Croup high youngster in

[Winger23man]

My just gone 3 year old Connie (august born) is croup high and looks odd. He’s just over 15hh in front and just over 15.1hh behind. Any thoughts

 

[Gloi]

Don't panic he'll catch up.

 

[tda]

Nothing to worry about

 

[SEL]

Youngsters can look like they're made from two different horses at times. His front end will catch up.

 

[scats]

Most catch up, try not to worry. Though my 13 year old part bred Welsh never did
She looks like your photo. Though I think she’s a rather unusual case!

 

[Midlifecrisis]

That’s how they grow….back end..front end..then hopefully all square at the end. Our 3 year old is the same.

 

[twiggy2]

Many do this and level out, some stay a little Hugh behind but you get what you get nothing you can do to change it.

 

[Landcruiser]

My mare is about 1.5 inches higher at the croup than the wither, she's rising 5. My bodyworker suggests I wait for her front end to catch up before backing her, so as not to encourage her to throw her weight onto the forehand.

 

[millitiger]

If that is a genuine, level, photo I have to say I doubt he will catch-up fully and I would think he will always be slightly downhill.
However, lots of horses are built downhill so I wouldn't unduly worry but would bear it in mind in his work when you get to that stage.

 

[maya2008]

They catch up. I once bought a cob cross who was 14.3hh behind and 14.1hh in front aged 3.5. He eventually finished at 14.3hh all round.

 

[Fransurrey]

My cob was croup high until he was 6 or 7! He's level now, as far as I can tell. I haven't actually measured him for a couple of years (he's 9).

 

[Winger23man]

If that is a genuine, level, photo I have to say I doubt he will catch-up fully and I would think he will always be slightly downhill.
However, lots of horses are built downhill so I wouldn't unduly worry but would bear it in mind in his work when you get to that stage.

The field isn’t flat so not the best photo. I’ve since found out his sire was croup high but didn’t affect his jumping ability to 1.40cm

 

[dorsetladette]

We've joked we bought a drag racer as our youngster always seems to be bum high. He seems to be levelling out now, but we'll probably have another growth spirt soon.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Being bum high is normal when youngsters are still growing and developing, but some horses will remain croup high even when physically mature (I’ve known a few), only time will tell.

A difference of an inch or less shouldn’t affect the horse overly much in a ridden career, but more than that and it becomes much more of a challenge re saddle fitting etc.

 

[dougpeg]

My Highland pony is very croup high. He will be 6 next year so I'm losing hope he will level out. He seems remarkably well balanced considering the difference although saddle fitting is proving a nightmare. Slight slope here but still

 

[millitiger]

The field isn’t flat so not the best photo. I’ve since found out his sire was croup high but didn’t affect his jumping ability to 1.40cm

Yep, many horses are croup high and some very successful.
I more meant to bear it in mind when working him, you have to be more aware to try and keep him off his forehand but also be conscious he will find that harder to do than a naturally uphill horse so it's a fine balance.

 

[sbloom]

Many do this and level out, some stay a little Hugh behind but you get what you get nothing you can do to change it.

Although this is a widespread belief there's actually a different way to look at it. Horses vary in their natural, conformational balance, for sure, but as they have no collarbones their height to the wither isn't fixed, a horse can grow in height in one ride, if you're bringing the thoracic sling up. If we work on their posture it can change them and how they move, even in the field.