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Please critique my mare

2K views 18 replies 12 participants last post by  smrobs 
#1 ·
Hello all!

I would like to get a critique on my Appaloosa mare Christy. Now, just a quick note, she is recovering from an injury she had to get surgery for, so yes her knee is BIG. Don't worry I am well aware of it :)

I apologize for most of the pictures being with her head down, she's an eating fanatic. I will get some better one's when I go out tomorrow. But i have one from every angle so be as mean as you want.

A little background: She is 6yrs old, and hasn't been ridden in about 4 months due to an injury, and was on stall rest so she is really under muscled. She has only been saddle broke for about 10 months now since I bought her in January so she still has a lot of catching up to do.She is reining and racing bred on her papers, so I don't know if that makes a difference. I have never owned an Appaloosa so I am not sure what is "desired" for the breed. I would love to have any and all input, positive or negative about her build. I have also included a riding pic so you can see her move. Please excuse my riding skills as it was a way too small saddle and I was quite a bit off kilter ;)

Have at it:








And one more just cuz she's cute in it :)


thanks!
 
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#2 ·
First, I love her coloring. Now. It is very hard to critique with these pix but it looks like her back is pretty long. Also, there is something about her pasterns that bothers me but I can't pinpoint what it is. In the riding pic, she appears to have a very short stride but that may have been caused by something else (collection, turning, etc.). She may be a tiny bit cow-hocked but it is hard to tell. That is all that really jumps out at me. Very pretty girl.
 
#3 ·
Thank you for your input :) She does have a very flat back , and it is a tad long for her build. Not having a whole lot of withers doesn't help make it look any better. lol. Sorry for the bad riding pic, it was mid turn in a canter so we do look kinda funky :)
I think she also tends to stand "underneath" herself a bit in my opinion. I was told it was from her reining breeding and that a little underneath build is desirable for that...but what do I know ? lol
 
#7 ·
Gorgeous color! The first thing that stands out to me is she has a bit of a long back, as said. Her withers looks "fun" to keep a saddle on lol (I have a mare with the same lack of withers) Its hard to get a good view with out her head up but I like her neck and neck set from what I can see, she has a pretty face and kind, expressive eyes.
 
#9 ·
Ok, so I managed to get a few normal body shots of her tonight. Nothing real great because it got dark early, but they get the point across :D


No making fun of the halter and lead rope!! I made it myself. lol I thought the color looked cute. hehe


**The ground was uneven, but it's the best I could find...she's not that built downhill i swear. lol**

Here we go:






And one with my fiance cuz she was being lovey :)



Are these any better?
 
#10 ·
:D Much better! Aww, first off I'd like to say I LOVE her spots, hehe! She's adorable.
Critique:
Downhill, short neck, she is very pretty! Pics are a bit dark so I can't really critique more, but she doesn't have too many flaws! :D
 
#12 ·
Her colouring is to die for and she has the sweetest face. She looks like a horse that is willing to please. :) I agree, her back is very long and straight. Her legs are sturdy and I don't see any sickle-hocked or cow-hocked, but they are quite short compared to her body. Short, thin neck. Her crest ties into her withers nicely and she has beautiful shoulder muscling. :wink: Its hard to tell because of her injury and the darkness, but I think she's a bit back at the knee? Her hooves are also very small. Spots are just lovely and aww... a paw print! :D
 
#13 ·
Beautiful horse. She's got an App's butt. I've never seen an appaloosa with anything but a long back. keep her feet trimmed up, watch her weight, and make her stretch and she'll to do well with it. Her hocks definately look better in the second set of pictures. Awesome colorig.
 
#14 ·
Thank you for the input everyonw :) Jubilee Rose, she is not back at her knee, sadly her injury kinda makes her look funky. lol. her knee looks "pregnant" because of all the scar tissue in it...I can see where you get the back at the knee question from though, good eye!

Summer08, Thank you for your info as well! I'm suprised her weight is staying as good as it has! she hasn't been worked or ridden, barely out of her stall in 3 months because of her injury. We've been really careful about feeding ehr too much because of that. Even though she has a long back, you're right she does use it well when she's stretched...well, when she could at least :( We had started Dressage training and she took quite well to it, it also helped lengthen her stride since she's pretty short legged for her body :P

I really appreciate everyone input! Like I said, this is my first appy so I don't know what to look for. lol. Ands obviously she's go no muscle tone (I loved how you said she has nice shoulder muscles though Jubilee Rose!) makes me feel better lol. I am attaching a copy of her registration look-up...is there anything I can look up wo maybe see where she gets her look from?

I apologize fo rthe huge size...flickr hates me today.lol

 
#18 ·
Thank you everyone! i really appreciate your input :) Mariah0707, I agree! I am not a big fan of appy's with the short nothing tail either..some of them look cute with it, but she would look weird. lol. I was suprised to find an appy with a full mane and tail! I grew up with Morgans so i always figured the "peanut pusher" ( no insult meant!) horses never had nice tails since we never saw any! lol.

That's cool that our horses are realted AppyLover!! Liek I said I know nothign abou her bloodlines so it's always cool to find out new things and relatives :)

Appy Rider 4 Life, I don't know if they would get along! lol. My mare is an attention hog big time!!!! She has the biggest "love me love me love me" attitude out of any horse I've ever met. She wants to steal the limelight away from everyone!! (and their food too :) ) lol
 
#19 ·
Great pix, she is a little bit long in the body but I think the short look of her neck comes from the camera angle. A beautiful girl you got there.
I was suprised to find an appy with a full mane and tail!
I think that most of the original appy's from a long time ago were known for their lack of mane and tail, big feet, and a big head (aside from the spots, of course). Cross-breeding them with QHs has created the look of most Appy's today. Get the +'s of the QH with the spots of an appy. :)
 
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