bloods Grow?
By Erica Larson
The mare Beaujoulais (Oldenburg by LeSanto) (1 & 2) at 35 months at Flying Lion Farm. (3) At 36 months they put Beaujoulais into work.
A different mare at Flying Lion Farm, Isabella (Oldenburg by LeSanto) that they felt needed more time to mature. Here (1 & 2) she too is 35 months old. (3) At 44 months they began Isabella under saddle. Photos courtesy of Flying Lion Farm
Scientifically, there may be no specific proof that
Warmbloods grow slower than other breeds. However many breeders that produce Warmbloods as well as other breeds say there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence that Warmbloods mature later than other breeds. “It can vary for each individual horse, but in general
Warmbloods mature later than our Arabs, therefore we start them later,” says Tom Crossen of Crossen Arabians & Warmbloods in Coventry, Connecticut. Tom and his wife Susan have been breeding horses for 25 years and started with Arabians, have bred Arab/Warmblood crosses, and today they are breeding Hanoverians and Oldenburgs along with their Arabians. As the farm’s trainer, Tom remarks, “I can begin
ground work and regular round pen work with our Arabians usually at around two and a half to three, but the Warmbloods are started later at three or three and a half or maybe even four, depending on the individual horse’s balance and/or mental maturity.” Initially Tom puts a young Warmblood in the round pen
to assess whether the horse is ready to focus. “I can tell very quickly whether the horse is mature enough mentally
and physically to go to work. Every one is different.” Juliana Whittenburg of Flying Lion Farm in central
Florida breeds Thoroughbreds for racing as well as Warmbloods for sport. She notes that a lot of trainers will start Thoroughbreds at one and a half which, in her opinion, is way too soon. For the most part their farm starts their Thoroughbreds in light work at age two, and she believes that the Thoroughbreds mature and finish growing at around age four. When it comes to her Warmbloods, Juliana agrees with
Tom Crossen. “Every horse is an individual,” says Juliana. “One Oldenburg mare that we bred was started at three and she was ready to go into steady work. For the larger Warmbloods, we often wait until they are three and a half or four before putting them into regular work. We’ll break them earlier, but then wait. Chances are they are still growing at four and need that extra time to mature.”
Growth Factor When discussing equine growth and maturity rates with clients, regardless of what breed of horse they own, Dr. Clabaugh uses an analogy of an oak tree and a pine tree:
(Continues on p. 52) Warmbloods Today 49
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