Conformation critique please!! (Now he's growing up)

SatansLittleHelper

SatansLittleHelper

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Just wondering what you think of my lad at the moment? ? These were taken today after the farrier had been.
He is 3 and a half now. No real idea what breed he is though was told Warmblood x ISH. Also dont know his heoght but last winter he was 15.3hh and in 6ft3 rugs....he is definately taller now (still more to go??) and in a 6ft9 rug.
I don't mind some brutally honest critique, you won't offend me....I love him regardless :)

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And one just because I love the ugly git ;)

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Not an expert at all but seems he is standing awkwardly in front. Feet underneath body? Love his cheeky face and markings.
 
you are right, horrible ugly horse - I will send a large jiffy bag and you can post him to me and I will out of the goodness of my heart hide him in my field for you permanently !!..... runs off to find very very large jiffy bag....
 
I agree that his forelegs are underneath him and his back legs are possibly set too far back on the last picture; however saying that, he's not stood square so it's hard to tell! I'd say he's a little long in the back, but may grow into himself.

He looks like a real cheeky chappy though!
 
I also think he looks a bit back at the knee, and his pasterns may be a little long in front. I think his long back will balance nicely with his front when he's fully grown and has some muscle on him! I'd say he's got a ways to go yet growth wise and the potential to put on a lot of muscle.

I think he's very handsome!

ETS: being back at the knee won't do him any harm. There are no major conformational defects that I can see that will affect him at all in his ridden career. When you're doing dressage, you want as good confirmation as you can get as it helps the horse produce the power; likewise, for showing, the judges will be more picky about it. But in the absence of anything serious, it doesn't affect the horse's ability to do what you and I and 90% of the horse owning population want to do in the slightest! Just my two cents!
 
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I dont think he's particularly back at the knee, but he does stand over himself- his forelegs should drop down vertically but you can see they slope backwards underneath him.
He has a long back and a short, upright neck, will probably find it hard to work genuinely on the vertical. He lacks a little depth of girth. I like his hindquarter, he should have a decent engine :)
 
Definitely not the horse for u, send him to me ( I may even collect the ugly horse) I will rid u of him for good and suffer the consequences. Once backed and hacking, I will hunt him for u just to check he is sound and the engine is tuned. One time only offer, can't say fairer than that ! I won't even charge u ! Can collect Sunday !

Seriously, my kind of donkey, looks like he would be fun and fast with a good ping. (Also kind of think he is gorgeous)
 
Thanks Meesha....I adore him 💜💜💜💜 I will hold you to that when he is being a complete pain in the rear lol.
Thamks for all the replies...basically I want him to do hacking, fun rides an jumping so hopefully he will be up to the job??
 
What a lovely boy!
He is standing well over himself, but I bet part of that is him not actually wanting to stand still and being interested in whatever is 'over there'.
He will more than do the job for you, I can imagine he will be a huge amount of fun!! xx
 
Nothing glaringly horrid about his conformation He is parked under himself but that could just be the way he is standing. Long pasterns and slighly back at the knee can be quite good as the pasterns are the shock absorbers and should give a comfortable ride. He is a bit short in the neck with too much muscle underneath and not enough topline but he is young and that should alter with correct work. Overall a pleasing youngster who should stay conformationally sound barring accidents and should grow into his head and frame. Not ugly at all just needs the right start to is working career
 
He looks lovely with a kind face, I like his little face marking :)
Not to do with confomation but can I ask where you got your rope halter from? Im after one :)
 
Thanks again...the observations are useful for me to look at him critically and see what needs work.

Maria I got the rope halter from my local tack shop but you can also buy them from ebay for around £7 :)
 
He has lovely markings, am sure if you start him carefully and do not overdo it in his first year you have a promising young horse to play with and bring on. It is always surprising just how different a horse can look once it is in work and develops in the right places.

The best pony we had for my children started off too long in the back and short in the neck which was also ewe necked, but with the correct work and training she turned into a super pony, very safe and successful in dressage and jumping and working hunter pony classes!
 
General impression is he looks a bit front heavy, but he also looks like a gawky youngster who still has a lot of growing and filling out to do. I think he's going to be a cracker
 
hard to tell from a pic, I personally think he looks like his still got a lot of growing and filing out to do, think he'll be lovely and your have lots of fun! Very kind eye!
 
PoppyAnderson said:
Not necessarily true, as this confirmation fault can put excessive strain on the tendons, especially with jumping and fast work.
Click to expand...

You're right - but I wouldn't say it was severe, and as I said I think for 90% of the horse world it's not going to be a problem. Of course it would be a problem for racing or eventing or jumping at a high level where you're going to be doing loads of that but for most people who ride for fun it just isn't a big deal. I've had one which was more back at the knee than this guy, and he had no trouble with jumping and games five times a week for an hour and a half a time on average. Of course you want a horse that's as conformationally correct as possible, but as we all know even the most conformationally correct horses can still injure themselves. Just didn't want OP to worry about something which is really pretty minor in the grand scheme of things!
 
I actually don't think he's back at the knee. It is just the way he is standing and his markings. He is a bit 'bossomy' but I think he will mature into a very nice horse.
 
Thanks lots for the input, most appreciated.
I keep looking at these pics and realising that he definately looks less mature and grown than I thought he was with him in front of me. I guess that comes from just seeing the horse all the time without taking a step back and looking objectively.
This thread has proved very useful so thank you :)
 
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