Colt size compared to parents

[cinsui]

I am considering buying a 14 month old colt and I am curious if anyone can guestimate how large it will be at adults hood. Both parents are quarter horses and are 15 hands. I am assuming there has been no mishandling of this colt and no malnourishment either. Anyone willing to hazard a guess? At the moment it is hard for me to put hands on as I am recovering from surgery so I'm just looking for some idea.

[Cat]

Its really hard to say considering the information provided. Typically they are going to get around the same size as the parents, especially the dam since she dictates a bit what size the foal can intially grow in her womb. However I have seen some foals way out grow the size of both parents and other ones that never make it close.

Look at the cannon bones - they are usually a good indicator. If you can get someone to measure from the middle of the knee down to the cornet band (straight line, not the curve of the leg) while the horse is standing square, that will give you a measurement in inches. Convert the inches into hands, and that will be roughly the estimated height. For example - 15 1/4 inches = 15.1 hands.
Works great on stock breeds, but tends to underestimate draft breeds.

[42many]

As I remember, the dam usually is the main factor for size with the sire only contributing some - so that way the dam never has a baby that is just too big for her. My memory is ancient-old though, as my boy is 5 yo now! Whew, time flies.

Anyhow, his momma is 14.2 and his sire was 15.2 (I think...). I was hoping for something a little bigger than the mom, and it worked out great! He was 15 even last time I checked (last year at this point - I'd better take my form out to do it soon!) and I think he might be a little more now.

At a very loose guess, I'd assume the baby will be around their general size.

Great measuring tip, Cat! Wish I'd tried that when he was a baby :)

[FatSpottedAppy]

I heard to do the same thing that Cat was talking about. I did it to Prodigy when he was 3 months and it came out to 15hh even(His dam is 14hh and his sire is 15.2-3). Of course I'm not sure if its accurate when they're thay young-- is there a certain age you're supposed to do it?

[Cat]

I've heard you can do it as young as 6 months, but usually any time over a year of age is a safe bet. The cannon bones are almost at full length at birth and are pretty much the first thing to be done growing in length - however, they do continue to thicken out at the horse grows up. But that is why foals look so gangly - especially the ones that are going to be really tall.

[All4Grace]

Its hard to say considering Gracie's Mom was 15.3 and her sire was 16.1 hands... Gracie is 17hhs!!! So the best bet would to be the measureing trick Cat talked about. :-D

[cinsui]

Thank you all for your inforation. I will try to do this measurement and see what happens. I appreciate all of your input.

[Equine_Woman]

As I remember, the dam usually is the main factor for size with the sire only contributing some - so that way the dam never has a baby that is just too big for her. My memory is ancient-old though, as my boy is 5 yo now! Whew, time flies.

Anyhow, his momma is 14.2 and his sire was 15.2 (I think...). I was hoping for something a little bigger than the mom, and it worked out great! He was 15 even last time I checked (last year at this point - I'd better take my form out to do it soon!) and I think he might be a little more now.

At a very loose guess, I'd assume the baby will be around their general size.

Great measuring tip, Cat! Wish I'd tried that when he was a baby :)

I wish that had worked for Sonora. (in fact I was sort of counting on it!) Sonora is about 14.3, her mother is 15.3 - 16, and her sire was 14.3. Lol. She's the same size as her dad!!

[42many]

Hah! I would have completely thought she'd be bigger! How old is she now? Maybe you'll get a growth spurt... ;)