At what age can you use this little trick to predict equine height? ... you know, when you take some binder twine, position it from the ergot to the point of the elbow, and then pivot the twine from the point of elbow, upwards, to determine height.

My guy is a yearling (+ 2 months!), and I performed the "test" yesterday.... YIKES! He'll only be approx 16hh! This can't be! I am 6 feet tall, and need him to grow at least to 16.2!!!

Someone please tell me this test can't be used as a prediction until a horse is at least 2 or 3 ~ PLEASE!!!

I was told a horse needed to be at least 18 months to do the inch test from cornet band to the center of the knee and at least 2 years to do the string test.

I googled this a while ago and did a lot of reading up on it. I don't think this method is totally reliable regardless of how old they are. there are equal numbers of people who swear by it and who think it's useless. so i guess it all depends on your personal experiences with it. but i agree...i think they need to be a bit older (at least 18mths) before you try it...there are just so many variables that determine how big/small a horse ends up. good luck.

my friend and I tried it on her horse when she was a yearling? or two years old, can't remember. Anyway, we did the elbow to ergot method, and it measured her to make 17.3hh!!

Now this mare did make it past 16hh, but I'm certain she won't be making 17.3hh (she is 4 this year, so most growing in height is going to be minimal)

I tried it on my mare when she was around 18 months, and she measure out to 16hh. She's just shy of 16hh and probably won't pass 16hh. but you never know, she is just 3 this year, so there's a little bit of growing left.

Thanks guys! This gives me a bit of hope