Please may you take a look. [[Conformation shots]]

AFlapjack

AFlapjack

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I know literally nothing when it comes to horses conformations so please could you take a look at the following photos for me and tell me what you think any comments good or bad. Thank you :)

This is Jack. He is an 8YO 14.1hh Connemara gelding.
jack1.jpg

jack2-1.jpg


This is Maggie. She is a 14YO 14hh Welsh X mare.
mag1.jpg

mag2.jpg
 
I really like the grey, he has a good overall 'look' and nothing bad stands out. He is a little long in the back but his topline needs more muscle so he will improve when that is achieved.

The bay is a lovely cob type. She is also a little long in the back and a little upright in the shoulder, but nothing awful.

All I can say is that you have two very nice ponies! :)
 
Faracat said:
I really like the grey, he has a good overall 'look' and nothing bad stands out. He is a little long in the back but his topline needs more muscle so he will improve when that is achieved.

The bay is a lovely cob type. She is also a little long in the back and a little upright in the shoulder, but nothing awful.

All I can say is that you have two very nice ponies! :)
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Thank you for the reply :) I'm currently working on improving Jack's topline so hopefully when that improves he will look better.

You say Maggie is upright in the shoulder, does that affect the way she moves compared to Jack? Will she be more 'choppy' in her strides, or is it the other way around :o :confused:
 
Both really nice types!

Yes your little cob will be more 'choppy' as she is more upright but this is her breed type and not a confo issue!!

I really like them both :D and I love the front on your grey!
 
From Wiki but it explains it well. However your mare's shoulder isn't bad so it wont cause her problems IMO. :)

Straight, upright, or vertical shoulder

The shoulder blade, measured from the top of the withers to the point of shoulder, lies in an upright position, particularly as it follows the scapular spine. Often accompanies low withers.
Upright shoulders are common and seen in any breed, particularly Quarter Horses. An upright shoulder affects all sports.
The horse has shorter muscular attachments that thus have less ability to contract and lengthen. This shortens the stride length, which requires the horse to take more steps to cover ground, and thus causes a greater risk of injury to structures of front legs and hastened muscular fatigue.
An upright shoulder may cause a rough, inelastic ride due to the high knee action. It increases concussion on front limbs, possibly promoting the development of DJD or navicular disease in hard-working horses. The stress of impact tends to stiffen the muscles of the shoulder, making the horse less supple with a reduced range of motion needed for long stride reach.
An upright shoulder causes the shoulder joint to be open and set low over a short, steep arm bone, making it difficult for a horse to elevate its shoulders and fold its angles tightly, which is needed for good jumping, or in cutting. A horse with an upright shoulder usually does not have good form over fences.
The horse is usually easier to accelerate in sprinting.
An upright shoulder is best for gaited or park showing, parade horses, and activities requiring a quick burst of speed, like roping or Quarter Horse racing.
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Holly831 said:
Both really nice types!

Yes your little cob will be more 'choppy' as she is more upright but this is her breed type and not a confo issue!!

I really like them both :D and I love the front on your grey!
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Thanks for the reply :) It's good to know neither of them have anything badly wrong confo. wise.

Faracat - Thank you for the info, really interesting read. Luckily my brother who rides Maggie isn't keen on jumping so I guess it suits them both!
 
Love Jack! Perfect weight-wouldn't want anymore on though.
Maggie looks like a sweet mare but not blessed with the greatest confo, and a little underconditioned (not weight-just not muscled up a lot-is she in work ?)
 
SusieT said:
Love Jack! Perfect weight-wouldn't want anymore on though.
Maggie looks like a sweet mare but not blessed with the greatest confo, and a little underconditioned (not weight-just not muscled up a lot-is she in work ?)
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Thank you. Maggie is ridden but my brother only hacks out on her so doesn't really 'work' her, if that makes sense? Maggie won't travel either so they have no reason to school or jump.

Box_Of_Frogs said:
I thought they both looked a little light for this time of year and their breeds.
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I am always worrying about their weight. I hate it. Our grass just never grew this year so we've been struggling with the weight of all our ponies. I would rather have them on the slightly lighter side as, for me, it's easier to control but I agree it's not the best thing for them going into winter.
 
I agree with the confo comments but I just wanted to add that I really do not think they are looking bad condition wise at all. In fact I'd say pretty much spot on (obviously your grey needs more topline but that's muscle not weight). If they were mine I certainly wouldn't want more weight on them, as you say, they are much better off being a bit lean than a bit fat!
 
Well I was going to say well done for managing their weight so well for mid summer :D i think they are lean, but nothing wrong with that - we're just used to fat natives ;)

Jack - just gorgeous - I find it hard to say anything negative about him except maybe he is a touch long in the back, and in the second picture he looks as if he has quite a steel slope from his croup (I think thats the laymans term? Tuber Sacral to those of a sciencey nature!) to base of tail - however its not evident in the first pic so I'd say that was inconclusive.
Lovely angles of the leg - looks like a very well put together pony.

Maggie - bless her she looks very sweet, but I wouldn't say she's quite as blessed in the conformation dept :) She looks to have quite a big head for her body, although correct work and muscling of her neck would improve how this looks. She looks a bit like a cut and shunt in that the body looks to belong to a different horse than the legs, which are too short in comparison, and she seems to have a long forearm and short cannon bones. The hind legs are also very upright - ideally I'd want more angle there.

Good lord, I read that back and it sounds awful, but I have decided to post as you did ask for anything negative too and it is clear that you love her no matter how she is put together! :)
 
Katikins said:
I agree with the confo comments but I just wanted to add that I really do not think they are looking bad condition wise at all. In fact I'd say pretty much spot on (obviously your grey needs more topline but that's muscle not weight). If they were mine I certainly wouldn't want more weight on them, as you say, they are much better off being a bit lean than a bit fat!
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Aww thank you! Yeah I find it a lot easier when they are a bit lean, especially when it comes to natives!

horsecrazy25 said:
They are both lovely :D xx
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Thank you very much :)

Naturally said:
Well I was going to say well done for managing their weight so well for mid summer :D i think they are lean, but nothing wrong with that - we're just used to fat natives ;)

Jack - just gorgeous - I find it hard to say anything negative about him except maybe he is a touch long in the back, and in the second picture he looks as if he has quite a steel slope from his croup (I think thats the laymans term? Tuber Sacral to those of a sciencey nature!) to base of tail - however its not evident in the first pic so I'd say that was inconclusive.
Lovely angles of the leg - looks like a very well put together pony.

Maggie - bless her she looks very sweet, but I wouldn't say she's quite as blessed in the conformation dept :) She looks to have quite a big head for her body, although correct work and muscling of her neck would improve how this looks. She looks a bit like a cut and shunt in that the body looks to belong to a different horse than the legs, which are too short in comparison, and she seems to have a long forearm and short cannon bones. The hind legs are also very upright - ideally I'd want more angle there.

Good lord, I read that back and it sounds awful, but I have decided to post as you did ask for anything negative too and it is clear that you love her no matter how she is put together! :)
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Thank you v. much for the detailed reply. Don't worry, it doesn't sound bad at all! We don't actually know Maggie's true breeding so it's interesting how you all say Jack is more well proportioned because he is 'pedigree' whereas poor Mags is just a Heinz 57! :p Also, like I said, my brother isn't interested in showing her or anything so it makes no difference to him at all. :)

wilsha said:
omg you stole my jack!!!! wait no hes still in the maybe their long lost brothers
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Oooh maybe they are! :D Haha. Jack is really called Flapjack but I'm lazy so shortened it to Jack ;)

little_legs said:
I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE ! Your Connemara !

But then I would as I have one :-) BEST Breed !
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Thank you :D I love Connies as well. I've only had 3 ponies my life and 2 have been Connemaras. :)
 
No comments on confo from me, just wanted to say that IMO their condition is spot on. They are lean, but this is a good thing! :D
 
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