Can anyone explain this to me?

So I have started my search for perfect stallion, I don't know about every where else in the usa, but here is Idaho it seams like every stallion add consists of a head shot and butt shot... Here is an example, I don't want to breed to an appy but I can never help but look.





To me this body picture is NO picture to post in a add for your stallion and I am ever so tempted to e-mail the owner and tell them to just delete that picture, now maybe I'm in the wrong here, and if so please explain this to me. To me this stallion looks like he has a large rear, down hill, short back, short neck and his front legs look a little odd, but maybe this stallion really does have all these faults even looking at him from the side who knows, from one look at this picture I said %100 no about even going to see him in person. This probably the 5th or 6th stallion that I have asked about and gotten a few head shots and the only body shot is from a butt angle... here are a few more examples... really I don't get the reasoning behind this at all....

Wow. That is just ugly. The only one of those that I would even consider getting more information on is the last one but maybe his picture just doesn't look as bad as the other 2. I can understand including a picture of the horse from straight behind to show how broad his butt is or that his back legs are straight but those angles don't tell you anything about a horse. That first one may be my dream stud but I would not even take a second look cause I see the same things that you do.

When I see a picture like that, only 2 things come to mind. 1) The horse has some major flaw that they are trying to hide by taking wonky shots, in which case I don't even want to look at him or, 2) The owners are not knowledgeable enough about horses to know what good conformation shots are, let alone how to properly handle, train, or stand a stud. In which case, I don't even want to look at him.

The same goes for horses that are just for sale and more people would be able to sell their horses if they would just realize that.

Huh. Maybe its a regional fad or trend? I often see "side view" pics taken SLIGHTLY from the rear (makes a hip look larger and a head look smaller and can be flattering to the shape of a stock horse) , but those you posted are pretty extreme and IMO lose any flattering qualities. (they also were taken with a short lense-- from the front or rear, shots of horses should be taken with at least 100m zoom)

I know that in Appaloosas/QHs/Paints a really popular shot is the three-quarter front shot-- I see that alot in magazines and its almost as useless for assessing profile and some conformation traits as the rear shot, but its alot more visually appealing otherwise.
Example--


The best choice for a stallion owner to send out IMO would be ALL of it-- front, rear, and side views-- so the mare owner can see the profile, the hip, the chest, and how the legs are from all three views....

Unless they are charging admission then you are out very little by going to see them if you think you might like them.

True kevinshorses-- there is nothing like seeing a stallion in person-- I know that a GREAT looking sideview photo of some horses can make them look better than they really are-- seeing one in the flesh dispels all the glossy ads and posed photos. Plus if the mare owner visits the farm, maybe there are offspring to see-- even more important than what the stallion looks like himself is seeing what he is siring IMO.

If someone is getting semen shipped a long distance it might not be possible-- but then asking for a video is a good idea, if the mare owner is not already really familiar with the stallion/what he is siring.

The two most important things to me are Disposition and Movement. I can see niether from a photo.

Hope whoever owns that stallion doesn't see you posting it here with your critique.

Yea the only horse I was really interested in was the last one pictured above, but I found something on ripoffreport.com about the owner and when I asked for a side picture she said she didn't have any but had lots of head and butt shots... so that kinda made it a no.

Also solon I hope the owners do see this, when having a stallion you have to know that people are going to judge them harshly, at least I know I am, and I'm not saying that stallion has bad conformation but that picture doesn't help his case. I was planing on e-mailing his owner and letting them know my opinion and even offering to come out and take good pictures of him for free if he is close to me, but the add has already been deleted or flagged it looks like, that's one thing I can't stand about craigslist....

>>>>thats one thing I can't stand about craigslist....

Not sure about where you are, but my area,its very unlikely that I would find what I needed in a stallion on craigslist....would help explain the lack of good photos, anyway.

Good luck with that.