Comments welcome 5 year old
Thank you.
Ruby was diagnosed with hock arthritis and she was very reluctant to use her back end correctly. She is on the mend now and we are trying to build back up. She is having ongoing pysio to help and massage from me every day.
Anyone want to critique mine? Have a guess at his breeding too if you want and don't know, some do. Sorry for the bad and old photos they are from last year.
So far on this thread with all its lovely pictures, this is the only one I would go to see if they all were listed for sale based on conformation not performance.
Anyone want to critique mine? Have a guess at his breeding too if you want and don't know, some do. Sorry for the bad and old photos they are from last year.
Very nice harmonious body shape, good back and depth, decent limbs but perhaps a tiny bit tied in below knees and hocks. Good shoulder and wither with the neck rising well BUT a dip in front of the wither and general lightness/weakness/shortness of the neck make this his weakest point.
What breeding is he?
I know nothing on conformation sorry, what do you mean by tied in at knees and hocks?
I think his neck has improved a bit recently I will try and get a new conformation shot tonight. He is an Oldenburg x Connemara.
Yes would be good for people to add why they think a certain thing would cause a problem, and then for the owner of horse to add whether it has effected or not. I know for example one of the first youngsters I posted people commented on how weak his back end looks, which is fine, it is. However, if you say him trotting under saddle he actually has the biggest,free, powerful movement I have seen in any horse, especially a 4yo. All the horses I have/ had are showjumpers and mostly only 4-5 on the pics, conformation 'problems' aside they have all been/showing to be absolutely fabulous at their jobs
Shameless bump for mine lol. Sorry for the boots and the 'A' marker which don't help. Be good to get some unbiased feedback
The width of the leg just below the knee/hock is smaller than it is above the fetlock. I thought the same but Cortez posted first. Theory is that you need more room for the tendons and ligaments that all attach in that area to be allowed to work properly. But it's a pretty common 'fault'.
Bump for my boy, thanks for any replies x
Bump for my boy, thanks for any replies x
CM your picture didn't show up in your original post. Try posting again!
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Thanks I'm struggling as I can see it on my phone but no one else can lol... it's in my album on here? Will try again later xx
Quick question. I understand the reasoning behind most conformation requirements / desires as they help the horse to perform well and not suffer injuries. Those of you talking about horses being thick through the gullet - is there a physiological disadvantage to this or is it purely aesthetic?
I think he's absolutely stunning. I don't think he's camped under or sickle hocked although the middle photograph could give that impression but it's just how he's standing. It just shows though how this thread brings out polar opposite opinions.
This horse does not look particularly back at the knee, although he is tied in at the knee.
He's a little too straight through the hocks, has a short neck and lacking some topline, but I think he is gorgeous SS. What a beauty.
What a lovely looking boy!
A lovely head, good length of rein, slightly upright shoulder slightly low neck tie in. A little long in the back with a weak loin. He had a nice hip angle, but slightly undermuscled in this photo. Very (very) slightly sickly hocked. Good big feet! Pasterns are a little long for me, but ok for his type. He is standing over himself in front.
Not one that I would choose to ride, as I prefer something with a little more bone, but he does look lovely!
Aha! I was waiting for someone to say that he is straight through the hocks as I think this is one the his most glaring faults, although admitedy they don't look *too* bad in this photo. I had a look at his front legs today and actually he's not tied in at all. I'm wondering if it is the camera angle as although his neck looks short in this photo he's actually like a blinking giraffe! But thank you, I do think he's pretty special
Thanks Casey76, i think the big feet and the sickle hocks are my photo but you are right on the pasterns and I hadn't noticed this myself. I do appreciate that many people like more bone but he is 15'2" and I am 5'2" of 'ok' size so he manages me! I certainly wouldn't put any real weight on him with his long back etc.
Question re pasterns - what do you mean 'OK for his type'?
Do you have any other photos, Mandy Roberts, because I definitely agree with the sickle hocks from the one you posted. I can't imagine him in any position where this would not show so am genuinely asking/ I think he's lovely, BTW so no offence meant. Just would love to see photos to prove me and Casey76 wrong.