Yearling conformation - thoughts

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_jetset_

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I am thinking of taking my yearling to the Futurity classes, and possibly the SHB(GB) classes, but as i am not particularly hot on conformation (although I do think I am improving from coming on here
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) I was wondering whether some of your more experienced folks could give some ideas of the conformation of my yearling? I am just about getting to grips with mature horses' conformations, so a young horse would be quite interesting to me
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This is him as a yearling (well, 14 months):
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This is him at 10 months:
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This is him at 6 months:
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This is him at 4 months:
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This is him at 2 months:
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This is him at 1 month:
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And finally at 3 days old
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Please be as honest as you like... I will not take offence in the slightest as i would rather know now than at the futurity class
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He's a nice youngster but still looks quite immature compared to youngsters you'd meet in Futurity classes who have been 'prepared' to the hilt from the day they were born. Don't know when the Futurity IS, but if it's in the next few months you'll have your work cut out getting him nicely rounded and conditioned without stuffing him to the eyeballs and risking OCD (I don't show much - hardly ever!) and NEVER with yearlings for that very reason.

I also suspect his back legs are a bit on the straight side and he's not got the BEST shoulder I've seen. I'd be inclined to let him mature a little more before getting him out and about.
 
I do a lot of showing but haven't done Futurity yet. However my thoughts reflect JanetGeorge. I think he needs time to mature too and his hinds aren't the strongest. However if you are wanting to do more showing in the future taking him into the ring in less presurised classes even if you know he isn't physically ready is really good experience and will give him chance to learn a bit of what is expected for later on. I have an immature rising 4 year old who I have to show in open classes and although I know he isn't ready I take him along for the experience and he loves it.
 
I agree with the above comments, he is immature and you will have your work cut out to get him ready. ATM his neck also looks weak due to his lack of condition. I'd see what he looks like next year.
 
Futurity yes maybe, though he will take a lot of conditioning, by that I mean handling, grooming, education - NOT stuffing him with feed. The futurity is more about potential in the chosen discipline. Showing, well TBTH, not unless you are just going for the experience, as he is still immature and weak looking. This is no slight on him though, he's just not a mature yearling. I know you are aware about being very careful with his diet, due to his size. So please don't be tempted to get him show ready, with the potential risks to his growth. As JG said, he as an awesome shoulder!
 
I disagree, for the British Dressage champs and Pavo we have taken 'unprepared' horses to both and come away in the ribbons (Des's version of preparing is rugging 3 days before and he took Pavo supreme with his yearling last Oct and Mals version of 'preparing' was washing it the day before and we still had class winners with foals and supreme champ 2004 with the big mare).

Give him a few months out on some good grass, handle him a little more - remember he has to trot the triangle and give it a go! Give him a bath, plait him up and he'll look a different yearling altogether!!
 
P.s... agree with SN regarding the showing if you're referring to county - stick to Futurity and local shows for experience.
 
Sorry, really don't want to hijack thread, but I have a query to JanetGeorge that I hope would also be relevant to your question :

Quote : "He's a nice youngster but still looks quite immature compared to youngsters you'd meet in Futurity classes who have been 'prepared' to the hilt from the day they were born".

A bit puzzled (and alarmed!) by this, as all the BEF material emphasises that yearlings should be brought to the Futurity NOT in "show condition", ie possibly with too much weight on them for their age, but looking fit and natural. Also of course they are being evaluated against an objective set of criteria, not against others in a show ring .... Am I being very naive in taking this too much at face value??
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yeah, naturally yearling are at the stage where they look absolutly [****]..sorry my french but they do. if you leave nature to take its course, horses always look all over the place at 1 year old and then they blossom from late 2yo on wards, so you are going to have to work hard to get him ready, good luck
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RBM I have to say that my youngster was certainly not prepared to the hilt for his 2 shows and futurity outing last year and he was champion eventing yearling at his venue!
 
BEF does emphasise that youngsters should not be 'over prepared'. Howevcer a lot have been over fed and rugged from day 1.
 
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RBM I have to say that my youngster was certainly not prepared to the hilt for his 2 shows and futurity outing last year and he was champion eventing yearling at his venue!

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Exactly!!!

Iz....I'm coming...complete with balaclava..hoody AND cap...black gloves...in the darkness of the night....to steal Matilda!!! I absolutely love her...what a cracker you've bred...
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BEF does emphasise that youngsters should not be 'over prepared'. Howevcer a lot have been over fed and rugged from day 1.

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But are they being placed higher than the 'unprepared'? At the end of the day rugging and conditioning do not improve movement and can only gloss over so much conformationally aswell.
 
I don't think I will take him following the comments, I would be wasting my time...

JanetGeorge... why do you think his shoulder is not the best you have seen in a yearling? I thought he had quite a good shoulder actually, that was the only bit I picked out in his conformation
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Thanks SN, much comforted! Like Jet_Set we have been very careful not to overfeed or "hothouse" our chap as he is so tall, really want him to develop in his own time and without forcing ....
 
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I don't think I will take him following the comments, I would be wasting my time...

JanetGeorge... why do you think his shoulder is not the best you have seen in a yearling? I thought he had quite a good shoulder actually, that was the only bit I picked out in his conformation
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I could have sworn that JG said she liked his shoulder! Personally I think it the most immature part of him, but the angle is lovely! Do you have any pics of him moving?
 
we usually show foals at the futurity so slightly different but they are not prepared and mooli coddeled at all. In fact the one who was Champion dressage foal at Arena UK was only dragged in from the field and halter broken the night before as a last minute replacement

We showed a yearling filly last year at Bucks County in August as a sporthorse. She was brought in a week before hand for trimming and tidying and was placed 3rd as judge said despite having the best movement she looked weak and immature so was beaten by two very well fed hunter types. At the Trakehner breed show a few weeks later, she won the part bred Championship and the sporthorse judge (who is on the bEF panel) said she was in perfect condition for a yearling. As you can see from this photo she has no neck and would always be put down the line at a county show.
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2489468280061358009seNQjI
This year at 2 she is blossoming nicely. The point to all that waffle, is I think the BEF judges can see past typical yearling weaknesses and judge the potential.
 
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I don't think I will take him following the comments, I would be wasting my time...

JanetGeorge... why do you think his shoulder is not the best you have seen in a yearling? I thought he had quite a good shoulder actually, that was the only bit I picked out in his conformation
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I could have sworn that JG said she liked his shoulder! Personally I think it the most immature part of him, but the angle is lovely! Do you have any pics of him moving?

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Ermm, only from when he was young. I have not had him back very long, only a week and he has been in all that time as he has been wormed etc. He is going out in the field tomorrow so could try to get some then.

He has been living out since February...
 
Well I think he's lovely. Once he's put on a bit of condition and top line his neck will look much better - I think his shoulder is great, I bet he's got a fab trot looking at the angle. He might be lacking a little second thigh in his hinds but other than that he's got a good back end on him. Why don't you go and watch a couple of futurity classes first? I've never seen one so have zero idea what's involved but whatever happens when you do take him can only benefit him from an experience point of view. Getting them out to shows as youngsters is a brilliant idea - much less stressful for them when they start competing under saddle as they know more what to expect.

And in the end the only person whose opinion matters is your own - you've bred him for you to ride/compete not to sell. I think he'll be a star given time.
 
Myerscough is the first one
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Thanks gedenskis_girl, I like the shape of him and just think it is a shame he has lost so much condition while he has been away. But he has done his living out now and I think it has done him a lot of good as he has been a horse and nothing else. However, he has taken to being back in a stable like a duck to water. I have been hand grazing him, he's had a bath and is a real sweety to handle.
 
Volatis - what a stunning pic of her!

Jetset....let him have a go - he may just prove you wrong!! He'll be looking very different in a couple of months of spring grass and sunshine.
 
I don't want to look an idiot taking something that clearly should not be there!

If he is bad conformationally, then we will give it a miss. That is why I wanted to ask on here
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But I don't think he is bad conformationally just immature atm. As said, nothing that good spring grass and sunshine won't improve. Is he on supplementary feed as well? If he's in at night now I take it that he is? What is he getting? That said I am really anti over topping youngsters but he needs to be getting the right feed.

I'd take him to the Futurity as it's NOT a competition as such, although there is a championship for the very top ones, but an evaluation by experts of his potential in your chosen discipline.
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I really don't like to comment on other peoples yearlings, as I think IMO it really is the ugliest stage of a horse's life. Especially at this time of the year, when they have just come out of their first winter.
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He looks like most yearlings do before the grass has come though, unless they have been over stuffed with food and prepared.

Post some more pictures of your boy in August and I bet you will have a completely different picture.
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I would agree with that yearlings I think are the hardest to judge. They really start to show themselves better from 2 on, look at how many look stunning as foals, hit a yr & look nothing like you thought they would. Just leave it a few months, it will form part of his education.
 
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