Conformation critique..bearing in mind all the veterinary issues...

[BeckyD]

I know you all hate doing this, but I'd be interested to hear peoples' opinions of Ronnie, especially as we've had injury after injury after injury. I'll post the best pictures I have, though I have none of him stood perfectly square. Thank you in anticipation.

ETS - gosh they're huge. Sorry folks

 

[AmyMay]

I think he is simply lovely. I'm not being polite and have to say hes is one of my most favorite HHO horses.

 

[cavalo branco]

I'm no expert but I can't find a lot to dislike! What sort of vet issues has he had??

 

[Silverspring]

Is this the monster horse that like to jump on people's head cos he never gets out the stable

I remember chatting about way to control him on the lunge.

Are these pics of him while he's on box rest? He's in very good condition if so!

The only thing that I can see as a noticable (minor) fault would be his pasterns and hooves and quite upright esp in the front. He well proprotioned through the body and neck and looks to have a good set of hocks on him.

He'd do well in a working hunter class if you can get him all fixed

 

[BeckyD]

Oh Amy that made me cry - thank you (and yes, I'm a bit over-emotional at the moment with worry about him!).

 

[Halfstep]

Well, you asked for a critique!

Upright pasterns, long cannons, and slightly over at the knee in front.

Straight through the hock and weak in the loin and gaskin.

neck set on rather low and thick and out of a fairly upright shoulder.

But - beautiful head and expression!

 

[Bossanova]

He's a very attractive horse

His weaker points would be his slightly upright hindleg, his fairly long pasterns and he could have more angle to his shoulder. But generally he is quite a nice shape

 

[BeckyD]

Lots! I think we now are on injury/problems numbered 11-14 (in the space of 15 months). Ranging from cutting his troat open with his own foot (don't ask), banged near fore tendon (not conformational, admittedly), through to concussions in forelegs (from being a hooligan in the field) causing suspensory-type swelling (scanned all ok), sacroiliac strain following somersaults in the field, to proximal suspensory desmitis, to coffin joint problems. And he's only just 6 this year.

 

[BeckyD]

Yes this is Ronster the Monster! Living up to his billing as usual. These pics were from last year, but having said that he's done really well on box rest and is in fab condition, considering!

Thank you for the critique

 

[AmyMay]

How long was he off with his 'banged' tendon?? Thumper has just done the same.

 

[Silverspring]

What's his breeding? I'd guess WB with a fair amount of TB in him but I may be right off the mark

 

[BeckyD]

Thank you! The straight hind leg - where am I looking at, exactly? I've been told by several people that he has an upright hind leg, but I don't know what a "good" hind leg is to compare it to. Am I looking for angle through the hock?

Now you say it I can see about the shoulder - which is odd as I've always thought his front end was his only saving grace. That's interesting..<scuttles off to examine old pics to see if he's changed shape there. Hmmm no, perhaps I was just wrong before

Thank you! I wish I had a better eye for this sort of thing.

 

[JM07]

[ QUOTE ]
Well, you asked for a critique!

Upright pasterns, long cannons, and slightly over at the knee in front.

Straight through the hock and weak in the loin and gaskin.

neck set on rather low and thick and out of a fairly upright shoulder.

But - beautiful head and expression!

[/ QUOTE ]

^^^

what she said

 

[BeckyD]

Oh no poor Thumper - how did he do that? Ronnie was on box rest for 2 weeks, with another scan at the end which showed the fibres starting to heal and the fluid reducing (there were no tears 0 only a little more fluid than normal between the fibres). He then had gradual increase in t/o over a period of about a month, then started walking work for 3 weeks. Had just commenced trot when he did the sacroiliac so I can't tell you any further than that. He's been left with a barely-there bump on that tendon.

I hope Thumper heals quickly. xx

 

[Bossanova]

This pic is fairly good- http://www.gaitedhorses.net/ConformationLesson/RearEnds/DrawL3.gif
In the most basic terms his cannon bone comes out a bit straight from his hock joint. It seems to be linked to more hock problems such as spavins and hind suspensory issues

 

[BeckyD]

Pure TB

But he's pretty solid for a pure TB really. Most people assume he's a WB. I even had a full-on argument at a show last summer

with a woman who was telling me he isn't a TB. Erm, he is, and I have the racing videos to prove it!

 

[Quadro]

he is amazingly goregous, really is my type but i would say i think he is a bit weak through the back but is really really lovely though

 

[pinktiger]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Well, you asked for a critique!

Upright pasterns, long cannons, and slightly over at the knee in front.

Straight through the hock and weak in the loin and gaskin.

neck set on rather low and thick and out of a fairly upright shoulder.

But - beautiful head and expression!

[/ QUOTE ]

^^^

and to add, back at the knee, the neck looks short, looks quite upright and overloaded at the shoulder, sweet head! Hock butt alignment off slightly!! Im sorry to hear about your problems with him, sounds like his brain is causing more physical problems than conformation!!

 

[BeckyD]

Thank you! Now it all makes sense. And yes - we do now have a hind suspensory problem. Thanks so much, I'm going to bookmark that picture to learn from. I've wasted so much time staring at Ronnie's back legs trying to figure what's straight about them! Doh.

Thank you, I really appreciate that.

 

[Silverspring]

[ QUOTE ]
This pic is fairly good- http://www.gaitedhorses.net/ConformationLesson/RearEnds/DrawL3.gif
In the most basic terms his cannon bone comes out a bit straight from his hock joint. It seems to be linked to more hock problems such as spavins and hind suspensory issues

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't want to get in an arguement but it's really difficult to comment on a horse's hocks without perfect conformation pictures which these aren't. I've looked at pics of my horse before and she can stand like a right ass and look sickle hocked with it but really her hocks are almost perfect (vets words not mine

)

 

[JM07]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
This pic is fairly good- http://www.gaitedhorses.net/ConformationLesson/RearEnds/DrawL3.gif
In the most basic terms his cannon bone comes out a bit straight from his hock joint. It seems to be linked to more hock problems such as spavins and hind suspensory issues

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't want to get in an arguement

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't post shite, then...............

 

[BeckyD]

Thank you for that. It's really helpful to hear you say that. I've had concerns about his neck being set on low, but wasn't sure. If his cannons were any shorter I'd really struggle with brushing boots - he's in pony size as it is (and no, they don't fit round the width, but do the length!).

I'm still amazed about his shoulder, I've always thought he had a fab shoulder but I'm wrong. Boo! I can see it now people are saying it.

Thank you! A lot of what you're saying is linked to the things that have gone wrong (PSD, SI et).

 

[BeckyD]

Thank you! I think he's gorgeous but I'm slightly biased

He is very weak through his back, you are very right.

 

[BeckyD]

Yes I think the brain is more of an issue than his (plentiful) physical faults. He's certainly quirky

Thank you!

 

[bensababy]

Just wanted to add also that im an admirer of your boy too. Lovely head.

 

[Bowen4Horses]

i know b*gger all about confo... but i do know a BEAUTIFUL looking horse when i see one, and this is one of them! he's stunning. congrats!

 

[Taffster]

He looks alittle roach abcked to me but then that could be lack of topline and picture combination, i'm rubbish with legs and even with that picture still cant figure out what is perfect???

 

[AmyMay]

Thump's struck into himself - very lucky as the skin was not broken through to the tendon. But he was very sore.

He is actually being allowed out for a few quiet hours - which helps his brain.

 

[Mbronze]

I don't know much about confo either, but just wanted to say he really is a lovely looking horse.

 

[BeckyD]

Thank you - he really is a handsome boy (though he wasn't when I bought him - definitely the ugly duckling!).

Gratuitous handsome Ronnie pic: