to ..

Anyway I have borrowed a better fitting saddle and am back on the hunt for a new one..I wonder if he is going to outgrow this one also

He also seems a lot stronger this year...I am not having trouble on the big hill climbs that I was having...

Thanks for all the info and I learned a lot...

Be patient with him, he is still a baby, keep him in good shape and on good feed and he will never let you down..He is a nice looking horse and has a kind eye, you can't go wrong with him and he sure is broke...You have a good horse there.

The best investment one can make is a horse walker ( a used one can be had for $500 or so ) for those days when your too busy to ride..

Most average folks horses, other than ranch horses, are just not conditioned to do what is asked of them and that leads to leg and a cornocopia of other problems later on in their life.

On the high hills, let him have a good long blow every 100 yards, don't need to be in a hurry anyway, we ride past more animals than we see I assure you...

Ones mood and attitude are an extension of his horse, every feeling you have transfera to the animal..In my disaplines of team roping and calf roping my mood and nervous anticipation goes straight to my horse and determines how well I rope on any given day and how well I handle the pressure of my roping determines how well my horse works.

quote:

keep him in good shape and on good feed and he will never let you down...

Be sure to deworm him every 8 weeks!

Pick up some Eqvalan liquid (1ml/110 lbs)and maybe twice/year use ivermectin paste (Gold?) to control tapeworms.

J.Stevens,
Your right, a cutting horse should be smaller, I was thinking in a different direction, as to hunting, pasture work, roping heavy cattle, general ranch work...Not that a cutting horse can't do all these things, but I do like a little bigger horse for this dicapline.