So.. When did your 'ugly ducklings' blossom?

ImmyS

ImmyS

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I have a 5 year old ex racer, I bought her in march last year as a scrawny mess, with what we think is a birth defect to the right side of her face, where she has a 'piggy eye' and a misshapen skull. She picked up well over summer but due to various reasons I couldn't do much with her and so she never really 'blossomed'. Now going through winter she has been having major growth spurts, consequently she is looking very scrawny and leggy again to say the least, and her confirmation isn't the greatest which doesn't help matters. I'm hoping this spring and hitting 6years old she will really start to mature and blossom into the horse I know she will and can be!

So when do you think your possibly 'ugly duckling' horses and ponies blossomed and matured?

Piccies welcome, especially of the thoroughbred variety! :)
 
I've been quite blessed with my homebred stock in that they have all been born beautiful and have never gone through the ugly duckling stage ... except one. A beautiful 2011 colt turned into a real ugly thing by the time he was a yearling. He's rising 2 now and is still gawky although is finally starting to fill out at his chest. I suspect by the time he is 3 going on 4 he will again be a pretty looking boy but I have him hidden away right now!

I have a lot of TBs and depending on the breeding I have found some to mature quicker than others. Correct feeding and a structured work plan helps lots.
 
Spring Feather said:
I've been quite blessed with my homebred stock in that they have all been born beautiful and have never gone through the ugly duckling stage ... except one. A beautiful 2011 colt turned into a real ugly thing by the time he was a yearling. He's rising 2 now and is still gawky although is finally starting to fill out at his chest. I suspect by the time he is 3 going on 4 he will again be a pretty looking boy but I have him hidden away right now!

I have a lot of TBs and depending on the breeding I have found some to mature quicker than others. Correct feeding and a structured work plan helps lots.
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I think most horses are born beautiful and remain that way or become even more so, I think just some take a while to grow into themselves, like your little colt by the sounds of things, sounds like he will be lovely though. My girl was a hatrack when we bought her which I think stunted her growth as she has grown from 16hh to 16.3 over this winter :O.. Hoping this spring when she's in consistent work will be her time to blossom! :)
 
I have a six year old warm blood. I bought him when he was three mainly because I knew his history from day one, not becuase he was beautiful. He had a very large head on a skinny neck, long legs and a tiny body, the looks that only a mother can love! It took until he was five when he started to bulk up a bit for his head to look in proporition to his neck. He still has very long legs and is still growing but he is starting to turn into a swan I knew would be.
 
For me it was just after Kylie Minoglooool puffed up her hair and started singing "I should be so Lucky" - number one daughter had gone around looking like a refugee reteating from Moscow in a mountain of old clothes from charity shops because she thought "the look" was in. All of a sudden the sun came out - on went the hot pants and she had a strange urge to clean the car stretching over the bonnet rather more than was necessary. Her mother and I would laugh like drains as we counted the honks from the passing interested parties!

Second daughter was more of a shock because I hadn't realised how quickly she was catching up her sister - this manifested itself as an outbreak of The Jam posters and her wearing a parka at breakfast despite not having a scooter.
 
1stclassalan said:
For me it was just after Kylie Minoglooool puffed up her hair and started singing "I should be so Lucky" - number one daughter had gone around looking like a refugee reteating from Moscow in a mountain of old clothes from charity shops because she thought "the look" was in. All of a sudden the sun came out - on went the hot pants and she had a strange urge to clean the car stretching over the bonnet rather more than was necessary. Her mother and I would laugh like drains as we counted the honks from the passing interested parties!

Second daughter was more of a shock because I hadn't realised how quickly she was catching up her sister - this manifested itself as an outbreak of The Jam posters and her wearing a parka at breakfast despite not having a scooter.
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Love it! :D
 
This is Maddie just after I bought her
MaddieFoal.jpg

This was her as a 4-y-o
Maddietrot.jpg

I now have her daughter Roxy who we are just about to back, she is following her mum as an unremarkable foal... Watch this space ;)
 
I've bought both of my horses based on their looks, not the greatest idea! they have both been pains in the butt! maybe getting an ugly horse next might be a better option haha!
 
Alfie - came to me as a 3 year old after part exchanging for a psychotic welsh mare.....He started out a bit scruffy!

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And although he hasn't the best conformation he scrubbed up ok for a local show at 5 years old.

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My gelding looked very unattractive in the body (he's always had a handsome head!) until he was 3/4 years old. He went from a leggy, scrawny mess into a properly proportioned horse. He's just really chubby and has been since 4years old (he's now 8) it's very difficult to shift weight off him no matter how hard he's worked on how little feed! My 3 year old looks very odd right now! She's very high at the back, huge head and stocky legs with a scrawny neck. She's the same breed as my gelding so I'm not worried, hopefully next year she'll straighten out!
 
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