Racing A Draft Horse

Beathan Vale · Post by **Beathan Vale** » 16 years ago

I have a foal who will (apparently) be seventeen hands high.

<a href='http://www.simhorseracing.com/horse.php?HorseID=49605' target='_blank'>http://www.simhorseracing.com/horse.php ... D=49605</a>

What implications does this have? Should I be more worried about certain injuries? I understand that Phar Lab was as big -- but I am hard pressed to think of other precedents.

Beathan

Paul Heinrich · Post by **Paul Heinrich** » 16 years ago

My understanding is that the size of the horse doesn't matter in the SIM. Apparently it used to, with regards to sprinters vs. routers, but now it is just ornamentation. This is an interesting question, though.

Chris Briggs · Post by **Chris Briggs** » 16 years ago

From my understanding it is nothing more than a number. It will not affect any performance or injury values.

I am pretty certain this came up not too long ago, and that was my take on it.

Eric Nalbone · Post by **Eric Nalbone** » 16 years ago

Yep, that's my interpretation of it too. I don't think it matters, its just for our entertainment.

There have been plenty of big horses in real life, for what its worth. Point Given comes to mind, the Stallion Register lists him at 17.0. Dynaformer is listed at 17.0, as is Unbridled's Song. Tiznow is listed at 16.3, Indian Charlie at 16.3. So there are definitely big ones out there.

Gary Cooper · Post by **Gary Cooper** » 16 years ago

Man o' War was huge... up near 17 hands. And many of his bloodline (except for the Bistcuit, have been big. Like Tiznow as mentioned... Bertrando, Hard Tack, and many others all being over 16.3 hands

Then you have your Rock Hard Ten at 17 hands and Forego at 17.3, but leg problems followed him everywhere.

Martin Pennington · Post by **Martin Pennington** » 16 years ago

Grand National winner of 1992 Party Politics was 18HH+

He really was HUGE!

Saying that I have some big ones in the SIM and some tiny cute cuddly one's like my most expensive purchase Starring Me

Amanda O'Brien · Post by **Amanda O'Brien** » 16 years ago

Persian Punch was a towerblock too i think

Friedrich Barbarossa · Post by **Friedrich Barbarossa** » 16 years ago

Pretty sure Rock Hard Ten belongs on this list as well. I don't know what he is in the sim but I think he's 17.1 or so in real life which makes what they did for his hat pretty funny (I think).

"Rock Hard Ten, size does matter." Hehe...

<a href='http://www.horsehats.com/RockHardTen.html' target='_blank'>http://www.horsehats.com/RockHardTen.html</a>

Sarah Chase · Post by **Sarah Chase** » 16 years ago

Kevin H wrote: "Rock Hard Ten, size does matter." Hehe...

I am reminded of a certain comment in Ryen's exam thread.

Stormy Peak · Post by **Stormy Peak** » 16 years ago

I ended up with two foals this year that were 17 hands.

Rumors....she's a big girl, took after her daddy Theatrical who is 17 hands, but her momma was a shorty...only 15.3 hands tall.
<a href='http://www.simhorseracing.com/horse.php?HorseID=51128' target='_blank'>http://www.simhorseracing.com/horse.php ... D=51128</a>

Boogityboogity...both of his parents were barely over 16 hands.
<a href='http://www.simhorseracing.com/horse.php?HorseID=50332' target='_blank'>http://www.simhorseracing.com/horse.php ... D=50332</a>

Stormy

Ara Davies · Post by **Ara Davies** » 16 years ago

Look at War Song's family. You have the giants:

War Song (17.2), Banner (17), Map (17), Atlas (16.3), Choral (16.2), Exit (16.2), Pennant (16.2)

Then you have the shrimps:

Streamer (15.2), Chart (15.3), Siren (15.3)

Everest and Pentagon are in the middle.

All of these horses kicked butt. Thus height does not really matter.

Janie Jackson · Post by **Janie Jackson** » 16 years ago

you know, I never really thought of 16.3 as huge Thats the size my hunter was and he was pretty normal sized to me. But where I work now, at a trail riding place, they call a horse that reaches 16 hands a big boy... most of theirs are lucky to to reach over 15hh. And since it's been 7 years since I sold my horse, and I didn't really get to be around horses at all between then and getting this job- I'm actually surprised when I learn how "small" the horses they have are. the 15.2 hand horses now seem BIG.

Random observation.

Edit: Before I would have thought of 15 something as too small- I know they broke classes down into Small Hunter horse and Large, but I forget at what point, maybe 15.3 or something? And I remember being excited when we sold my first horse Overboard and got Gordon, because OB was just over pony sized and we had to WORK to get 8 strides in a 7, and Gordon was a grown-up horse and I got to be in the Large section and do the correct number of strides, haha. Boy, my show days are getting further and further away from me!

Jolene Danner · Post by **Jolene Danner** » 16 years ago

My mare is 14.2hh maybe a more. Her son is 14.3hh now and i'm always thinking about how large he is. The biggest horse on the place right now is 15.1hh. We like em small. Of course half the time with riding horses people have no real clue about how big they are. LOL I "stick" mine regularly to check thier progress. I think the TB filly is almost 15.00hh in the butt. She'll maybe get the tallest award before she ships out to South Carolina.