I thought babies grew in the back and then caught up in front but I have a seventeen month old that has consistently been a full hand taller behind since she was a weanling. When will she even out? I’d like to show her on the line as a two year old but she’s so downhill!! Currently 16.1 behind and 15.1 at the wither. Any chance she’ll catch up by spring?
The answer to your question is, “It depends.” Is it possible? Certainly it is but much of that depends on her genetics. Are either her parents downhill? How did her siblings grow? I have a 2 year old Welsh Cob whose growth spurts are pretty typical. He usually gets higher in the croup and then will level out and the next thing you know he’s higher at the croup again. I do expect he will level out and even be a bit higher at the wither once he’s done growing but that’s because I’ve seen his parents and know how they grew (I’ve also seen at least 3 generations back so again I don’t expect any surprises). My 10 year old Welsh Cob gelding seemed to stay level throughout most of his growing and is definitely that as an adult. All that being said, I had a Welsh Cob gelding that I purchased as a 2 year old who was higher in the croup. I didn’t think too much of it because, again, I knew and saw his dam and sire (rode and showed his dam). HOWEVER, he never ever caught up in front and remained built downhill (still is at age 26). When I researched his lineage I found a grandsire who was lower in the wither than croup as a fully mature stallion. Those throwbacks can get you.
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