Does my yearling show Hunter/Jumper potential?

So I have a brown SPB yearling I wanna know if you think he shows any Hunter/Jumper potential. What does he have that would help him? Hinder him? I'm trying to find a basic idea of his potential so this will be in a few other threads. Please be serious and thanks! These pics are him when he was about 6-8 months old. I don't have any of him moving but I will get some ASAP!!

Your yearling has pretty nicely built hindquarters and withers, though I suppose his humerus could be a bit less horizontal--however, the first thing I notice when looking at him is how downhill he is built. Now, it's perfectly plausible and maybe even probable that he'll grow out of that a fair amount, but if he doesn't, it's going to restrict his movement and make it harder for him to bring his legs up over the jump. Which means that he may be hitting rails. Jumping horses should be built level or uphill, which he isn't at present. I'm not a professional, though, just pointing out what I see :)

Okay I'm just going to let you know that he was around 6 months old in these pictures and I'll have to get some newer pictures that people can look at but thanks for your current thoughts. At the time his rear WAS higher but that was just how his legs ere now there better and I'll have to get some better pcitures.

It's so, so hard to judge them that young. What I have found when it comes to h/j horses though is that it's more heart/mindset than physical ability for the most part. I know of 16+hh TB and TB crosses who are bred and built for jumping... but obviously dread every second of it and hardly manage to stumble over 2 ft jumps even with amazing training. And then you have horses like mine, a paint who was bred for western events, to be low and slow, and he looks at those jumps like a tiger looks at a steak dinner - loving every moment of it.

Yep, i'm with Poco on this one. It's not always the way the horse is built that will determine whether or not he/she will have a competitive jump. It's got a more to do with bravery, willingness, fitness, and heart.
My gelding is a mutt of a paint that jumps meter twenty, and is as keen and brave as they come. :)

I love this young man's hip, ooh baby!

What I see as possible limitations are the horse's shoulder being more upright than is ideal for a jumping horse. He most likely won't have the movement theat is preferred in hunters, and he also doesn't have an efficient lever for snapping his front legs up and out of the way.

I am also concerned about fairly upright pasterns. Jumping horses absorb a lot on concussion and he does not have the confo that allows the horse to tolerate that.

He is undoubtably striking and attractive, though. To me, everything about him screams western horse, maybe even western pleasure, including his very pronounced muscling.

Is there a reason you want him to do hunters or jumpers?

And your last thread was if he could do reining? At this age you should just be putting really good basics on him that will work with EITHER western of English and decide what you like, also. Reining and H/J are pretty different. Reining and dressage-you might be able to do. I think you need to decide what you want your saddle to look like for starters, but that is JMHO.

I think that both Maura and Poco both hit the nail right on the head...
Maura is dead on about the upright pasterns... However, I have to agree with Poco on the fact that it all depends on the horse's heart. A horse and rider with a good connection and a strong commitment to the sport can go a long way. No doubt, everyone on the hunter/jumper circuit will come up and comment on how gorgeous he is :)

I hate to disagree, even respectfully, with someone who so nicely agreed with me; but I'm afraid I must.

Heart will get you a long way in a lot of disciplines, jumpers included, but in hunters, the horse must move like a hunter, jump in good form and nail 8 spots and two changes while looking relaxed, happy and elegant. All the heart in the world won't get a horse pinned if they routinely add a stride, hang a knee, blow a change or don't look the part.

Jumpers? Yes, heart and "want to" will trump looks and atheltic ability until the fences get pretty big. Eventing as well, until you get to Prelim and above.

OP, he's a good looking guy in any case. Why don't you wait until he grows up a little and let him tell you what he wants to do?