Growth dynamics of Lipizzan horses and their comparison to other horse breeds

A typical body format of Slovenian Lipizzan horse was investigated. The stu dy included 6 foals (5 colts and I filly) at the Lipica stud farm. They wer e measured from birth to twenty-seven months and again at forty-four months of age. Measurements included body length, chest circumference, withers he ight and body mass. All those measurements were statistically evaluated and compared to some other horse breeds to determine the similarity of the gro wth dynamics of those horse breeds. It was concluded that the parameters of the head and neck reached their full growth at the age of 27 months and al so exceeded the values of their parents. The same results were obtained wit h the length and heights of the body (body length, withers height, etc.) an d with the parameters of the front and hind legs. However the girth width, hip width and some other parameters had not yet reached their full growth a t 27 months. We observed different growth dynamics with the body weight. Th e parameter continued to grow after 27 months of age. The same growth dynam ics also seem to apply to other investigated horse breeds although the actu al measurements were slightly different.