Junior Conformation/Hooves

I got some new pictures of Junior and got some better conformation shots. He is on flat ground, the only flat ground in his field really actually. I also got some pictures of his hooves cause we have been working on fixing them. I have had him for two and a half weeks now. He abcessed about three or four days ago which is why you will see that his hoof is wrapped in the photos. I have soaked his hoof for the last three days and the swelling is completely gone now and he isn't limping when he walks anymore.

The soreness in his legs/hooves from the switch in footing is almost all the way gone as well. We are focusing on his weight right now, we will work on building muscle once he is fully healed up and ready to go.

What do you guys think of his conformation?







His hooves, he does have rear shoes to fix the crack that you can see on his rear left.

Any opinions at all? His feet looking any better?

Very, very straight through the hocks. This is kind of concerning. Weaker hind; collection and impulsion will be difficult, and he looks like a jarring ride. Needs muscle over the topline.

What is your question on the hooves? The look fairly well-cared-for to me. And what breed is he? Saddlebred?

He is a 22 year old Thoroughbred. And you are very right he is not a comfortable or smooth ride at all and I have had issues with him collecting and using his hind end in the past. I just got him 3 weeks ago, but have known him for 4 years, and when I got him and posted pictures a lot of people commented on his hooves being in bad shape so we have been working on fixing them I just wanted to see if they were looking better/good.

He has been struggling with lameness issues since I got him [change from soft to hard ground] and just got over a abcess. I am hoping once the abcess is fully healed he will be good to go.

What issues do straight hocks cause? Also I am hoping long lining him will help build up that topline and butt muscle and maybe help with the collection and such. Is his hind end weak because of lack of muscle or just weak in general? I am hoping he will get better once he is ready to be worked. Not going to work him till I know he is 100% pain free.

He has a small, straight, steep hind end, but the lack of muscle isn't helping.
Straight hocks predispose to arthritis in that joint, plus roughness of gait and difficulty collecting. But he's 22--he's bound to have some arthritis, anyway. If the vet clears him as having nothing majorly wrong, I'd get him on a joint supplement and see where he's at. I'm sure at his age you aren't going to ask him to do any hard jumping or anything, so if his joints are sound now, they'll probably stay that way.

He has been cleared to do BN eventing. Small jumps and nothing major. He loves to jump so as long as he is cleared I will do that with him. He is on pure MSM right now and a complete senior feed. Will add in some hoof supplements later when he gets used to being on grain again. He doesn't exhibit much arthritis at all and moves around really well, he isn't really now cause the hardness of the ground, but now he is getting used to it and doing really well.