Back length in 2 year olds?

[Jumper_girl221]

Well I got some pictures this weekend of her! She’s right at 26 months at this point and I think is going through a growth spurt (she’s a smidge thin).

In my 18 1/2" Black country CC saddle

And a informal confo shot.…I was playing around with some inhand stuff in the ring and had squared her up and was letting her hang out watching the big horses work. Unfortunately she’s had issues with her front legs, particularly over at the knee, off and on growing and I’m wondering if that is here to stay as well sigh

mumbles neverbreedingagain

This is my 6 year old in the same saddle for comparison.

[JB]

I don’t see any OATK at this point She’s nice and straight. She’s maybe a hair tied in below the knee, which can lend to a little oatk look. Even that I wouldn’t worry about - I’ve seen too many young horses be a little tied in but mature quite well once all their bone filled in

I think she’s going to be fine. Her back WILL lengthen at least a little. It’s still got about 3 years worth of growing to do. Probably not significantly, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she got another ince added.

[Dressage_Diva333]

She looks very immature and growthy to me. I’d just toss her back out to pasture and evaluate again next year. Almost looks more like a yearling, she’s really got a lot of growing to do.

[Dance_To_Oblivion]

When my former farrier saw my now 6 year old as a 2 year old, he told me I shouldn’t take him out in public for awhile because he was so awkward looking. I have tried very hard to remember that thought when looking at my young horses. I think she looks quite lovely for a 2 year old and you should just stop fretting for the next couple years while she grows! Wine helps

[Jumper_girl221]

Thanks JB, that makes me feel a SMIDGE better…

DD-I really haven’t done much with her. I keep wanting to do an inhand class or two at our local 4-H shows, but she keeps getting so durn ugly. This was only the 3rd time she’s worn a saddle period…and I still havent’ messed with her long lining or anything like that.

She’s so immature compared to a lot of the other 2 year olds I see so I’m not worried about letting her grow, I have plenty of others to ride (plus I am not a small rider so would squish her at this point!). Her sire has a lot of older blood from what I was told, and her dam is pretty substantial for a TB, so I’m wondering if that’s why.

Dance-I hear you!!! I’m hoping I’ll be able to stop hiding her sometime around 6??? Still nothing here can compare to her yearling stage shudder She didn’t even look like a horse then…just a camel x goat x llama thing