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How much do you mind your trail horses looks?

7K views 56 replies 31 participants last post by  dustytrails 
#1 ·
I'm ''just'' a trail rider and I have ''only'' a standardbred..

I'm ashamed to admit that the looks of my horse means a lot to me.
I work hard to get him ''well'' muscled and round, working with an arched neck (and of course also with his back and hindlegs, but the neck means more to me than I want to admit). It shouldn't really matter, should it? I mean as long as he's sound and strong and so on, what does his looks matter?

It's also much of the same reason I usually keep his fetlock and ears trimmed, and can't stand keeping his mane as it's not getting long and beautiful (tho I rather like him roached/shaved too so :P As long as it's not that half-long thing.. x)

I enjoy messing with his appearance, and I like working with him and so.. but I don't think my motives is very good..and I still feel bad that his neck isn't rounder and nicer.. I want his butt bigger too, but I suppose that'll come with cantering and so on. (see..? lucky I love to canter, otherwise I'd force myself to it just because I know it'll build muscles.. x__X;)

I'm used to hearing that a horse needs to be round and pretty much look like a bodybuiler, and that standies are bad, ugly horses, and trail riding isn't really riding - not like the ''allmighty'' dressage or jumping is.. (no matter I ride both dressage anf jumps on the trail..) I suppose that's a big reason for me to want to show Crow as good looking as possible, to show them wrong and that he's a good horse and it's good riding. I don't trust them to see it if I don't get him really stunning..
Partly same thing with gaiting.. since that's a bad thing to do with standies especially, I need to prove that he's still healthy and strong even tho I gait him a lot.. and that I'm not some selfish, ignorant person that knows nothing about horses (give me a penny for everytime I hear that trail riding standie-owners are ignorant and careless..).

How much do you care about your horses looks, like this? I mean.. do you think all horses should look round and have these big muscles instead of the slimmer, tougher and a bit bonier type that many trail horses I've seen here has? Does it matter?
I don't even think it looks bad on other horses if they're slim, it looks like tough, hardy and good horses, but I feel terrible if Crow would look it.. o_O; No, I don't know why.

How silly am I? :S
Why do I care what they think?

I'd work as hard to get him well trained and what I concider nice looking anyway, but I probably wouldn't feel as bad about his stick neck or flat butt if I cared less about the others..






I realize I might have written something that could offend some people, at least to me this is a sensetive topic and well..I usually manage to anger people, so..just in case, I wanna say that no offense is intended..
 
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#2 ·
We do a lot of trail riding (and off trail riding through the woods), and although we have stocky, big muscled (and big butt) Paints, in my opinion the appearance is a lot less important than having a horse that enjoys the trails and has good 'trail sense'. If I'm in the middle of the woods weaving around trees, walking through leaves and creeks, and stepping over logs, I want a horse that is sure footed, knows where not to go, won't spook at a deer darting by, and that can get me around, over, or through anything that I may come across. Every ride is different on the trail, and you need a horse that can think and that you can trust.
 
#3 ·
Well, of course :) Ad I'm working on that too with Crow (he's ridden lss thana year so I concider him pretty young when it comes to those things, but of course I still expect obedience, and he's generally pretty relaxed)

But I still care a lot about his looks too.
 
#4 ·
How much do you care about your horses looks, like this?

I think everybody wants to have a nice looking steed. I'm always giving Sunny baths to keep him white and clean.

I mean.. do you think all horses should look round and have these big muscles instead of the slimmer, tougher and a bit bonier type that many trail horses I've seen here has? Does it matter?

Mmm..I think it depends on the typical of the breed. Thoroughbreds: Typical look is long, lanky and elegant. I'd want that if I were to have one. AQHA: Stocky and muscular. I'd want to keep that look as close to the typical of the breed, as well. Of course, that's my personal opinion. I like to keep breeds easy to distinguish ;P

How silly am I? :S

Not very, IMO. Many people (including me) WANT to have their horses looking sharp and at peak performance. Especially after all this money we've spent on them.



I love that ^^ picture!
 
#6 ·
Your horse looks great. Don't worry so much. ;) I like my horses to look healthy and I may vetch around cuz one's forelock got pulled out(dang weeds) or ones tail is too short. High withers here and long ears there(oh wait, same horse. lol) I don't dwell on any of that tho. I am just happy to have good healthy horses.
 
#7 ·
I don't worry too much about my horse's looks in the vanity type thing. I don't clip or trim them anywhere other than the bridle path. If their manes are short or long............whatever. I just like for them to be all on the same side, it bugs me when it splits. LOL. I can understand wanting a horse who is round and muscular. I rather like the feeling of getting on a horse and feeling like I am on a horse instead of a toothpick. BUT, I am blessed with well built, pretty well balanced horses with very little work. Sometimes I would like to have a taller horse but then I would have trouble getting on. I can hardly get on my 14.3hh mustang if he is uphill from me. *blushes*

I agree Crow is just stunning, standardbred or not. :) Not that I have anything against SBs but just generally too tall and lanky for my taste. I prefer short and stocky. :D
 
#8 ·
As Sunny06 said, every breed has an ideal look to it. I'm a TB owner, and yes I do take pride in my lean, long legged boy with his big powerful butt. The woman I ride with loves her short, stocky QH for what he is too. She wouldn't own a TB any sooner than I'd get a QH, and that's where all of us being a little different is a good thing. I do love seeing people gawk at my horse when we're out on the trails, but in a scary situation, I'd rather he'd be safe and look like a troll instead of cute and dangerous. Guess it's a little of both for me. Certainly nothing wrong with wanting your horse to look great.
 
#10 ·
I like to keep my horses trimmed up nice and I like them to travel nicely on the trail; not necessarily always in a rounded frame, but calmly and obediently, and with some trail smarts; I don't want him spooking at everything, and I do want him to pay attention to his footing.
 
#11 ·
I won't buy an ugly horse. He must stand out in a crowd or I am not interested. I only buy arabs so how could I not have a pretty horse:lol::lol:
I do not worry about how I turnout for a ride, my equipment is in perfect condition, functional from thousands of miles of use, well oiled and soft but color I could care less about. The horse is well groomed but other then a bridle path he is not trimmed.
Well shod, I hate half falling off shoes or bad shoing.
The most important thing is the way of going, how he handles things on the trial, on the roads and in general how he handles himself around people and other horses.
Standbreds are not pretty horses, they do not have the refined head, the heavier arched neck but they have a wonderful personallity, are brave to a fault and have a wonderful ground covering trot. All the things that make a great trail horse. Their fearlessness is what makes them great buggy horses for the amish, that and their trot.
I owned one in the mid 80's and she had everything the standbred should have. Also a great big heart.:lol:
 
#12 ·
Zab, you are normal. I fuss over my girls so badly, it's silly. My friends think I'm nuts because my horses look nearly flawless (aside from a very long fluffy coat) in the winter. They just stay clean, and I groom all of them daily no matter what. Build wise, I think it's best for a horse of any breed to look healthy and well muscled to match his natural build and framework. Even within a breed, there are variations. I'm a QH person, so depending on what kind of bloodlines the horse has, it can be built many ways and still be incredible for their frame, breeding, and discipline. (I like big butts and I cannot lie!)
I think your Standie looks great!!! You've really gotten him looking incredible compared to the first pics. WOW.
 
#13 ·
That's definately normal. I'd never sacrifice good behaviour for appearance, but I like to keep my Arab looking good. She has a properly clipped bridle path, probably a little longer then neccesary for a trail horse but not as extreme as a true Arabian cut. Her mane and tail are always brushed out and kept untangled, and she's always groomed up nice.

In winter I let her look like a yak just because it's so cold here and we don't have a barn. But come springtime, it's clean up time!

I think it's good to take pride in your horse. I've been to group trail rides where people haul these unmuscled, under weight, FILTHY hairbags of trailers and it just makes me cringe. No, a trail horse doesn't have to look perfect, but trail riding can DEFINATELY be streneous, and I think it's just as silly taking an unfit horse on a five hour trail ride as it is to take an unfit horse into competition.
 
#14 ·
I care how my horses look. I groom both of them like crazy, brush the tail and mane so they'd look nice, long and soft, and I always try to match all my tack.
 
#15 ·
I think all horses have a right to look pretty, I mean they are the most beautiful animals on the planet, am I right?
I find nothing wrong with making sure you're horse looks ideal to you, if that's what makes you happy, more power to ya!
I'm a trail rider and I keep my mare's mane braided 24/7 because it's almost 12" long and if I don't keep it up-kept like that she tangles it in t-minus .01 seconds. People sometimes think I'm vein because I do that, so what! I'd like her to have a 12" mane for the rest of her life, thank you very much!
 
#16 ·
Thanks, it's good to know I'm not crazy xD

And thanks for all compliments on Crow ^_^

Btw..I brought my big city-boy older brother on a 3 - 3.5 hour trailride today..mwahahahahas he's so in love with horses now xD
Sad thing is that I finally got a neat picture of me and Crow (I always ride alone, so..) just with the cell camera, but still.. but that ans half the other photos were lost when I transferred them to the comp and my cell shut down :( Gah! I'm not meant to have pictures where both Crow and I and the background look good! ><

Anyway, Zakarias, my brother, riding Dacke, muy dads horse, on his very first trail ride..ever :P He has perhaps bee sitting on a horse..4 times in his life..it was fun xD He did well too^^


(Poor Crow..he'll always look thin next to Dacke..x) )
 
#18 ·
heeh.. of course he just had to tease me ''Arn't your horse supposed to be the fast one, sis?'' >D nyahahah I figured he could just as well learn to canter.. so I set off to proove to him that yes, my horse was the fastest one xD
After that, he really liked the ride and wanted more xD
We had a picnic and so too :)
 
#20 ·
As long as you love your horse just the way he is, I see no reason not to work towards getting him to look like you'd like him to look. Does that make sense? :lol: All I really do towards grooming my horse is brush and pet him a lot...does petting count....and wash him down with a hose once in a while. My horse isn't the prettiest horse around in most peoples eyes, but in my eyes he is the most beautiful horse in the world....what can I say, I'm a sucka for his big brown eyes :grin:. I make sure my horse is clean and well fed and when I meet other horses I look for the same.
 
#21 ·
I'm just a trail rider and all I have is two TWH's.

I really don't care how my horse looks in terms of correct neck-set, correct head-set and stuff... I never really have cared about that. Sure, I want my horses muscled and shiny and happy... but I want them to be able to navigate a trail and that stuff more than look pretty. As long as I know that they're pretty, that's all that matters.

I do care about how well groomed they are, though...I love brushing my horses and will literally brush them for hours when the whim hits me. I'm still trying to break my obsessive brushing though... I've forced myself to ride with tangled manes and poopy coats so much that I'm beginning to just not care.

But I still like them to look nice.
 
#22 ·
I use to spend alot of time grooming up my horses to look good on the trail. But now I don't so much. I groom her and fly spray, check hooves and run a brush through her mane and tail and saddle-up and go. I love the natural look of my mare. I use to clip fetlocks and bridle paths but she has such a long beautiful mane and forlock I just leave them long and wild looking. Now I spend more time in the saddle instead of time on the ground grooming.
 
#23 ·
I don't care what discipline you are doing - you should take pride of your horse regardless. That means grooming on a regular basis, making sure everything is in proper order *no boo boo's, hooves, etc, etc*

When you take pride in your horse, and show your horse that you care through daily interaction and daily grooming sessions, your horse will take pride in themselves.
 
#24 ·
I think your horse looks great! For a little more butt muscle do more hill work at a walk.

As mentioned earlier standard breds are not pretty .... but i find them quit handsome ( if that makes sense)

Heres some pics of my old standard bred looking very handsome

Jed 17.2hh
 

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#25 ·
I like my horses to look good, but more from a health point of view. I also use tack based on functionality and not fashionality. Needs to be clean, fit well and be durable. Whether the colors match, not so important to me anymore. I actually spend more time on their grooming/tacking up than on myself prior to riding.

Usually am in a full blown "hot flash" by the time I'm done with them and ready to mount! Thank goodness for helmets, hides the results to my hair! :lol:
 
#26 ·
I would love to have a good looking, flashy, sparkly trail horse, but that usually doesn't happen around here. When it comes down to it, I would rather have an ugly grade horse with a bull head that is an amazingly tempered horse than a "pretty" one who has the IQ and respect of a fly.

BUUUTTT, my horses don't look totally unfortunate on trails. I do color coordinate my babies, and I give them a nice brush down before we head out, but honestly? It is a trail, not a halter show. lol.
 
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