I suppose this is the right forum, as it's kinda 'conformation' ...
The mare I posted here a couple of times has been backed and is riding out now in full training. She just carries her head very low, and I'm wondering about it ...
It's not really impeding her so far, as she's working really well and just this morning I saw her do 2miles on grass and attack the uphill finish. Her jockey said it's ok, just her style, though the trainer said he'd love if she would raise her head but thought maybe it was helping her breathe better to carry her head low, she's still a bit heavy and only 4 months in. I should say she has an excellent trainer and he's been trying to get her to pull her head up, so I'm sure he's using whatever tricks he can.
Here's a couple of pictures -- physically she's developed really well, she is really very powerful behind - the depth of her muscling is fantastic.
I kinda think it's just her preference to hang her head a bit as she's not really being pushed yet, and when she comes to race she might be more orthodox.
I suppose the questions are
1) Is it a sign of a muscular imbalance somewhere, or in her neck, or the set of her neck, or the size of the head (or set of her head) ?
2) Is it an impediment to running on the flat ?
3) Same as 1 but for hurdles ?
Thanks,
Liam.
This is her this morning, she did all her work pretty much like this, and worked really well,
This is her 4 months ago when she was taken in from grass and started to exercise a bit
This is her about 6 months ago
And this is 18 months ago
The mare I posted here a couple of times has been backed and is riding out now in full training. She just carries her head very low, and I'm wondering about it ...
It's not really impeding her so far, as she's working really well and just this morning I saw her do 2miles on grass and attack the uphill finish. Her jockey said it's ok, just her style, though the trainer said he'd love if she would raise her head but thought maybe it was helping her breathe better to carry her head low, she's still a bit heavy and only 4 months in. I should say she has an excellent trainer and he's been trying to get her to pull her head up, so I'm sure he's using whatever tricks he can.
Here's a couple of pictures -- physically she's developed really well, she is really very powerful behind - the depth of her muscling is fantastic.
I kinda think it's just her preference to hang her head a bit as she's not really being pushed yet, and when she comes to race she might be more orthodox.
I suppose the questions are
1) Is it a sign of a muscular imbalance somewhere, or in her neck, or the set of her neck, or the size of the head (or set of her head) ?
2) Is it an impediment to running on the flat ?
3) Same as 1 but for hurdles ?
Thanks,
Liam.
This is her this morning, she did all her work pretty much like this, and worked really well,
This is her 4 months ago when she was taken in from grass and started to exercise a bit
This is her about 6 months ago
And this is 18 months ago