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Discussion on Significant height differences front and back
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New Member:
Pinkapp
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Posted on Sunday, Oct 10, 2004 - 5:01 pm:
I'm a new member and desperately need something to make me feel better about one of my long-2 year olds. She was foaled in April of 2002 to a 16.0 hand mare and by a 16.2 hand stallion. She has had excellent nutrition since birth but I am NOT in the habit of pushing for extreme early growth just for the sake of a Futurity, etc. What I'm concerned about, though, is she has been 3-4 inches shorter in front since she was a weanling. I measured her again today and she's 15.1 at the withers, 16.0 at the rump. That's a full 3 inches different! Her mother is even front and back, but her sire is about 1" lower at the withers. If she doesn't get closer to evening up she's not going to have an easy time collecting, not to mention the extra stresses that's going to put on her front limbs. Is there any hope that this filly can "catch up" in front where there's such a vast difference in wither and rump heights as a long-2 year old??
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Member:
Onehorse
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Posted on Sunday, Oct 10, 2004 - 6:07 pm:
Maureen,
I'm not an expert on this subjewct, but I don't think there's anything to worry about at this time. Depending on the breed, horses will grow and 'catch up' for three to four years in general and some horses even longer. As a 'long - 2 year old' I honestly don't think you have anything to worry about ... give it time. My quarter horse actually had a growth 'spurt' when he was five.
So relax.
Read this twice now and twice before you go to bed. If you don't feel better in the morning, call again.
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Member:
Pinkapp
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Posted on Sunday, Oct 10, 2004 - 8:09 pm:
Thanks, Rick. Every time I have my vet out for something, I've posed this same question to him. He keeps telling me that she'll even out. The biggest reason it has me worried is that she has basically been horribly uneven her whole life. The only time she was even was as a suckling!! Had she been a few inches off, then caught up and then gone uneven again, I think I could relax a bit more. This filly has such an innate, natural talent for Hunter Under Saddle that I'd be terribly disappointed if she ended up "not cutting the mustard" because of being front-end low. And, as far as I'm concerned, it would automatically take her out of the broodmare band as I wouldn't want to take the chance of propagating other individuals with similar problems.
On the optimistic side...I owned a full-brother to this filly's dam and, although he was pretty even all along, he tended to be a bit of a "late-bloomer". The stallion's owner reports the same about the filly's sire, so maybe there's hope yet.
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Member:
Oscarvv
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Posted on Monday, Oct 11, 2004 - 8:10 am:
Hi there,
Try not to worry. I have one doing the same exact thing. He has not been even since he was a weanling. Your girl still has time to grow. But since her sire is a little bit lower in front you may end up with a little difference but I wouldn't think the three inches you are seeing now.
-B
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