Big 2 yr old races??

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

Originally Posted by Danzig188

i disagree with the 1 year equalling 3 in a human, especially early on. a horses life span may be the third of a humans, but to say a 3 yo is the equivalent to a nine year old child would be incorrect. horses mature much more quickly, with most equating a 2 yo to a teenager.

I'm just repeating what every veterinarian has ever told me, and what I have in all of my veterinary medical books. I've even questioned that theory before myself, and had an in depth coversation with a veterinarian before about it. According to them, a horse that has just turned to a two year old equals a six year old child. What most people don't realize is that horses don't stop growing and developing until they are about 5-7 years of age depending upon the animal. This is an area in which I have done a lot of research in. It is not incorrect. Go argue with a veterinarian about it and see how far you get. IT IS A PROVEN FACT. Would you like me to list all of the websites that prove it?

http://horses.about.com/library/calcs/blagecompare.htm

However, some sources are now argueing that horses do mature more quickly until they reach age 3 which they call puberty. However, anyone who has worked with horses knows that horses actually reach puberty at one year of age. At 3, they are considered mature horses. Some sources say that for every 1 year of age until they reach 3 equals 6.5 years in human age. These sources say that after three they age at about 2.5 years per year. However, I disagree with this assessment because horses don't stop growing until they are 5-7 years of age. A human stops growing and developing (bones) when they are around 18. At five, according to these sources, a horse would be 25 in human years, yet some horses bones are still developing at this age. Therefore, this cannot be correct.

[Danzig]

like i said, lifespan-wise, yes. but equating maturity or actual physical ability? no way. most think a horses reaches it's optimal physical condition at age four, that would make them the equivalent of a twelve year old. no way that would make sense.

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

Originally Posted by Danzig188

like i said, lifespan-wise, yes. but equating maturity or actual physical ability? no way. most think a horses reaches it's optimal physical condition at age four, that would make them the equivalent of a twelve year old. no way that would make sense.

It depends on what type of horses you are talking about. Show jumpers aren't their best until they are age 12-15. I tend to think that racehorses are their best in their 4-6 years depending upon the individual and if they haven't peaked too early. However, we don't get to see a lot of our stars at this age because of injuries. Maybe racehorses are even better in their seven/eight year old years. We don't know because not enough talented horses stay around to be raced at this late age. However, I know of some great steeple chasers that are raced and winning at the highest levels at seven-ten years of age.

A four year old is not done growing yet. My good horse chucker grew a whole another inch his four year old year, and then a half an inch his five year old year. My horse Sis is still getting taller and filling out in her four year old year. She has grown another half an inch this year and her hind end is still higher than her withers. (Horses' hind ends grow faster).

[Downthestretch55]

Danzig,
Do you mind if I ask you a question?
Do you own or work with horses?

From my own experience, of the six two year olds I've owned (two are currently two, the others are older now), each has been very different.
Some bloom early, some later.
Each one has been unique.
I just take them at their own stage of development.

Please don't mind my asking, I mean no offense.

DTS