Critique for eventing?

For the mare-

Honestly, when looking at her, she much reminds me of the Charolei heifers that we raise in build. And when I say that, I don't mean it to be rude or mean- but she has the exact type of conformation of a cow as far as her topline goes. And you don't see jumping cows very often. Her topline is very, very straight. With little hindquarter definition. Add that to high withers (though I wont discredit her for that- it seems that nearly all of the tekes have the same withers) that join to a strangely tied in, short neck- and it almost makes her look like two horses were sewn together poorly. One horse's head and neck, and another horse's body. I just really don't see her being able to collect and round herself well at all with a neck and withers like that, as it seems to tie in wide at the shoulders as well.

She also appears to be under at the knees with long cannons, both things being very bad for a horse expected to take on a lot of stress. Add that to the fact that she looks like she might be a cribber and is being allowed to free jump fairly high with little to no training (shown with her terrible judgement of the fences) and the only thing that I really see going for her is her open shoulder- which, very possibly, could be counteracted by that wither and her chest.

That's why I don't like her. She isnt a bad horse, but she's absolutely not the horse I'd recommend for anything more than light riding.

I'm still in favor of the second horse (especially if you can get some more confo pics and jumping videos), though the grey is alright too. However, Blue made an excellent point about not limiting yourself to one breed. You may be missing out on some wonderful animals.

Thanks for explaining that! I appreciate it. I can see what you mean about her now.

I'm still pretty set on a Teke though. After riding Hoanna I just don't see myself getting any other breed. A TB would be alright. I love TB's, I got into horses because of horse racing, but there is just something about Tekes that makes me want to event with one. They just aren't all that common and yet they are such a wonderful breed which is a shame to me. Every Teke I've met has been calm, level-headed, and a fast learner. Including the stallions.

I'm in no rush though to find the perfect Teke; patience is key when searching for a horse. I'm sure one will eventually come up that fits all the criteria on my list.

Oh I just happened to find an entire album of that gray gelding today. These of course are older pictures from his previous owner.

https://plus.google.com/photos/11774...40513539201185

Long straight back, downhill, neck is still ick, and I'm not much a fan of his hindquarter. I have seen Tekes that I absolutely LOVE and would have in a heartbeat... this isn't one of them.

I would pass him by... but it depends what level you want to event to! For me, I'm looking for a horse that will excel at the lower levels, be bold and brave XC (because I'm not), and get to hopefully 1* or 2** level... and higher in SJ, because I'm a sook about solid fences so for my confidence have to be training SJ much higher than I'm training XC. So, I really need something that not only has heart, but a good powerful hind as well. AND built level to uphill with a good shoulder.

Edit; for me, neck is more aesthetics than actual function, but I hate a yuck neck, and a neck tied in relatively high with a nice arch to it is good for the dressage phase of eventing, as it will be easier for the horse to properly use itself.

Have to mention, I am assessing him as if he were a TB, because they are actually very similar. A GOOD Teke is very much similar to a good TB.

I don't see him as downhill, if anything he's uphill. I think in the second picture his front feet are further down than his back end.

In the first picture, the horizon isn't level. Nor are his feet, indeed his front feet are significantly higher than his hinds (creating the illusion of an uphill horse - VERY common method of trick photography in warmblood stud/sale ads, so I have learned to see through it). In the second picture, relative to the camera, his feet ARE on the same level (if anything fronts are slightly higher up in the image). He is level wither to croup.

That is functionally DOWNhill.

My lad is level at best and people are always telling me how uphill he is.. I have worked with top dressage warmbloods (ok only for a week... but they were some of the best dressage horses in Australia, and quite possibly the world) so I know what uphill REALLY is! Wither to croup is not an accurate judgement. I have met more downhill TB's than any other breed, and their owners swear black and blue that they bought them because they're soooooo uphill and brilliantly built for eventing.

ETA; and every picture of an Akhal-Teke I have ever seen, bar one, was downhill. That's just one of the many similarities they share with OTHER racing-bred animals (yes Tekes are racehorses in their origin country)

Read down there(:

All the horses are gorgeous and they all look fine for eventing but the first horse might get cancer:( From the pic of you show jumping it looked like she had pink skin under her coat. Usually in solid white/grey or paint horses you have to be careful if they have blue eyes pink skin and if the bum is pink (ik that's awkward but it saves you from buying a horse that could get cancer.) If your not sure have a vet look at her.

I was always taught that if the wither is above the croup that is uphill. I was just reading somewhere though where it said something about the croup and the seventh cervical vertebrae is a better judge of whether or not the horse is uphill or downhill or level.

Yes I know the Teke is mainly used as a racehorse in Turkmenistan.