19 year old OTTB, critique request please!

Sam is a 1991 Canadian bred TB. He was raced until he was 6 and sold. He was imported the the US 10 years ago, and trained through 3rd level and shown. Is incredibly kind, gentle, and honest. And really funny. I am told he is one of the most talented horses in the barn.

I know what I think of him (that he is perfect)...and I know what everyone in my barn thinks of him..but I am wondering what YOU guys think. Please don't hold back, honest true-blue feedback..(and I promise I won't flip out and get the thread locked hahaa...)


Side


Another side


Front Sorry for the closeup, I didn't have anyone to help me.


He looks turned out, but his feet are really straight.


Front legs close-up


Just because he looks adorable ;)


ALL FEEDBACK WELCOME, GOOD AND BAD!!!!

Nobody?
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I think he looks great. I love his face, very expressive. Overall I think you've got yourself a nice horse.

You are right to think he is perfect, he is pretty freaking close!

He has balance that a lot of TB's (mine included!) lack. The neck matches the back which matches the hind.

He has a great shoulder angle and looks very nicely muscled. Not waify.

He has ideal pasterns for just about any work. Great length and good angles. Nice big solid healthy looking feet on him too!

Behind he is nice and correct...If I could change one thing it would be just a little more 'spring' to the hock.

Nice thick neck!

Overall, I like him very much. I can see why you love him!

Gorgeous guy you have there. My guy is Canadian bred too and I could only wish he looked just a little like your guy. My guy has some not so great confo. I love that your guy has a nice hind end on him! So many TB's are lacking in that department.

Awesome, thanks guys. He is SO un-photgenic...he can look like a mule sometimes in pictures, so it is hard to get one that shows just how beefy he is. MANNNY times he has been mistaken for a WB, because he is so thick. He is only 16h, but probably around 1100 lbs.

My trainer says his canter is perfectly balanced...obviously his balanced confo is why? It is amazing that their put-together affects their athletic ability SOOOO much.

Thanks for your feedback!

He is a pretty nicely put together boy.

Am I the only one who sees a hint of over-at-the-knee? Other than that he is pretty much ideal. He's not badly over but he doesn't look straight.

HOWEVER. Over at the knee can actually be a GOOD thing! It minimises strain on the tendons and therefore decreases the probability of tendon injuries. He is not over enough for it to go the other way and be a problem.

I want him. He is cute :3

Starlite my TB looks like a mule in pictures too! I don't get it haha so now I call him a mule and when I show pictures of him to people I say excuse his muleish grin.
But I think you haveyourself a fine looking horse here!