Conformation critique

_jetset_

_jetset_

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 May 2005
Messages
11,389
Location
Lancashire
Visit site
Please pretend you do not know anything about this horse and could you give me a critique of her conformation? I am rubbish at it, and am trying to learn more while I am bored at work!

Boxrestweektwo-1stDecember6.jpg


Boxrestweektwo-1stDecember5.jpg


16thJanuary6.jpg


25thAugust20072.jpg
 
Yes she is
smile.gif


I am trying to learn more about the horse's conformation you see, and I find it really hard finding the faults that others seem to see so easily. I thought if I used my own horses, no one would be offended.

I thought I would start with this one, then do the other two over a couple of weeks.
 
Beautifully put together - fantastic shoulder.

Not 100% keen on her front legs - possbily a little over at the knee.


However, Grace is basically just beautiful!
 
Ok, she is generally not bad at all, but is slightly pigeon toed and back at the knee. She has a lovely shoulder and a well set on neck and head. Her back end is smaller than her front end, she looks slightly weak behind with a long second thigh which means she stands with her hind legs slightly behind her, but with abit more muscle she would look more equal, but means she may find it difficult to work from behid and "sit". She has a nice length of back though, and is bgenerally a nice picture
smile.gif
 
She does have a slight pigeon toe on one fore leg but it has improved dramatically with regular shoeing (not corrective).

KatB... where is the second thigh out of interest?
 
I'm no expert so please dont quote me! But I firstly noticed she has good chest and depth of girth. Her neck seems well set onto her chest and withers. The only think i would have liked personally is little more legnth of neck. Good legnth to her back for a mare (too long is a problem for competing) and she creates a good square feom corner to corner when standing sqaure. Nice short cannon bones.
With mares I prefer tail to be set higher, but its not a conformation fault as such. It might just be that she could do with more muscle on her backside in some of the pics.......
 
She is looking well or are those last years photos? I like her, but think her cheek bone is quite large so she might have trouble really flexing at her poll and going on the bit at more advanced work
 
Thanks Zigzag... there are photos from everywhere
wink.gif


Most recent would be third one down in opening posts when she came back from colic surgery!

When in work she did not have any problems flexing from the poll, she found it incredibly easy... which is why we were so excited about her
frown.gif
Although I can see what you mean about a large cheek bone causing this problem. I would never have thought of that
blush.gif


How about her conformation of the hind legs???
 
[ QUOTE ]

She is really beautiful. Now I dont do mares, but can I have her please!
grin.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Oh believe me, you would send her straight back... having just recovered from colic surgery she is now off to have PSD operation next week
crazy.gif
On top of that she is also quite a hot headed mare, but once you have her trust she will do absolutely anything for you! I have never ridden a horse like her in my life, and am just hoping and praying I will get the chance again some day
smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]

Not 100% keen on her front legs - possbily a little over at the knee.




[/ QUOTE ]

I have no idea about conformation and would love someone to show me exactly what is wrong/right with my boy!

But what does the above exactly mean??? Sorry prob being dim!

BTW - Grace is a stunner
wink.gif
grin.gif
 
the gaskin is the bit above the hock, going up towards the stifle. horses which are long and well-developed in that area are often superb jumpers in my experience -gives them a lot of power.
i've never found that horses with large cheekbones have difficulty flexing, fwiw.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Thanks Zigzag... there are photos from everywhere
wink.gif


Most recent would be third one down in opening posts when she came back from colic surgery!

When in work she did not have any problems flexing from the poll, she found it incredibly easy... which is why we were so excited about her
frown.gif
Although I can see what you mean about a large cheek bone causing this problem. I would never have thought of that
blush.gif


How about her conformation of the hind legs???

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree with whoever said her second thigh is weak, but that will come with work, I also think she is quite long from point of hock to fetlock, but that could be the photo's, I really like her and wouldn't say no to her
tongue.gif
Good luck with her operation, will she be ok after the op? she has had some bad luck bless her
frown.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
the gaskin is the bit above the hock, going up towards the stifle. horses which are long and well-developed in that area are often superb jumpers in my experience -gives them a lot of power.
i've never found that horses with large cheekbones have difficulty flexing, fwiw.

[/ QUOTE ]

It never occurred to me either, but when it was pointed out I though "Oh yes" , apparently when the cheek bone is large when they really flex they can actually cut their breathing off so resist really flexing
tongue.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
the gaskin is the bit above the hock, going up towards the stifle. horses which are long and well-developed in that area are often superb jumpers in my experience -gives them a lot of power.
i've never found that horses with large cheekbones have difficulty flexing, fwiw.

[/ QUOTE ]

Strange you should say they make good jumpers... that is what she was actually bred to do
wink.gif
Her great uncle is Milton
blush.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
the gaskin is the bit above the hock, going up towards the stifle. horses which are long and well-developed in that area are often superb jumpers in my experience -gives them a lot of power.
i've never found that horses with large cheekbones have difficulty flexing, fwiw.

[/ QUOTE ]

Strange you should say they make good jumpers... that is what she was actually bred to do
wink.gif
Her great uncle is Milton
blush.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Ah thats why I like her, I used to ride a half brother to Milton, best horse I ever rode, would give you his all .. one horse I totally worshiped and will never forget
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Thanks Zigzag... there are photos from everywhere
wink.gif


Most recent would be third one down in opening posts when she came back from colic surgery!

When in work she did not have any problems flexing from the poll, she found it incredibly easy... which is why we were so excited about her
frown.gif
Although I can see what you mean about a large cheek bone causing this problem. I would never have thought of that
blush.gif


How about her conformation of the hind legs???

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree with whoever said her second thigh is weak, but that will come with work, I also think she is quite long from point of hock to fetlock, but that could be the photo's, I really like her and wouldn't say no to her
tongue.gif
Good luck with her operation, will she be ok after the op? she has had some bad luck bless her
frown.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Many of the photos are actually from when she is out of work (obviously the one tied next to the trailer is when she is in work)... the most recent one was when she had not been ridden for three months.

She is only 7, and I rebacked her in November 2006 so she only started being ridden 'properly' in February 2007.
 
Dublinbay, if you look at the foreleg of any horse, it's literally a case of whether it looks totally upright above and below the knee, or whether the lower limb looks a bit behind the upper limb, or a bit ahead of it. fwiw "over at the knee" is about the only really positive conformational defect there is, i think, because it takes strain off the tendons. back at the knee = more strain on tendons.
overall though, the front legs should go straight down perpendicular under the horse, not be slanted backwards as they are on some horses.
 
I was alway taught that there should be at least 2 or 3 fingers width between the jaw bone and the bony process (cant remember its name!) above it to allow for flexion.
Im useless at conformation, my friend is amazing at it, would always take her with me to give potential purchases the eye!!
I would love someone to critique Henry but i think they are scared ill be offended! No chance of that, i know its shocking just want to know how bad!
 
Oh thanks that makes sense!! (Ill be looking at all the horses on the yard now
tongue.gif
) Can I PM u a pic of my boy so you can tell me good and bad points please - Id be really interested.
smile.gif
Dont mind how bad it is - he aint going anywhere!
wink.gif


Sorry to gatecrash your thread Becki
wink.gif
 
I wanted to use my own horse so as not to offend others...

I am not easily offended, and am genuinely interested in this topic at the moment. But if you think you would get upset then I recommend not doing it because you are asking for people's opinions and they all vary!

smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
It never occurred to me either, but when it was pointed out I though "Oh yes" , apparently when the cheek bone is large when they really flex they can actually cut their breathing off so resist really flexing
tongue.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

hmm, i don't believe it, tbh. i had a mare with very large cheekbones (inherited from Irish mother) and she always found it incredibly easy to flex at the jaw and poll, was very soft and didn't block at all. probably the easiest horse i've ever ridden on the flat tbh.
how can it cut off their breathing, it doesn't actually impinge on the windpipe, surely? the cheek bones go either side of the throat, surely? (not a vet, obviously!) not being argumentative, just want to know the physics behind the theory.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top