Paint Mare Critique

I have asked for critique on here for her before, but really it was of multiple horses and I want this to be just about her.

Sadie is an unregistered (as far as I know) Paint mare, born 4/28/97. She spent a large majority of her life at a farm where she was trained to be a 4H horse. The family is big into trail riding, and when she wasn't doing her 4H shows, she was hitting the trails for a liesurely ride.

When we first got her, in 2010 last year a few days after mother day, she was VERY fat. It has taken alot to get her weight down, and even now I'd like her to be a bit slimmer, but I'm in no rush. As far as I know, and what she appears, I believe she has never had a foal. Sadie is 14 years old, and broke if you count by the hours. (Really she is a bit pushy but we are getting over that.)


I would like to know a few general things.

• What do you think about her at her age? How's she holding up?
• What do you think of her condition? Are there any excersizes you would suggest?
• Conformation, what do you think?
• Would she be "*worth breeding"?

*I know people constantly object to breeding most horses, and it is very unlikely that she would ever get bred, anyway. So don't jump the handle just because I utter the word. The main reason I ask this is because I want to know what people look for in a broodmare conformation-wise.
-I will make another post with the pictures.-

Confo Pictures

No, she is not breeding quality, even with papers.

She looks appropriate for her age. She also does not need to lose any more weight.

She has a weak hind and needs more muscling overall. Has she ever had any stifle trouble? With her hind legs sickled and thrown out behind her, it appears as though she is compensating for pain higher up.

Nice enough front end. Lacking depth through the heartgirth. Adequate neck and shoulder--that part looks WP. Solid enough leg structure, though she could use a little more bone. Hooves are in need of some attention (trimming off excess toe length).

She looks pretty good her back legs are a little weird tho. I love her coloring...oh and she doesn't look like she needs to lose any weight maybe gain some more muscle tho.
Posted via Mobile Device

I would never breed her because of her back legs and no papers. Hopefully you wont run into problems with her stifles, but you might. She is sickle hocked and very straight from the stifle to the hock.

Bubba noticed something that I , too, cued into; that her rear leg stance might indicate a long simmering problem of pain in the hip or back. That kind of camped under stance is often associated with the hrose shifting weight back in a way to avoid discomfort above. There's a long article about it in the last months Equus magazine.

She looks good otherwise and does'nt look fat, looks well cared for.

Back is very long, hind legs are poor. It will always be hard for you to get appropriate muscle on her but because he back is long making it hard for her to step underneath herself properly.

I wouldn't suggest breeding her unless you can find a stallion to seriously complement her faults. SHORT BACK, clean throat latch on a proportional head, muscled hind end connected to CORRECT legs.

;)

I agree with what others have already stated: her stance (legs parked up under her belly) indicates some kind of pain. I also agree that she doesn't need to lose more weight and does need more muscle. Her head and neck don't seem proportional to her body but that could just be the pictures.

You mentioned that she was shown 4-H and trail ridden in the past- is that what you are still doing with her?

The thing that throws me off and makes her confo look downright bizarre is her barrel. It's lacking depth and makes her seem very small through her middle, whereas her neck and head look to compliment a full, deep heartgirth and barrel.

I would also have her checked for pain in the back end. Tinyliny, my Equus subscription ended last month, darn it!

Thank you guys for the advice, and I always thought her hind end looked odd. I'm way to used to horses with HUGE but muscles, so it was difficult for me to decide whether it was just me comparing her to other horses or if it was really an issue.

I'm glad everyone seems content with her weight. I have worked really hard to get that mare's weight down, she was dangerously heavy before.

I know I would be much better off getting a fully broke horse than breeding her. Both would cost the same. Why spend 2000 on a foal that might not work out, when there is a horse out there that would be perfect for me!

I don't know if this would hint to something that could cause the pain in the back/hip, but she drags her feet terribly. She is a really fast walker, but she just doesn't pick up her back feet so they get worn down pretty bad.

I lunge her at a trot quite often, is this an adiquite way to build butt muscle? Any suggestions for other excersizes? (I free lunge in more of a large rectangle rather than a circle, so she isn't turning the whole time. I'm hoping this is nicer on her joints.)

I'm attaching a picture of her last fall, I know that there is fencing in the way, but it is the best I got.