The Horse Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Critique my new boy!! PICS

2K views 16 replies 8 participants last post by  Jinba Ittai 
#1 ·
Okay all, here are a bunch of confo pics to look at. Sorry if they are a little dark...be honest please!



















Let me know what he might be best suited for! I worked with him for the first time today, and he's pretty quiet. He just needs to learn some better ground manners (we had a big fight about whether I should pick up his right rear foot...I won...), but I shook my jacket and a couple bags and he really just had a snuff and raised his head a little. I'm very pleased so far!
 
See less See more
10
#2 ·
Overall I see a fairly well balanced horse...he could essentially do just about anything you put him to, really.

He is a tad hip high, and his hocks are higher set than I prefer; both of those "may" hinder his ability to drive from the rearend really well...however, in the action shots, he appears to work off his hind end okay...it just may need work to keep that aspect, because his forehand will naturally be heavier and stronger due to his downhill build.

Another thing I noticed, and this isn't a 'conformation flaw' necessarily, but his underside of his neck is very musclely compared to his top; this tells me that he runs around with his head in the air, and his first reaction to alot of different things, may be to fling that head up and evade pressure. This will be changed by doing exercises like lateral flexion, to help him bring his head down naturally, and strengthen those top muscles.

Other than that, I think you have yourself a pretty decently built little horse; he seems to have clean straight legs (though slightly toed out), and is fairly compact. He has a fairly gentle expression, and appears well cared for.
 
#3 ·
He is a three year old, so would the hip high thing change as he gets older? He actually does toss his head to get away from what he doesn't want to do, so I will work on those types of exercises mentioned. Any particular one's you'd recommend?

Would you believe he was pulled off the pasture yesterday, literally? He's been out all summer, at least! I am so impressed at how well this seller's horses all were kept up for being pasture puffs! I will be giving him a dewormer Wednesday or so...otherwise, I am not going to panic and change his feed. When we get into the heavier training, I will start to supplement him.

Just a question, has anyone tried feeding pumpkin to a buckskin type color to help deepen the tones? I'm considering a try at it...
 
#4 ·
I agree with MOmstopride.. Astute observation regarding his neck. The form of the neck , tho, is really good and with correct work he will lose that under muscle and gain upper muscle. He looks like a darn nice all around horse.
At 3 remember to cut him slack. Thinking about some difficulty having him lift his rear foot in terms of "a fight" will put it actually INTO that sort of mode, and you don't want to approach his training with any sort of feeling of being adversorial with him. He is young and has HIS reasons for not complying. Mostly, just keep his youth in mind and try to think of rough spots as places where you are going to "help" him, rather than win a fight with him. Hope that doesn't sound too harsh.
I really like his looks and see a ton of potential there.
 
#5 ·
Look at those dapples!! Really lovely looking guy you have there!

I think he could probably do and try anything you want! I think that's probably the most fun -- a versatile young horse to try it all with!

mom2pride, you are amazing. Being able to tell that he throws his head up based on how his muscle has developed. Seriously it's insights like that that blow me away about this board and make me lurk every thread!
 
#6 ·
@ tinyliny - He may only be three, but he also does know better. His response was to rear and attempt to side kick a few times, so we did have to have a very serious discussion about why his behaviour was unacceptable. I get what you're saying, but that is a skill he is familiar with. Obviously if it was a new skill entirely I would have understood his objections, and worked it a little slower and more gently. But once my trainer and I got after him, he did a lot better. I may have used the word "fight", but skirmish, argument, discussion, meeting, battle, or any other synonym would also have been appropriate.

And yes, I agree he has a ton of potential - I am hoping that he hits the 16hh mark, if possible, but not too sure at this point. I'm pretty sure he's at about 15.1 at the moment. Regardless, I will be training him as an all-around show horse, and will specialize him when I find the thing he seems to enjoy most!
 
#7 · (Edited)
I'm not sure you'll get a whole lot more height at 3 (he may surprise you, but most saddle horses are finished growing "up" by their 3-4 yr old years). He would, I imagine, catch up in the shoulder area... like I said, he could grow up a little more, but we're not talking a hand, more like maybe an inch or two.

Also as a trainer, I too, would NOT accept rearing and striking as a response to something like lifting a foot; it's very disrespectful, and dangerous, for him and me. The next time he doesn't want to pick up his foot for you, instead of trying to lean on him, to "make" him give it up, try just yielding his hind quarters...unlock his feet, and move his body. A 1000 lb animal will ultimately win a 'tug of war' type battle, so use your smarts to get through to him...move his feet vigorously, and he will figure it out really fast that giving up his foot is MUCH easier than having to move...did I mention horses are also essentially very lazy? Hahaha
 
#8 ·
Thanks, that's pretty much what we did - if he fought me, he was corrected, and if he fought again then I made him back up quickly and work really hard. The third time he usually didn't put up as much of a fuss. He was okay for most of his feet, but he would pick and choose one that he decided he didn't want to lift. I don't want to have a horse that tries to push me around when he doesn't want to obey, so I'd rather have a fight with him the first time than to play nicey and wind up getting hurt in the future.

And if he grows a couple inches more, that's enough for me. I just want something a little on the taller side, and to be a bit heavier set. I think when he's conditioned up he'll almost be my perfect ideal! :)
 
#9 ·
He is a little downhill now, and his withers are a bit high, but with any luck he'll even out for you before he's done. He really is a well built guy for the most part. His head isn't quite as refined as I like, but that isn't a fault, just a personal preference. :D

It's hard to tell because of the dark photos, and part of it could be the way the black on his rear legs sits, but he appears to be somewhat cow-hocked.

Let us know if that pumpkin thing works. I have a buckskin I'd try it out on if it does! Good luck with your new boy!
 
#11 ·
I think he might grow more, i know horses do not stop growing at 3. My friend has a 4 year old tbxwarmbloodthat is 16hh and the vet says he will get up to 16.3. What breed is this horse? If his withers get higher than his croup i would DEFINITELY use him as an eventer/jumper.
 
#13 ·
I Love his coloring! very eye catching! He does have a pretty high hip but he's still growing. My current TB had a very late growth spurt and was the same way for a while, built more down hill cause his back end grew up faster than his front end. But the rest of his body caught up in time. I would add a few pounds to him. More muscle really in his butt and neck but for just being pulled out of a field he looks pretty darn good! once you have him in consistant work he will begin to change and fill in a lot! I would be very pleased with him! Lots of potential!
 
#14 ·
He's a 3 year old QH, and in his past there are a couple TBs and Appendixes, but not his direct sire or dam. We've been working all week on sacking him out, and he's doing really well. He gets the alarmed snorts and maybe backs up, but he's pretty brave and will tolerate my nonsense. We worked on picking up his feet, and he's a million times better. Tonight I'll be tossing a saddle on him to see how he does. No riding yet, though I am 100% sure I'll be riding him by the end of the month - he's just so much quieter than I hoped he would be - so happy!

Thanks for all the good thoughts on him - I am impressed that I managed to find something so nice (my search was long and hard, I didn't think I'd find anything suitable). :D
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top