Look at this horse...is there something wrong

I saw this ad on Craig's List...I'm not buying a horse, and when the time comes, CL is not my first choice, but I look all the time anyway. I don't want this to be a critque of the rider, the tack or anything like that, but the first thing I noticed were the bumps all over the chest and underside of the horse's neck. Are those hives?

Horse and tack

Uck and he's very ewe-necked too :(

My TB got something similar last summer from biting flies. He's got sensitive skin and we're in Florida....lots of flies and mosquitos 8 months out of the year.

Looks like the horse just got attacked by them, I wouldn't worry about it.

But back to the original question, it's probably just bug bites

To say I was worried may not be the correct words, but thank you. I was wondering what those bumps were. We haven't had a big bug issue this year or last, but I had a dog once that would lose hair from one flea, so I know that animals can have severe reactions to something little.

What I really noticed about the photos was the cheap, cruddy saddle that doesn't fit the horse at all! Horses are so tolerant. You know that can't feel good on his back. Poor guy!


Oohps, sorry I missed the sentence about not critiquing the tack.

I noticed the same thing but that wasn't my concern. On a different note, tell me about that bit...I've never seen one with that sort of ring on the outside, but my bit experience is relatively limited since most of the bits on the lesson horses are straight up snaffles or transition bits. What is it?

The bit is a Kimberwick

It's a kimbewicke. Primarily a English bit, and no longer a legal bit for hunters. (Hooray!) It's a leverage bit, with a curb chain. Usually ridden with one rein, so limited flexibility and can be very punitive. Lacks the flexibility of a pelham or a three ring snaffle.

I actually like it better as a western bit, ridden with limited contact; than an english bit.

Pretty much consistent with the condition of the horse and the rest of the tack.

PS - Sigh. Just looked at the photos again and the curb chain is twisted. Sigh. Poor horse.

The whole scenario in those pictures = poor horse