Foal overall critique - is she worth going to look at?

I'm trying to decide whether I'm going to look at this filly or not but would like your guys' opinion as well since it is a bit of a drive (roughly 5 hours one way).

April 2011 APHA registerable Grulla filly:


She'll be weaned in September at 5 months old and can go to her new home than but I would plan on seeing her and putting money down before then if I am interested.

She is expected to mature to roughly 15 - 15.1 hands. Stud is just over 14.3 and mare is 15.2. Filly has not yet been handled (which doesn't matter that much to me) but does approach people in the pasture on her own without problem and can be petted. Sells on APHA application.

Pedigree: Apha Grulla Filly Paint

Sire info:
Great grandson of KING 234 on top side and great grandson of Poco Bueno on bottom side. 98.44% foundation bred.

(Sire pictured below)


Dam info:
Great granddaughter of Boston Mac. APHA registered.

Owner is asking $650 o.b.o.

I'm looking for an all-around prospect. Definitely use as a trail horse but also hoping for a english pleasure or HUS possibility. Something with a bit of athleticism but without the stock horse downhill build that so many breeders try for now a days.







Opinions?

It's so hard to judge those youngsters like that. She does appear to have good conformation underneath all the wonky one-sided growth of a weanling. She may be a bit cow hocked but it appears that her fronts are nice and straight. Petite head, a little thick through the neck but that could change as she grows. I couldn't venture a guess on whether or not she will mature to be downhill but I think she's a cutie and will likely grow into a nice looking horse.

Have you seen good confo shots of the sire and dam? Do they have any glaringly obvious faults?

I've posted every photo I've received so far unfortunately. So the photo there of the sire I posted and the photo with her dam in the background (black mare) is all I've gotten. :(

I did request a few more photos of all 3 so we'll see if I get anything more worthwhile. I know foals are just so hard to judge. The only thing bad I've seen in photos from this farm so far is that they're broodmares seem to be a bit thin but since the filly would be moved immediately upon weaning that shouldn't have any effect on her.

The only thing concerning to me is the length of her pasterns. The angle could change as she grows but the bone isn't going to shrink. They are rather long. Long=weak to me.

Honestly? Looking at her dam and her sire I would not bother. It is impossible to tell where she will be as an adult based on HER photos but the apple does not fall far from the tree. Her sire and dam are not much to look at. I do like her coloring.

She is a BYB horse. Being the Great Grandaughter or Grandson of KingP234 or Boston Mac or Poco Bueno is not really worth mentioning. Notable horses are too far back in the pedigree to be of much influence.

I look at the sire and the dam from these photos and the sire should be gelded and the dam not bred!

I think that you are looking at a $650 foal that is.. well.. a $650 foal. If that is what you want and you do not mind then go for it.

My only other comment is training a horse takes a lot of time and effort. It takes the same time and effort with a mediocre horse as with a good one. When I was doing this I quickly learned to be discerning and try to limit that effort to good horses.

Ask yourself if you would still be interested in her if she was a plain color.



I agree the others, I would pass.

If you're looking for a project, I would not pass.

Honestly, IMO she IS a plain color. I know a lot of people get really excited about grulla and duns but I'm having a bit of a problem accepting that she's a breeding stock paint. I'm trying to look past her color lol!


There's just something I really like about her. I probably won't ever have the time (or money) to show BIG but I want something I can start myself and work up (I have plenty of experience) enough to at least handle local showing and a few bigger shows.

Pocco, please edit your post, I did not say what you have quoted as being said by me, the second quote.

The dam looks like she toes out very badly on front, the filyl herself is cow hocked and narrow on back. The stallion is pretty, but that's really about it. The filly would probably only amount to a trail horse/pleasure horse.