The brutally honest confo thread!

[Dusty M Yeti]

One of my young girls as a 3 yr old (last year), would be really interested to get peoples opinions on her. Breeding guesses also welcome

 

[DabDab]

Vam, your beautiful lad was practically perfect in my eyes. Stunning!

Ditto this - his conformation is lovely.
The mare is a little upright in the shoulder and through the hock. And I think her neck looks set a little low but only because of the shoulder pivot point I think - I can imagine her being one that changes dramatically as she muscles up

 

[Caol Ila]

My thoughts on a few pics above.

Ester's pony: A bit thick through the throatlatch if you wanted to do dressage with him. Shoulder is a bit upright. I love his hind end, though.

Milliepops' pony: Undermuscled in that pic but she must look a lot different now! Hind end looks weak, but obviously isn't.

Clairey's horse: Looks kind of post-legged behind but that might just be the angle of the camera.

 

[Caol Ila]

And you can return the favour with some pics of my horse, 23 year old TB-Shire:

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Ok, not remotely a confo shot:

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[HufflyPuffly]

Apologies I have now just gone to the last page as most other pics seemed to have comments!

From this picture I cannot find much to fault, like her a lot, lovely set neck and limbs (for me anyway)

Nemo (Rising 4) Stood a few weeks ago. Lots of growing to do!

What jumps out at me is his hind end, he looks to be straight through his hocks (the first pic hes quite camped under) and looks weak compared to the front end, however I like the front of him !

He looks croup high here, and it may be the angle but with a slightly short neck and for me he has quite long cannons. Do you have a recent pic as I think he would look quite different maybe now?

He looks quite short coupled, croup high and little over at the knee in this picture, I do like his shoulder angle though.

I like Kira, though I do see what you mean she reminds me of Topaz who looks like her legs forgot to grow to match her body .

If anyone fancies this one, go for it from when she was 3 I think here Photobucket is on a go slow for a more recent one!

It has decided to play ball so recent ones!
4 years old:

This year at rising 5, sorry for the tack and generally rubbish pic

 

[SpringArising]

Nemo (Rising 4) Stood a few weeks ago. Lots of growing to do!

Looking slightly better under tack. Still has many donkey features though!

Looks sickle hocked and camped under in first pic with low-set hocks. Not so bad in second but hind end looks weak with flat croup for me, little long in the barrel and back. Nice shoulder and feet look OK, nice pasterns - good angle and not too long or short.

 

[Casey76]

Tartine:

I know most of her bad points, but I'm always willing to learn more

 

[C1airey]

Clairey's horse: Looks kind of post-legged behind but that might just be the angle of the camera.

Yep. Hind legs aren't really his strong point, although this is a dreadful angle for them. He turns the offside hind slightly outwards at rest, we think as a habit from a joint infection in that hock as foal. Both hocks are now arthritic. Building up his back end is a challenge. I'd give anything for him to have a hind end like Ester's lad!

Caol Ila - I can't comment on confo, but you do have some funky saddlecloths!

 

[ljohnsonsj]

Yep he is a big long horse, he looks weird on his first pic but he's lots of growing left to do. He is a Condor C (Cassini I) baby and they are big long horses too- excited to see him when he is strong and grown into himself

This is his dad- I think he is a lot like him,but obviously a very young weak version at the mo.

 

[ApolloStorm]

Ooh, love some CC.
This pic is the week after I bought her as a just turned 4yo.


These two are recent as a very nearly 5yo.





None are particularly excellent shots!

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Yep he is a big long horse, he looks weird on his first pic but he's lots of growing left to do. He is a Condor C (Cassini I) baby and they are big long horses too- excited to see him when he is strong and grown into himself

This is his dad- I think he is a lot like him,but obviously a very young weak version at the mo.

Can definitely see his dad in him, and yes I think he will mature nicely, you'll have to keep taking pics so you can really see just how much he changes .

 

[ester]

If it helps both franks hinds have given up on him a bit at 24 - Interestingly I don't think anyone has commented on his uprightness behind which is what I always see.

Aus's description of Alfs trot sounds very familiar! I gave up on doing sitting trot many years ago.

Caol he always did ok stressaging, unfortunately by the time I'd worked out how it was best done he was past taking enough weight behind at the higher levels to be competitive. Spent a lot of time thinking neck longer though If you can get him relaxed and unwelshed

 

[vam]

Ditto this - his conformation is lovely.
The mare is a little upright in the shoulder and through the hock. And I think her neck looks set a little low but only because of the shoulder pivot point I think - I can imagine her being one that changes dramatically as she muscles up

Thank you. He actually had issues with his stiles and had them medicated. Not sure if they would have held up long term as he got kicked and fractured his knee so never found out. He had a tendency to be down hill but had an amazing jump and very quick with his feet.

She is improving all the time, she was very wonky when I got her and one side of her pelvis is slightly higher than the other although barely noticeable now. Big jump lurking in there. She will be 6 this year but I think will take a few more before she really comes into herself.

 

[Caol Ila]

If it helps both franks hinds have given up on him a bit at 24 - Interestingly I don't think anyone has commented on his uprightness behind which is what I always see.

Aus's description of Alfs trot sounds very familiar! I gave up on doing sitting trot many years ago.

Caol he always did ok stressaging, unfortunately by the time I'd worked out how it was best done he was past taking enough weight behind at the higher levels to be competitive. Spent a lot of time thinking neck longer though If you can get him relaxed and unwelshed

I know the feeling. It took me a gazillion years to work out how to ride my horse correctly and by the time I did, she was about 20! Still sound, which is good, so we can work on things, but a bit late to be moving up the levels.

I love the look of the Welsh Ds, though. I'd consider one for a future horse. I've seen ones with good canters have fairly successful dressage careers.

I like Frank's hind end. I would not guess he would have problems, but that's horses. A good conformation doesn't mean they won't break.

 

[ester]

He learned his half passes at 22/23 . But he's just hacking now no circles, in body functionality he does seem to have undergone a rather rapid decline over the last year , not that he seems to have noticed much, he is still charging about, ruling the roost and making his feelings known.

He does not have a good walk though it is technically correct so rarely scores down for it, trotting is ok, I could ride him in canter for hours!

He was bought as a fun all rounder and has certainly fulfilled the brief! I'd love him to be 10 years younger as I might actually be better at jumping him then too! I can only really imagine getting another slightly bigger version really.- one with a little more saddle room

 

[Annagain]

Here goes. Sorry I can't offer any comments, I'm not great on confo (I know the theory but struggle to see it in practice) but definitely learning lots!

What this doesn't show is just how pigeon toed Archie is.

I don't have any of Monty without me on him sorry! Although I think both of these show his most obvious issue.

ETA - the first of these photos is early April, the second probably about Nov. He always changes shape this much over the winter!

 

[shirl62]

Thank you, he is a bit spesh!

He is a bit of a 'Bobby Dazzler' and he knows it....Top marks to you..

Shirl

 

[milliepops]

I know the feeling. It took me a gazillion years to work out how to ride my horse correctly and by the time I did, she was about 20! Still sound, which is good, so we can work on things, but a bit late to be moving up the levels.

I love the look of the Welsh Ds, though. I'd consider one for a future horse. I've seen ones with good canters have fairly successful dressage careers.
.

chiming in here, by the time I got good enough to ride M well she had gone into her perpetual injury/rehab spiral!

I would have another sec D based on my case study of 1 - K was def very weak in the photo above with a poop canter but it's her best pace now and I think she will have a very good ability to sit... learning pirouette canter at the moment and finding it quite natural
People say that long horses find it difficult to collect but I haven't found that to be an issue.

I like these threads - few of us have the option to buy the perfect animal and it's interesting to see how they develop into themselves- Apollo Storm's horse is one that shows a big change IMO and will probably continue to improve. I like your mare Caol Ila, the second photo makes her look downhill but I can imagine that if she was super fit then the front would come up.

 

[CrazyMare]

Here are my herd - I'm not going to be upset, I know their strengths and weaknesses

4 year old gelding

10 year old mare

2 year old filly (now 9 years old, but can't find a recent pic!)

 

[Caol Ila]

How did you fix Kira's canter? Gypsum and I have struggled with the canter, but while she is not Valegro, it is ok when (a) she is not ridden and (b) ridden but not by me. Besides riding better, what exercises would you recommend to strengthen it?

I am a terrible equine photographer. Truly crap. I have loads where she looks downhill but she isn't at all. She is pretty level. I think it's a camera angle thing, but not helped by the fact that her neck is set fairly low, so if she's standing slouching and relaxed, the camera makes her appear downhill.

Here is one in canter, but that's my friend riding and me taking lousy photos:

 

[Slightlyconfused]

Photo bucket being a twit so here is the link to the elephant.
He will never look thin but this was taken two weeks ago and you can feel 80% of his ribs, just go to get rid of the little fat paths behind his shoulder, tone up the belly, bottom and develop his top line more.


http://s1103.photobucket.com/user/miss_may1/media/DSC_9183.jpg.html

 

[milliepops]

How did you fix Kira's canter?

Lots of cantering, mainly :lol:
her canter was enormous, barely containable in a 20 x 60, she needed to do 40 metre circles to stay in balance and we had to go at extended gallop to keep a rhythm of sorts.

Zillions of transitions really.
Started out teaching her how to get into canter without running - lots of walk to canter. And then short spells of canter, returning to trot before we got to the point where it got flat and 4 time. I taught her the concept of simple changes early on even though they weren't pretty, just so I could throw the anchor out now and then.
Then trot-canter-trot-canter-trot-canter ...repeat for hours feeling for the moment in the stride that helps them switch between paces neatly rather than falling onto the forehand.
I did a bit of (mainly unridden) gridwork which showed her how to be a bit more athletic (she needed to make more effort with her body)
Then riding big half halts in the canter til she learnt how to improve her balance by putting the hind legs under, rather than by going faster
Next introduced counter canter - similarly pushing the boundaries of balance and requiring a better solution from her than just zooming off.

And just lots and lots of practice. She was very crooked in the beginning so general straightness work has helped, now I warm up alternating shoulder-in to travers on the track to connect her to my outside hand and get the inside hind motivated, little bit of renvers if she's pushing against it.

She has to be quick and on my aids, she can have a tendency to get a bit slow and hang in the air if she's not made to be quick - this shows itself in a passagey feeling trot and a too-slow canter rhythm so if I feel that, we do quickfire transitions until she is thinking quicker again.

I won't lie, I work really hard with her but she laps it up, and the canter improved so much that she was really easy to teach changes to, as long as she is through they are 100% correct. She's quite snappy behind now so she should find piris quite easy too once we get the submission sorted :wink3:

 

[Jenni_]

Oh can someone do Skye please I have my own opinions and won't be offended x

 

[YardGeek]

My mare as a 3yo just backed

 

[luckyoldme]

My mare as a 3yo just backed

im no expert, but this is a horse which really seems easy on my eyes, she is stunning.

 

[Annagain]

My mare as a 3yo just backed

As I said before I don't 'see' conformation things, my brain just doesn't compute it. I can see beauty though and she is beautiful. To me, she looks way older than 3, she looks like a properly developed adult. I hope you have many years of joy with her.

 

[Caol Ila]

Oh can someone do Skye please I have my own opinions and won't be offended x

I like her hind end -- nice sloping croup. She looks a bit long in the cannon bone, however, and downhill. Although like my horse, cameras can make horses who aren't downhill look it. She also looks like she needs less muscle underneath her neck and more of a topline.

Any thoughts on my horse?

If YardGeek can't find her horse, don't look in my barn.

 

[YardGeek]

As I said before I don't 'see' conformation things, my brain just doesn't compute it. I can see beauty though and she is beautiful. To me, she looks way older than 3, she looks like a properly developed adult. I hope you have many years of joy with her.

Thank you, she's a very exciting one for the future I think
She's always looked very "grown up"! I bought her straight from the breeder as a 2yo and she looked pretty much the same haha!

im no expert, but this is a horse which really seems easy on my eyes, she is stunning.

Thank you I'm obviously biased but she's the prettiest horse I've owned

If YardGeek can't find her horse, don't look in my barn.

Haha

 

[Girlracer]

I love this thread - it is so interesting!

Girlracer, your horse while is clearly very well kept and in good nick, lacks some topline imo and muscle and my first thought when I look at him is that he is the type that is difficult to keep looking well, I can imagine if he drops weight he could look quite poor around the 1/4s. He has long pasterns, upright hocks but may just be the picture?
He is very high in the wither and short in the back, so again, specific saddle fitting needed! The heels look a little low but again may just be the picture?
I also cant help but notice the big ears and a kind eye

You're absolutely spot on in everything you have said, very difficult to fit a saddle to! Especially with my lanky legs. Topline is an ongoing battle, as he carries himself (even just around the field) very inverted. Thank you for your feedback!

Auslanders is short in back & neck. For me he is a little top heavy. Photo makes him look stood too far under in his hind limb (same for the chestnut next one down), although unless they are really well stood up can be tricky to tell.

Girlracer bay to type for me is long in the Pastern & cannon in front. Can't tell from photo behind. I like his neck set.

Thank you, really interesting!

OK, go on then, I'll give some opinion....
Aus - he's short backed and upright in the shoulder but his front leg conformation is good and his back end looks powerful and neck set is good. If I had to pick a job for him it would probably be hunting
Girl racer - long pasterns, and also not fond of the angle of them, a little herring gutted and dippy along the back, but a decent neck set. Probably most useful for jumping.
Ihatework - really like the first chestnut, lovely head and neck, good back, everything in proportion and front legs look good, but can't tell much about the back legs, probably make a good sound riding club type. First grey is good too, very much a lean eventer type and probably wouldn't have the roundness of frame and musculature to do high level dressage, but has a nice slope to the shoulder and powerful looking back end with lots of lean muscle that's easy to keep fit. Don't like the second grey, he's too long in the pastern, he is lacking in second thigh at the back for support and overall his legs just don't look like they belong to his body. Can't tell much from the other photos...

That's as far as I've got

Definitely most useful for jumping!

I don't know how to do multiquotes, so will have to reply one by one.... girlracer, as someone struggling with a lanky sports horse riddled with ulcers I suspect your horse is equally as difficult to put condition on. I am also not good at taking conformation shots and wonder whether you aren't quite square on so the front end looks out of proportion with the back end - the dark colouring behind his throat is also a bit unfortunate as it makes him look a bit ewe necked. I also think he is very long in the pastern. I do like his shoulder though and his back end

He certainly is, not so much weight as he eats well but condition and muscle on top - very difficult!

My brutally honest opinion is can none of you take decent photos of your horses stood square with their entire body on show including their feet and a plain back ground and the camera at a decent angle to show a true picture of the poor beast.

Oops. Did I say that out loud.

To be fair, my photo wasn't taken for this purpose, just to taken because... why not?

 

[Lammy]

Shame You won't part with him as he's lovely!! Don't know an awful lot about confo and it might just be his markings but he looks especially deep.

That was meant to be a reply to only me's coloured...damn phone