When Do Horses Stop Growing?

When do horses stop growing?  Like most things with horses, there is no one definitive timetable for when horses stop growing.  A variety of factors including age, breed, genetics, and management work together to influence how tall a horse will ultimately be.

White Frame Corner
White Frame Corner

Growth Differences

When they are foals, horses are only approximately only 10% of their ultimate body weight.

Floral Separator

Across breeds, the majority of them will reach approximately 90% of their full adult height by the time they are 2. The remaining 10% of growth takes place over the next 2 or so years.

Floral Separator

Age and Growth Statistics

The easiest way to know when your horse has stopped growing is to be constantly tracking their height, so you can see when they reach a plateau.

Floral Separator

How Do You Know When a Horse Is Finished Growing?

Full growth is essential to a horse's long and healthy life.   Many experts recommend waiting until a horse is at least 4 years old, if not closer to 6 to begin riding.

Why You Should Wait to Ride