i'm not sure about the back.  a little dippy maybe.  i think his neck is too long and his body is more compact which for me makes it difficult to see for sure.

i have seen horses change drastically between 1 and 2 years though, so, who knows what the end horse will look like.

i had a gorgeous little yearling bought for me once and by 2 he was the ugliest horse.  everything grew but his legs and neck.

48northfarm:

Yes, remember that youngsters are the ugliest and scrawniest they'll ever be between 1 and 2.  I wouldn't worry about him for awhile.  We could pick him apart, conformation-wise, but why? He's just as likely to be different in a year.

I totally agree! Horse's change soooo much in their young years..Although looking at his back he maybe prone to get a sway back considering the way his back meets his withers. It's dippy there and I'd recommend that when you break him out to make sure you are using a saddle that fits him well and to use a thick saddle pad or even a pad with built in pressure relief. Do everything in your power to make sure you keep him healthy and sound. From the looks of him if I were you I might even wait until he's 2 1/2 or 3 to break him out. But then again he could get a huge growth spurt and be built just fine to break when he's 2. I'd let him be turned out as much as possible at this age. Just let him be a colt. I mean yes bring him in, work on his leading, brushing, ground manners, and possibly a little showmanship, but not too much. Being turned out really lets colts just be colts. It allowes them to be natural and aids their growth. good luck with him he's a cutie

What a cutie pie!!! Sometimes their baby pot bellies make it seem like they have a little bit of a swayback.  It looks like he's already got a good start on ground manners.  Look at him standing in the crossties like a good boy!

 Well, he definitely won't be "just fine to break when he's 2," no horse is.  Horses do go through awkward growth spurts, so it could be that.  There IS  a condition called lordosis, where the back is overly curved.  For now, I would just give him a time and good care and watch and see what happens.

48northfarm:

Solaris:

 Well, he definitely won't be "just fine to break when he's 2," no horse is.

I agree with Solaris. I bit my tongue when I read the comment about starting him at 2, not wanting to start a fight. But, horses MIGHT be physically able to carry a rider at 2, but their bones are still fusing and their MINDS are nowhere close to being ready for riding them. I tacked up my Lusitano filly at 3.5, but did not start her until 4, as advised by several NH trainers. There nothing wrong with developing good ground manners at 2, but wait to start him until he's 4.

 I don't think I'd be too worried.  Yearlings almost always look terrible.  There was an old rule of thumb that I can't remember where I heard... but horses are generally most conformationally correct at 3 weeks, 3 months, and 3 years old.  I don't think it's totally accruate and I may even be reciting it wrong because I think it's a bogus rule, but it emphasizes that there is a LOT of changing that occurs between 1-4 years and even later in some horses.

 He is croup high like most babies are.  This can contribute to him looking sway backed.  Also, the TB in him will give him that promenant wither making him look further swayed.  

If you're really concerned, talk to your vet.  

He's cute! What do you plan to do with him?