I feel like every time I start thinking Sophie is perfect, but smaller than I need, the universe steps in and gives me a break.
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| <3 her |
When she arrived as a 2 year old, she measured 13.2hh, not the 14hh stated on all the paperwork. Being used to draft crosses, warmbloods, and OTTBs who look almost ready to ride at that age, I got a lot of questions about my new weanling/yearling :)
Earlier this summer, as a just over 3 year old, she measured pretty much bang on 14hh and was looking a little more like a horse.
Science assured me she *should* get 14.2-3hh, but of course, I was feeling like I mjght not be so lucky. At least no matter what, she will fill out as she matures.
Last week, I noticed she was looking like she'd lost a little weight, and even wrote a post about what a fussy eater she is.
Yesterday, I took some pictures and noticed she looks a little bum high in all of them. Hmmm, actually, maybe she is growing?
Maybe?
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| So cute. Just turned 2 here. |
Earlier this summer, as a just over 3 year old, she measured pretty much bang on 14hh and was looking a little more like a horse.
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| Right around 3 years old here. |
Science assured me she *should* get 14.2-3hh, but of course, I was feeling like I mjght not be so lucky. At least no matter what, she will fill out as she matures.
Last week, I noticed she was looking like she'd lost a little weight, and even wrote a post about what a fussy eater she is.
Yesterday, I took some pictures and noticed she looks a little bum high in all of them. Hmmm, actually, maybe she is growing?
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| Could just be the angle? |
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| Hmmm |
Out came the measuring stick. Sure enough, she's about 14.1 1/2 right now. Yay!
Further encouragement came as I adjusted her saddle this morning. I have an adjustable gullet one right now to get us through. It's not perfect, and was seeming less so. I had been using a medium width, but a quick check showed she'd be happier in a wide! It seems so counterintuitive given how narrow she seems, but there is a round pony barrel behind some big shoulders. Of course we still have long legs that look like they're coming from the same place, but it's encouraging to me that structurally, there's a frame there to grow into.
I think she's always going to be pretty leggy and feminine looking and that's totally fine - I didn't buy a cob! It seems like such minor, incremental changes, but at some point in the last couple of months I went from feeling like she's quite tiny, to feeling like heightwise she's just about perfect.
Yesterday, I was grooming Bridget and caught myself thinking she seemed smaller. I think that's because Sophie is now 2 inches taller than her!
I knew that she wasn’t done. I bet she continues for a couple more years.
ReplyDelete:) I seem to be prone to being all negative about it, lol
DeleteCisco was scrawny until his 5th year. He always looked very immature for his age. And he grew 1.5" between 6 & 8. He's still short, but now he's a bit of a tank.
ReplyDeleteDo you want Sophie to stay under pony height? Not that you have a choice in the matter!
It doesn't matter too much, but I think I'd rather she went over. Bridget is pony sized and the rules bit us in the butt a couple times in dressage since I'm an adult on a pony. Might be nice to just have a 'horse' like everyone else :)
DeleteShe's a gorgeous pony and looks super! I just love her gold dapples.
ReplyDeleteI'm excited to see what she looks like once she's in work and has better muscling :)
DeleteGrowing up and filling in, she looks beautiful!
ReplyDeleteGetting there. It sounds so spoiled of me to say she's not turning out quite what I had hoped conformation wise, but I never claimed to be an expert at picking out babies and some better muscling might help the picture. I do quite like her temperament so, I'm winning regardless :)
DeleteShe is so beautiful! Really filling in and looking like an adult these days.
ReplyDeleteShe's the sassiest/sweetest thing too. It took me a long time to warm up to poor Bridget, but Sophie instantly felt like she belonged here.
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