Opinions on this horse please

My first thought is he is very long in the back and why is he in a double at this stage in his training - esp since he over bends in it. she's got that curb cranked on a lot ....
 
My thoughts exactly, blitznbobs. However if you look at the pics on the advert, tack has clearly been changed. The video is before he was imported. Pics are since then.
 
Yep i picked up on him being overbent which makes his canter look choppy. He looks like he's struggling to keep a consistant contact in walk. There's no reason why he cant do all the in a simple snaffle would be nicer for him i think. How much is he if you dont mind me asking? Just seen advert. Personally i dont think he's worth that much.
 
He would need to be assessed in order to compete at Novice/ elem in this country as he is 10 and imported he will be given a load of points so that must be considered for anyone wanting to compete at BD.
In the video he is being ridden overbent and looks very strong, his back is long and weak over the topline, not surprising considering how he is working, for the price your friend could find something genuinely ready to go out and compete, it may not have a change but the basics would be better.
 
I think i was editing my post when you put the link up again. Sorry im too slow! Like i said i dont think he's worth that much. Also if he's doing nov/elem why havent they shown him doing medium trott and canter even some counter canter? I would expect to see a bit more in the video.
 
Thank you for commenting 'be positive' (my life motto too!). I am not sure what my friend plans to do with him/horse she is looking for - she certainly needs to investigate the importing thing re points, if she does arrange to try him.

The video isn't made by the current sellers but by the stud he was imported from in Lithuania. I think it is just a snapshot of some schooling rather than aimed to sell him at elem level. However, it may be suspicious and perhaps masking the fact he is not at that level. Will advise her to bear this in mind!
 
This is a difficult one.

The fundamental basics on this horse are wrong, so would need time spent picking apart and putting back together. You may pick apart and find it falls apart / underlying unsolveable issues. An independant exprienced jockey might be able to give you a clearer idea once they have sat on the horse and felt it. Video can be deceptive.

They have shown in that video essentially the bulk of med-adv medium schooling requirements. Admittedly they aren't all 100% correct or fully established but they are there.

If you were going out with 6K in your pocket with a stipulation you wanted a middle age horse with dressage training under it's belt, including a good stab at all lateral work and a change, you would actually have slim pickings.

I don't like this horses frame and I don't like the rhythm variation BUT without sitting on the horse and evaluating the feel and what can be improved reasonably easily I don't know if this horse is value or not. And also the valid comment from be positive regarding point imported points - I think given way of going you could well get the horse graded at Novice, but there is no guarentee of that.
 
If the rider lets the reins out 2" inches he would lower his head.
Basic schoolwork is wrong, not the finished article, not for me.............
 
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Run a mile. Front end and back end do not look like they belong to the same horse and that is looking at the pictures as well. I would be very dubious about his ability to go and be competitive at that level. It looks like he has a neck he could pull a train with and whilst his movement in the video, especially in the trot is far removed from what you would want for £6k, I don't think it is all down to the way he is being ridden. It is a factor but I actually think he is too long through the back and has chameleon type movement. When you look at the trot and concentrate your eyes over the loins, the movement is back and forth as well and it does not look right to me.

There are far better horses out there for that money that will be ready to go out and compete with little work. This horse will be far to much work and most of it will be remedial, going back over the basics and what you'll have left at the end is still a horse with lacklustre movement, a long back and weak behind.
 
It 's not a question of the price, it a question of the suitability. In the right hands and with good schooling it would probably do a nice test, its not a world beater, its OK.
To my mind, re-schooling is harder than starting off with a nice young horse, and enjoy the transition from unschooled to well schooled.
 
The distortion on the video is very distracting - it makes him look like a sausage dog. I'd also want to see a recent video incase the new rider/owner has improved him as well as changed his tack. From the video above alone, it would be a 'no'.
 
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She hasn't watched the video yet apparently won't load on her phone - I thought she had. I think she may be put off when she does anyway and will agree he isn't suitable. Think she's just got a bit overexcited/fatalistic as he is so local - at a riding school 10 minutes away.

However I will still pass on all of your hugely helpful comments.

I hope the poor boy gets a good home. He does look a lot happier in the newer photos at least:

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I feel mean saying this because every horse deserves a nice home but if it was my friend I would advise her to look elsewhere .
 
Whilst I agree with pretty much all the above, I have to admit that i rather like him. He's not a competition horse, and he isn't worth the money, but there is something about him that appeals to me. He looks very willing to work, and although limited by his type and conformation (and the stranglehold he's being ridden in), he has a good go at doing what's asked of him. I could be completely wrong, but i think he looks like a nice, biddable sort, who could prove to be worth his weight in gold as a safe, fun horse once the wrinkles are ironed out of the basic schooling. i suspect there's a fair bit of Gelderlander in his ancestry, which would explain the conformation a bit.
I wouldn't pay 6k for him, but I wouldn't be at all unhappy if he turned up on my doorstep looking for a home.
 
Auslander said:
Whilst I agree with pretty much all the above, I have to admit that i rather like him. He's not a competition horse, and he isn't worth the money, but there is something about him that appeals to me. He looks very willing to work, and although limited by his type and conformation (and the stranglehold he's being ridden in), he has a good go at doing what's asked of him. I could be completely wrong, but i think he looks like a nice, biddable sort, who could prove to be worth his weight in gold as a safe, fun horse once the wrinkles are ironed out of the basic schooling. i suspect there's a fair bit of Gelderlander in his ancestry, which would explain the conformation a bit.
I wouldn't pay 6k for him, but I wouldn't be at all unhappy if he turned up on my doorstep looking for a home.
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If you weren't worried about scoring midway down the table but mainly wanted something to work with at home I think he'd be fab. Probably great fun for everyday riding and having a go at the Elementary for a rider that isn't that competitive but...with lots of training could do pretty well.

Just too much to ask for a horse that will need a lot more work than an unspoilt with potential working at a slightly lower level, but correctly.

I actually bet he'd be great fun to go hunting on ;)
 
_GG_ said:
If you weren't worried about scoring midway down the table but mainly wanted something to work with at home I think he'd be fab. Probably great fun for everyday riding and having a go at the Elementary for a rider that isn't that competitive but...with lots of training could do pretty well.

Just too much to ask for a horse that will need a lot more work than an unspoilt with potential working at a slightly lower level, but correctly.

I actually bet he'd be great fun to go hunting on ;)
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My competing days are over (unless Alf decides otherwise) - I'm all about messing about at home and just having fun!

He does look like he'd be fun to hunt!
 
Auslander said:
He does look like he'd be fun to hunt!
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Not sure my arms could take it!!

Does he look slightly unsound at moments on the off fore to anyone? ...Awaits correction- I'm definitely no expert but some stride related breaks in the contact in trot?

Ridiculously over bent (no expertise required for that observation!)
 
To me, and I am completely useless when I come to these things, but scarily seem to buy ok horses - he is all front and no back end. Ok with a 4/5/6 year old, but this horse is older. And I haven't seen a photo or video where he is tracking up. As said above it all depends what your friend wants him for. If she wants a horse she can love and dabble in various things, he looks a very amenable chap. If she wants a competition horse, I would probably keep looking. Good luck. :)
 
In the video, he's so cranked in, my first thought would be either hot or strong!! i don't think he's unsound, but taking a hold and ploughing onto the forehand, which is shortening his stride.

He looks better in the recent pics though still pulling a bit! could probably be fixed with decent schooling and patience, but do you really want to pay £6k on a 10 year old that might take a couple of years to fix?
 
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Hoofing-it said:
Not sure my arms could take it!!

Does he look slightly unsound at moments on the off fore to anyone? ...Awaits correction- I'm definitely no expert but some stride related breaks in the contact in trot?
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I noticed that too - but think it was probably because he was being strangled!
 
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