Proper String Test on a long yearling

horseloverinVA · 01-06-2009, 09:27 AM

I've read through several threads on this subject but haven't really been able to decifer a definite answer. When you string test you go from the middle of the knee to the coronet band. But my question is...do you follow the contour of the leg or not?

cascy · 01-06-2009, 09:34 AM

We don't, we just pull it stright usually to measure.

I've heard most folks around here measure from the middle of the knee to the cornet band, then hold your string there, take it up to where the leg meets the shoulder and hold ur string up and that's about how tall your horse will get

lopintoo · 01-06-2009, 12:02 PM

Measure from the center (feel for the gap) of the knee straight down to the coronary band (where the hair/skin meets the hoof). Hold the string, or a small flexible measuring tape works great too, straight and tight. However many inches it measures, that is how many hands your horse will be at maturity. Example: 13 1/2 inches would be 13. 2 hands tall, 15 1/4 inches would be 15.1 hands tall.

breburtch · 01-06-2009, 12:09 PM

I think I'm going to try this on Malachi sometime this week. He will be 2 years old come april. I sticked him a few days ago was hard to get a proper measurment as he kept moving but came out just slightly over 14.1 hh at the withers and slightly over 14.3 at the hip.....I'm hoping he finishes atleast 15.2 but with him being a draft cross and knowing they tend to grow a bit slower I'm praying he will finish over 16hh.
So I'll try the string test and see if I get a reading over 15 inches he's got really short cannon bones so I'll kinda assume he will be a few inches larger then the reading I get.

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01-06-2009, 09:27 AM
horseloverinVA Started Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: South Central, Virginia Posts: 2,457	Proper String Test on a long yearling I've read through several threads on this subject but haven't really been able to decifer a definite answer. When you string test you go from the middle of the knee to the coronet band. But my question is...do you follow the contour of the leg or not? __________________ You only need two tools in life - WD-40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape.

01-06-2009, 09:34 AM
cascy Bombproof Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: arkansas Posts: 7,865	We don't, we just pull it stright usually to measure. I've heard most folks around here measure from the middle of the knee to the cornet band, then hold your string there, take it up to where the leg meets the shoulder and hold ur string up and that's about how tall your horse will get __________________ "How smooth must be the language of the whites, when they can make right look like wrong, and wrong like right."~Black Hawk

01-06-2009, 12:02 PM
lopintoo Coming two Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,986	Measure from the center (feel for the gap) of the knee straight down to the coronary band (where the hair/skin meets the hoof). Hold the string, or a small flexible measuring tape works great too, straight and tight. However many inches it measures, that is how many hands your horse will be at maturity. Example: 13 1/2 inches would be 13. 2 hands tall, 15 1/4 inches would be 15.1 hands tall.

01-06-2009, 12:09 PM
breburtch Greenbroke Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Ennismore, Ontario Posts: 3,105	I think I'm going to try this on Malachi sometime this week. He will be 2 years old come april. I sticked him a few days ago was hard to get a proper measurment as he kept moving but came out just slightly over 14.1 hh at the withers and slightly over 14.3 at the hip.....I'm hoping he finishes atleast 15.2 but with him being a draft cross and knowing they tend to grow a bit slower I'm praying he will finish over 16hh. So I'll try the string test and see if I get a reading over 15 inches he's got really short cannon bones so I'll kinda assume he will be a few inches larger then the reading I get.