Long cannons in weanling

[colorfan]

.

I have just recently purchased a weanling. I have never bought one so young before, I saw both mom and dad, the dad looks great, mom pretty good, wonderful temperament. I have had horses for many years but have not had much to do with babies.
Anyway, my question is regarding her conformation, even in the month I have had her she has grown, is now 12-and 1/2 (not 12.2). My concern is she seems to have very long hind cannons. I understand the leg bones are among the first to stop growing so will she grow into these long cannons or will the ratio continue as she matures?
I hope my question makes sense thank you.

[EventerAJ]

Cannon bones are about 90% adult length at birth. They will look long until late yearling year, this is normal, just due to proportions of a growing horse. Most growth in weanlings is from above the knee/hock.

For reference, my TB weanlings are 14h (colt is 7mo, filly is 8.5 mo).

[colorfan]

They are beautiful. Thank you.

[JB]

yep, the whole leg structure is nearly the adult length, on a baby body. Pasterns especially tend to freak people out, as they ARE their adult length in just a few months, without the diameter of adult pasterns, so they look particularly long on a foal/weanling body, even a bit into the yearling year.

[colorfan]

Are the Pasterns more upright in a baby also?

[JB]

Yep, they are - no real weight to push the fetlocks down

[colorfan]

ok thanks, good to know.

[eightpondfarm]

Equines grow from the ground up. First to solidify are pasterns, then cannons…on up. Last bones to mature are spine and jaw. So, if pasterns are first to grow their full size, then cannons…everything above will seem too small/short in comparison. Give all the bones time to catch up and your weaning will become proportional looking.