Growth Rates in Thoroughbred Horses Raised in Florida

Growth rates of thoroughbred horses are not as well defined as those of other farm animals, and only a few articles summarize growth of thoroughbred horses over a prolonged period. Body weight (BW), heart girth (HG), wither height (WH), body length (BL), and hip height (HH) of 128 thoroughbred horses (59 colts and 69 fillies) were recorded from birth to 15 months of age at 14- or 28-day intervals. Data were obtained from consecutive 20 foal crops. At birth (0 day), BW was 53.55 ± 5.20 kg (range, 39.04–67.19), HG was 0.82 ± 0.03 m (range, 0.75–0.90), WH was 1.02 ± 0.03 m (range, 0.93–1.10), BL was 0.74 ± 0.03 m (range, 0.67–0.82), and HH was 1.05 ± 0.03 m (range, 0.93–1.14). At weaning (112 ± 3 days), BW was 199.57 ± 13.58 kg (range, 163.44–234.26), HG was 1.29 ± 0.04 m (range, 1.19–1.37), WH was 1.27 ± 0.03 m (range, 1.21–1.35), BL was 1.17 ± 0.03 m (range, 1.08–1.30), and HH was 1.32 ± 0.03 m (range, 1.24–1.39). At 6 months (181 ± 4 days), BW was 237.16 ± 18.48 kg (range, 186.14–288.74), HG was 1.36 ± 0.04 m (range, 1.24–1.45), WH was 1.33 ± 0.03 m (range, 1.26–1.40), BL was 1.25 ± 0.03 m (range, 1.17–1.33), and HH was 1.38 ± 0.03 m (range, 1.28–1.44). At 12 months (361 ± 8 days), BW was 337.73 ± 26.61 kg (range, 267.86–394.98), HG was 1.56 ± 0.05 m (range, 1.41–1.66), WH was 1.45 ± 0.03 m (range, 1.36–1.55), BL was 1.42 ± 0.04 m (range, 1.31–1.51), and HH was 1.49 ± 0.03 m (range, 1.41–1.57). At 15 months (447 ± 8 days), BW was 392.48 ± 30.61 kg (range, 317.80–457.18), HG was 1.64 ± 0.05 m (range, 1.52–1.76), WH was 1.49 ± 0.03 m (range, 1.42–1.58), BL was 1.48 ± 0.04 m (range, 1.40–1.59), and HH was 1.53 ± 0.03 m (range, 1.46–1.62). Two regression equations (y1 from birth to 112 days of age and y2 from 113 to 450 days of age) were calculated. WTkg is estimated by y1 = 1.28x + 57.82 (R2 = 0.94) and y2 = 0.57x + 133.28 (R2 = 0.86). HGm is estimated by yl = 0.0041x + 0.86 (R2 = 0.90) and y2 = 0.0011x + 1.16 (R2 = 0.84). WHm is estimated by y1 = 0.0022x + 1.03 (R2 = 0.85) and y2 = 0.0006x + 1.22 (R2 = 0.80). BLm is estimated by y1 = 0.0038x + 0.77 (R2 = 0.92) and y2 = 0.0009x + 1.09 (R2 = 0.85). HHm is estimated by y1 = 0.0024x + 1.07 (R2 = 0.87) and y2 = 0.0006x + 1.27 (R2 = 0.78).