Critique Possible Buy

Clementine · Aug 25, 2010

I haven't met this girl yet, but may be going to visit her soon. The lease on my current Percheron/Paint gelding is ending in December, and I need to find myself another horse before then so that I don't die of lack-of-horse when he goes home.

She is a 4 year old 3/4 TB x 1/4 Percheron cross mare. She's 15.22hh, but I'll bet she's still going to grow more. Ad says: "Green broke, Snaffle mouth. Trail rides alone confidently. No kick/bite! No vices. VERY easy keeper, barefoot,loads, UTD on everything. Current coggins. Reg with the American Warmblood Soc. Shown in-hand as 2+3yr old. SUPER easy to handle! No need for an experienced handler!" She is $750. Yes, that's just one zero.

Here's a picture:
_860 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

For comparison purposes, this is my current gelding (in the winter, before I put muscle tone on him):
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos...photos-ak-ash1/hs260.ash1/18735_1212609041540_1418195554_30570676_2505143_n.jpg

I'm looking for a horse to do lower level eventing with - I'm definitely never planning to go higher than Training Level. Considering this girl's price, if she had the disposition for it, I would be able to invest in some professional training to supplement my own riding. What does everyone think of her?

JPegasus · Aug 25, 2010

she looks pretty nice. and at that price.... with lack of a better way to put it.... she may end up as food for something else. going on the description and the pic alone... i'd say you should go give her a try.

best of luck

Speed Racer · Aug 25, 2010

To be honest, I don't like her.

She's light in the rear end, her shoulder is straighter than I like, and her front pasterns are at a scary angle.

Think how much lower those pasterns will be when you put the weight of a rider on her.

I like your current gelding much better conformationally, although he also appears to have a straight shoulder and is heavier in the front than the rear, although not as glaringly obvious as the mare.

Regardless of where she might end up at that price, never buy a badly built horse over a well built one. Bad horses eat and cost just as much, or even more, than a good horse.

I'd pass, if it were me.

maura · Aug 25, 2010

Agree with SR.

Also, if your goal is Training Level; I would look for something with less Draft-type conformation. I am surprised that her ad said 3/4 TB and 1/4 draft, she looks more typical of a 1/2 Draft to me. It's not that you can't do Training successfully, or that there aren't people out there competing at that level on horses of that build, but it's much easier to condition a horse with more sport horse like conformation, and then much easier to make the allowed time.

I think her purchase price + your time + professional training = the amount you'd have to pay to get a nicer, more experienced horse that you can compete sooner.

Beau Baby · Aug 25, 2010

Agreed with the above two. I personally like your current gelding better. Try finding something less drafty for your next horse and skip over this mare. In my opinion she sounds a bit to good to be true for $750. I'm just curious, why are you not planning on renewing your lease on Jigsaw?

Clementine · Aug 26, 2010

Thanks to everyone that replied - It's very nice to get a variety of opinions.

She's light in the rear end, her shoulder is straighter than I like, and her front pasterns are at a scary angle.
Think how much lower those pasterns will be when you put the weight of a rider on her.
I like your current gelding much better conformationally, although he also appears to have a straight shoulder and is heavier in the front than the rear, although not as glaringly obvious as the mare.

As for her pastern angles - you'll also observe that she has a very long toe. I'm fairly confident that with my Healthy Stride trimmer, Diana Youngerman working on her, that that angle would change significantly.

It's funny to me that you think that my current gelding is not as imbalanced as that mare - he is WAY heavier in the front than the back - if you cut a picture of him in half, you'd think the hind end was just a Paint, and the front end was a Percheron!

Also, if your goal is Training Level; I would look for something with less Draft-type conformation.

To be honest, I don't see myself going to Training Level anytime in this horse's working life. That is as far as I EVER intend to go in the sport, and I'm just 16 now. As the draft-type goes - My current gelding has sort of gotten me hooked. I love their minds; they're so sensible. They are also full of power. I'd have to say that I don't entirely agree about conditioning - they're certainly harder to get in shape than an Arab or TB, but lots of hill work and galloping has my guy going with energy to spare!

I'm just curious, why are you not planning on renewing your lease on Jigsaw?

Believe me, I really, really, REALLY wish that I could renew my lease, as I completely adore him - he's my dream horse. Unfortunately, his owner (who was only leasing him out because she was pregnant) wants him back at the end of the year.

I'll probably take a drive and check this girl out, just because I have a gut feeling that I should. She will only be the first of many horses that I look at though - I will not make my decision in haste.

Deerly · Aug 26, 2010

Is it because of the draft cross that you are considering her? I don't see anything about her that says "eventer" to me. You can probably help her posture and toes a lot with proper trimming but it may have already caused strain and arthritis to begin, especially on such a big heavy horse. That is what I would worry about, personally.

If you take her make sure you are absolutely in love with everything about her! Her potential, her personality her everything and make sure she is healthy. Having a green horse is expensive and a lot of work and frustration in and of itself. Adding any health issues on top of that is hard. Take it from me!

If I were you I would see what else was out there but I don't really feel drawn to this horse at all.. you might! Good luck and please insist on a vet check on any horse you decide on!

Alwaysbehind · Aug 26, 2010

I agree with the others. I would skip this one.

There are draft crosses out there that are built well for what you want to do. This is not one of them.

A good farrier/trimmer can do a lot, and yes her toes are long. But it is her actual pastern angles SR was mentioning. Those are what they are. Making her foot a different shape will not change her pastern angles. It will just make her hoof angle not match her pastern angle.

Speed Racer · Aug 26, 2010

Alwaysbehind said:
But it is her actual pastern angles SR was mentioning. Those are what they are. Making her foot a different shape will not change her pastern angles. It will just make her hoof angle not match her pastern angle.

Exactly. The angles will not change, regardless of a foot trim. I don't like them; they're too long and don't have the correct slope. The spectre of DSLD always haunts me when I see pasterns with angles like that.

OP, you asked for critiques and we gave them to you. You're certainly free to do as you please, and I wish you luck with whatever you decide to do.

Clementine · Aug 26, 2010

The angles will not change, regardless of a foot trim.

Ah, but they will. When the shape of her hooves is corrected, her fetlock has to move forward, and thus the angle will be changed. If her body didn't shift to compensate when her foot was reshaped, her toes would just be off the ground! Seriously, look into Healthy Stride. So much about a horse's conformation can be changed if you consider the horse's whole body when you trim their hooves.

I'm looking at a lot of horses. I don't want to leave any possibility unchecked. What does everybody think of this guy? DreamHorse.com Horse ID: 1564157 - Chance

Deerly · Aug 27, 2010

Clementine said:
I'm looking at a lot of horses. I don't want to leave any possibility unchecked. What does everybody think of this guy? DreamHorse.com Horse ID: 1564157 - Chance

I don't know what the market is like in your area but I would think you could get a lot more horse for that much money considering he is very green, needs a lot of work and has been ignored for a while.

Granted I am used to staring at my beef-cake quarter horse but he looks very under muscled to me - especially along the top line. His back just does not look very sturdy and healthy! Not the way I would expect a 7 year old to look.

I don't really like his neck in the first picture but the second one is OK so maybe it's just a weird photo. Looks like he may have a fairly short back which might impact his eventing potential because this can make it harder to do dressage / jumping.

Edit: This may sound weird but I think you should really hold out and wait until you find the PERFECT horse for you. You want to invest a lot of time and energy and money training and perfecting him/her so you really need to have your dream horse potential to start with! As you know horses are expensive and they have setbacks or hurt themselves and there are always going to be frustrating moments but it will be much more fun and worthwhile if you wait and invest in a horse you are absolutely head over heels for.

From what you've written about your plans, this is going to be your baby and I think settling for a horse when it has the potential to be your lifelong partner and team mate is a mistake. You'll find the right horse and all the ups and downs will be so much easier because you won't wonder "what if I had a different horse..."

smrobs · Aug 27, 2010

Though I do like him better than the mare simply because his legs are much better, he still wouldn't be at the top of my list. He is very......angular. His shoulder and croup are both steep. I can't quite tell if those are sharkfin withers or if he has a slight sway to his back. I may be wrong but I just can't imagine him being that great of a ride. I would guess that he had a fairly short stride, possibly choppy as well.

Clementine · Aug 28, 2010

Alright, what do we think of this girl? horses 13885 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Here's her ad: Thoroughbred Horse For Sale, Ohio, Coshocton

Critique Possible Buy

Clementine

JPegasus

Speed Racer

maura

Beau Baby

Clementine

Deerly

Alwaysbehind

Speed Racer

Clementine

Deerly

smrobs

Clementine

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