How's he looking condition wise?

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I love my Spanish horse

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Res has been imported from spain since may and would just like peoples opinions on how he's looking now compared to then. My trainer thinks he's gained muscle on his topline with lots of long and low work, Although i agree he's improved in some areas looking at him today I personally think he's lost muscle especially in his neck which was rock solid when he came over and is now almost a bit floppy. Have taken into account the fact that some of the muscle lost is from the underside that was due to tension and is a good thing thats gone, and also its his first winter here so was expecting him to drop off slightly. I know he's 7 and will probably change and develop even more in the next year or two, but cant help feeling a bit dissapointed that after 6 months of the most correct work he's done that he's looking at his leanest yet.
What does everyone think, this is him back in june
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And this is him today
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Also anyone who's good at confo critique please feel free to add:)
 
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I think he looks great. His bottom certainly looks rounder, and I think I prefer him with less neck (although it is a very impressive neck either way!!)

Gorgeous horse, how is he coping with the glorious weather we have been having?!
 
I think you just wanted to show off pictures of your beautiful horse! :D

Personally i think he looks better now than he did. That 2nd pic he just looks like he has had steriods injected into his neck! :confused:
 
I think his condition looks spot on and he is much more in proportion now that he has built up more muscle behind. I imagine his neck muscles are still very impressive when he is working but now they are softer he can stretch over his neck and back more.
Lovely photos, thank you for sharing.
 
I agree with you OP; he looks better, more muscled and "rounder", (and actually leaner too, as in muscle VS fat) in the first photos. The sort of Spanish horse you have bought is a very "baroque" type; not a "modern", sportshorse type of PRE, and this sort will have the massive neck, rounded lines and bigger under-neck conformation. Long and low is not necessarily the best way to go with these horses, BTW. Can be a bit outside the scope of most modern dressage trainers; can I suggest a classical or PRE specialist?
 
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Thanks for all your advise everyone, yes also forgot to mention he is a stallion so the big neck is inherant anyway. Dont get me wrong am pleased his bum had filled out and both ends match, did get a few comments in the past that the front and back end seemd to belong to two different horses! I see what you saying about him looking better, but to me he's just gone a bit the other way now and looks too lean for his breed.
Thanks cortez am glad its not just me, im very keen on the baroque types and while again am glad he's got a bit more of a bum now and had evened up would have liked the neck to have not dropped quite as much. Long and low is perhaps a bit too far, what i meant was she's worked more on getting him balanced and relaxed in his paces rather than all tense and bouncing on the spot which he did before. He's definaly improved in his way of going and is much more relaxed and easier to ride than the bundle of tensiont hat came over, i just dont underdtand why his muscle tone has dropped unless is just becuase he's lost the tension perhaps?
 
Well yes, "tension" means pull (on a muscle) - it's not all bad, you know! And Spanish horse more or less means tension too (I know you know what I mean here!). Personally I prefer your horse in the first, more "Spanish" pics; but then I would being a dyed-in-the-wool Spanish horse person. Can never understand why people buy horses in Spain, and then proceed to change everything to "improve" them when they get them home. But if you want to be competive in dressage you will have to change the way of going to be more "soft". Me, I prefer the Feria style!
 
Oh im with you totally cortez, the reason i sold my last spanish boy who was very sweet and moved beautifully (the one in my sig) was partly he was too modern and 'sporty' and i wanted the older, more baroque warhorse type of Pre. We are doing dressage aswell as the showing so reducing the tension was always the plan although will never lose it completely (know exaclt what you mean there!) He is obviously clearly built for that way of going hence why he's physically changing now, what a bummer
 
Hmm, I think you would be better changing the training and riding to suit the horse? Hence the classical trainer suggestion? I don't do dressage as such any more - have the luxury of being the provider of classical/historical riding displays at a historic site here (lucky me, and horses :-)
 
It is good to stretch muscles after working them hard; it avoids them shortening and reduces the risk of injury ( tho I agree long and low would prob be not what you are aiming for!) .They become more supple and this helps movement become more fluid. Perhaps you are feeling the benefits of what you have been doing!
 
Meant to add that muscle balance will simply reflect how they are being worked and if you would like him to have that Baroque look I think Cortez is right ; a specialist approach will be needed.
 
You asked for a conformation crit. He has a lovely front end, really nice sloping shoulder and well set on neck. I'm afraid I don't like his back legs at all though, as he is sickle hocked and has a poorly developed second thigh and gluteal muscles. But front legs are fab. All pasterns are rather too upright, though this may be to do with his shoeing as feet look a little long to me.
 
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I think he looks better now, I think his neck may have been bigger as it could have been more fat than muscle, I have a mare that has a big neck and when she was off work it seemed bigger and she was fatter, but once she is fitter it looks smaller. He is a stunning horse have always liked them and would seriously consider one if I didnt already have two others.
 
Wagtail said:
You asked for a conformation crit. He has a lovely front end, really nice sloping shoulder and well set on neck. I'm afraid I don't like his back legs at all though, as he is sickle hocked and has a poorly developed second thigh and gluteal muscles. But front legs are fab. All pasterns are rather too upright, though this may be to do with his shoeing as feet look a little long to me.
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Totally agree, just spent 5 minutes looking at that front end in envy, trying to find fault and I couldn't.

Back end second thigh may develop in time but sickle hocked. However as someone who is not a fan of the two horses in one, ie Hugh top end and nowt behind, I prefer how you have him now.

I like my horses to look like one horse, not two stuck together. Keep him as he is now.

Stunning boy and if you intend breeding I am sure you will find a line of mares wanting to use him. Just be picky about who you take.
 
Thanks all, he's healthy and happy so thats the most important thing.
Thanks guido and wagtail for the confo crit, i always thought his back end wasnt as strong and suspected the sickle hocks but didnt know the name until you said it. Glad his front end at least is good, quite interesting actually whenever get the back lady out its always behind that he gets problems, guess that's probably the reason!
 
He certainly does look to have lost quite a bit in terms of that cresty neck. I much prefer the now pictures but that could well be because I would rather see the dressage muscle than the typical "spanish" muscle.

I think if you continue with the current trainer the neck will get there again but as "correct muscle", I have a welsh cob who has quite a neck all through dressage and it is a feature I particularly like about him :) But I do also agree with Cortez about a trainer that understands his breed.

Whats he fed, out of interest?
 
trendybraincell said:
He certainly does look to have lost quite a bit in terms of that cresty neck. I much prefer the now pictures but that could well be because I would rather see the dressage muscle than the typical "spanish" muscle.

I think if you continue with the current trainer the neck will get there again but as "correct muscle", I have a welsh cob who has quite a neck all through dressage and it is a feature I particularly like about him :) But I do also agree with Cortez about a trainer that understands his breed.

Whats he fed, out of interest?
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Thanks, would be good to get a trainer that knows the breed but am currently limited in terms of transport and having someone come to me would cost more than i can afford at present. He's on quite basic feed of just chaff, horse and pony nuts and a bit of sugar beet, try and keep it relatively low heating as possible as in terms of weight he seems to be doing fairly well for his first winter
 
Natwood said:
Thanks, would be good to get a trainer that knows the breed but am currently limited in terms of transport and having someone come to me would cost more than i can afford at present. He's on quite basic feed of just chaff, horse and pony nuts and a bit of sugar beet, try and keep it relatively low heating as possible as in terms of weight he seems to be doing fairly well for his first winter
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Yeah I know what you mean, its so difficult finding a trainer that works for you and your horse. I'm very lucky that my best friend is also my trainer and despite being a dressage rider/trainer through and through he has developed an excellent understanding of the welsh cob and dressage, he really understands the physiology and limitations we face and yet finds ways to overcome them.

I would consider adding something which offers a bit more protein to aid the building of muscle. I can't say in terms of a hot blood (Shadow is stone cold) but after the introduction of a comprehensive balancer I really saw a marked improvement in the development of muscle in him, perhaps worth considering?
 
Nat I think he looks soooooooooooooo much better now :)

He is much more in proportion now and doesnt look like two different horses front and back!

I think he is doing well with the correct work he is getting, he will muscle up more all over anyway as this as you say has only been since May anyway. So you would expect this I think.

You know how much H has changed remember!
his transformation has been incredible since his correct work but that has been over 9 months. They only do short 30-40 minute sessions with him though, quality not quantity :)
 
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