Confo Critique Lily

Alright, I did this before I bought her.... But I'm bored, so here we go again. Lets see. She is an 8 yr old, grade Welsh mare, 13.2 hands, but hasn't been sticked by me. She will be a children's horse and will probably be used for trails, gaming, jumping. I will eventually do some dressage with her (as soon as I can FINALLY get lessons). Basically she'll be an all-rounder like Soda, but my neice will be her primary rider (at some point). She'll probably never do HUS or Western pleasure though, her movement is way too much action. That's apparently what the previous owners had bought her for.....I've included a couple of before pics, just because I think it's cool how her color has changed.

I'd like it if you guys could point out any confo things I'm missing beyond the very obvious fact that she is the "butt-high Queen of the world". You can comment on anything else you'd like too. Yes she does have a huge hay belly right now, but she isn't fat.. She is starting to dapple though, very cool. I really wish you guys could see how much better her topline is already looking, but it isn't very visible in these pics.

Before - 8/28/10







After - 10/19/10












And just because she's a cutie

Wow, she is adorable!

She looks like she has a bit of a swayback, but it does look much better in the "after" pictures. It seems like she is camped out a bit in her hind end also. Nice straight legs and pastern angle. She sure has a nice coat and a cute face!

I think the "sway" is more of a lack of muscling thing too. When I got her she had no topline muscles at all. Both my friends and the vet that checked her noticed the lack of muscling. But she has started to fill out there and it seems to be helping the appearance (to me anyways).

She seemed to be very used to running around with her head in the air, hollow-backed, and bracing on the bit. I've been working on relaxation, flexing, slowing down, and accepting light contact with her.

Her overly large jaw/neck muscles are shrinking too.

Thanks for the critique!

The only 'flaw' I saw was that she seems to be a bit toed out in the back. Nothing terrible but enough to notice. I don't think she is sway backed in the traditional sense. She just has the right combination of Big Bum, Shark fins and a hay belly. That always makes things look worse. She doesn't look nearly as bum high in the after pics as the before. She sure is gaining muscle though!

Now on to the good! For a horse that will be used, she has great pasterns. I love the angle and length. She's probably pretty fast for a little thing! She's got a nice big shoulder to balance out her big bum. A smooth looking shoulder...how is her trot? I would imagine it would be much better than some of the other 'jack hammer' ponies!

She's got a very cute face...and that sure doesn't hurt!

Thanks Cori for the critique. There are times where she looks really butt high and others where I swear she is level. She's never really standing still so it's hard to really get a good look at her.

Her canter is a dream. Smoothest I've ever ridden. Trot is a work in progress, she doesn't seem like she's "used" to trotting so just wants to go faster and faster and rush into a canter, it's a big trot too so it can be near impossible to sit. We've been working on relaxing and slowing down and it's getting more and more comfortable. Even got a semblence of a sitting trot yesterday. I'm a big fan of trot work, so she'll get lots of it.

She's definitely got a good amount of speed and she's really agile too. Fun horse to take out and about, doesn't care where she is on the trail. Not really spooky, more of a looker. Give her a little reassurance and she'll move right out for you.