2yo grade QH conformation critique

2531 Views 47 Replies 14 Participants Last post by Knave, 7 mo ago

lovetolope

Discussion Starter · 7 mo ago

12

I've been waiting to start this thread, but was waiting for my guy to put on a bit more weight first. He's pretty much up to a good weight, except for his topline, which still needs a bit. (He's kind of getting a haybelly 😂) Anyway, here are the pictures. Tell me the negative and the positive; any thoughts you have. I included pictures of him squared up as well as not.
I'm not an expert, but I'm guessing it's probably not great.
Some of the pictures are in bad lighting - sorry.

Sky Horse Working animal Fawn Mane

Sky Horse Cloud Working animal Tree

Horse Sky Working animal Halter Horse tack

Sky Horse Eye Working animal Plant

Horse Sky Liver Working animal Tree

Horse Sky Eye Liver Working animal

Horse Working animal Sky Tree Liver

See less See more

Reactions: 2

1 - 20 of 48 Posts

Knave

· #2 · 7 mo ago

Who was it who used to say that after three months you hide a horse behind the barn until it’s three-years-old?

Reactions: 5

lovetolope

Discussion Starter · #3 · 7 mo ago

Knave said:
Who was it who used to say that after three months you hide a horse behind the barn until it’s three-years-old?

Oh boy. That bad? 😂
I have to say my vet wasn't impressed.

Reactions: 2

Knave

· #4 · 7 mo ago

That’s not what I meant @lovetolope! I actually was glad you posted him. I’ve debated posting Queen, but she just seems so awkward right now. I was always one to really like the looks of two-year-olds, but lately I don’t know why I did!

Here is a positive thing. When we bought Beamer, he was the ugliest two I’d ever seen, and he really grew up attractive.

Also, before I bought Bones, I looked at this two or three year old mare who I thought was stunning (until I saw what they had done with her training wise). She was probably the best looking horse I’d ever seen. I showed her to my dad, and he said “If they are that good looking young, they grow up to be ugly horses. It’s the awkward looking colts who grow up pretty.”

Reactions: 3

Knave

· #5 · 7 mo ago

Honestly I’m not good at conformation, but I can’t see anything wrong with him. He’s just young and kinda pot bellied. I will be interested to see what the people good at conformation have to say. I always learn from their posts. His angles look matching… I don’t see crookedness.

Reactions: 1

younghorsetrainer

· #6 · 7 mo ago

Cute colt! I can see some muscles in his back quarters near the flank and his front chest. It looks like he will look really nice and well-muscled in a year or 2. He is a little pot bellied was he an orphan? Is he a full blood QH or what is his mix?

Reactions: 1

lovetolope

Discussion Starter · #7 · 7 mo ago

@younghorsetrainer, he's supposedly a grade Quarter Horse. He probably does have some other blood in him, but I'm not sure. He does have some QH characteristics though, which was what made me believe he's at least part QH.
He's not an orphan, he's actually a semi-rescue. He was very malnourished and underfed. This was what he looked like when I first got him:

Horse Working animal Liver Horse supplies Sorrel

@Knave, that's actually really encouraging! I think he'll probably level out.
Yes, he does have a hay belly. 😂 But with winter coming on I'm not really worrying about it too much.

See less See more

Reactions: 2

Zimalia22

· #8 · 7 mo ago

Actually, I'm liking this youngster.

Sky Horse Eye Cloud Working animal

Nice breedy head, ears set well forward of his throatlatch. Nice clean neck. Neck fits nicely into his shoulders. Well defined withers, nice back. He's showing a bit of the curve in his back, but that should disappear as he puts on more weight. Good croup.
His legs in the front and back pics appear to be pretty correct.
Nice deep heartgirth.
Gaskin is tied in nicely.
Since he's got a big of a belly, don't slack off on your keeping him wormed.

All in all he's a nice prospect. May I ask what your plans for him are?

See less See more

Reactions: 5

lovetolope

Discussion Starter · #9 · 7 mo ago

Zimalia22 said:
Actually, I'm liking this youngster.
View attachment 1137749

Nice breedy head, ears set well forward of his throatlatch. Nice clean neck. Neck fits nicely into his shoulders. Well defined withers, nice back. He's showing a bit of the curve in his back, but that should disappear as he puts on more weight. Good croup.
His legs in the front and back pics appear to be pretty correct.
Nice deep heartgirth.
Gaskin is tied in nicely.
Since he's got a big of a belly, don't slack off on your keeping him wormed.

All in all he's a nice prospect. May I ask what your plans for him are?

Wow, you have no idea how encouraging this is! 😂
Like I said, my vet was pretty horrified at my choice.

My plans for him are not totally set. The thing I want most is for him is to be just an all-around horse. One you can trail ride one minute and go rope off of the next. He's not set as a reining/roping/barrel racing/ect. horse. Just an all-around riding horse.

Reactions: 2

dustyk

· #10 · 7 mo ago

I don't see flaws that would chase me away. Possibly a little bench kneed, but overall just a14 year old boy in a horsehair coat.
Not the best pictures for confirmation, but if he seems to have a good mind I think he's a keeper. Don't look too closely for a birthday or 2

Reactions: 3

younghorsetrainer

· #11 · 7 mo ago

lovetolope said:
Wow, you have no idea how encouraging this is! 😂
Like I said, my vet was pretty horrified at my choice.

My plans for him are not totally set. The thing I want most is for him is to be just an all-around horse. One you can trail ride one minute and go rope off of the next. He's not set as a reining/roping/barrel racing/ect. horse. Just an all-around riding horse.

Are you going to train him yourself or have somebody else train him? I guess that that vet only likes purebred horses lol

Reactions: 2

Zimalia22

· #12 · 7 mo ago

I have no idea why your vet would have a negative opinion of this colt.
I'm glad to hear you will be doing western stuff with him! If he was mine, I would put him in cutting training, see if he's got any cow. If not, I would ride him as a turn back horse for a few years. It will for sure put a handle on him! Reining is good too! Actually, all you mentioned, I can see him being a prospect for.
He's come a long way from when you first got him. Look at him again when he's a 4 year old. I think you'll really like him then.

Reactions: 3

beau159

· #13 · 7 mo ago

lovetolope said:
I've been waiting to start this thread, but was waiting for my guy to put on a bit more weight first. He's pretty much up to a good weight, except for his topline, which still needs a bit. (He's kind of getting a haybelly 😂) Anyway, here are the pictures. Tell me the negative and the positive; any thoughts you have. I included pictures of him squared up as well as not.
I'm not an expert, but I'm guessing it's probably not great.
Some of the pictures are in bad lighting - sorry.

Some 2 year olds really go through a fugly stage. Yours isn't seeming to do that! He's a pretty decent looking 2 year old.

He is a little bit toed out on his front legs, but not too bad. I love his bone structure - he's not dainty.

I'm really pleased how level he is. A lot of 2 year olds are butt high at this point but he looks pretty good.

His back is a little funny looking toward me. He has the strange hump near his croup. May or may not be any issue, but it could possibly be harder for him to naturally collect. This could be a factor say, in a barrel turn. Again, not a problem, but might be something he might have to work harder at.

He seems front heavy to me, maybe with the long neck and long back, and then light in the hindquarters.

Back legs are just a hair cow hocked but not by much.

I love his facial expression! Seems like a lovely guy.

See less See more

Reactions: 2

lovetolope

Discussion Starter · #14 · 7 mo ago

younghorsetrainer said:
Are you going to train him yourself or have somebody else train him? I guess that that vet only likes purebred horses lol

Yes, I'm training him myself.
He has already been started, so just more tuning up and then actually riding on my part. Lots of groundwork.

Thank you everyone! I'm really happy that everyone thinks he has potential and is actually good looking. 😂
I don't know why my vet doesn't like him, but whatever. It's not his horse.
I see the potential in him, and we instantly bonded. I think I did well!

Everyone agrees he looks like a QH, right? I know he probably could have other blood in him.

Reactions: 2

stevenson

· #15 · 7 mo ago

Did your Vet see him when he was skinny? He does not have any huge glaring faults. He is only 2 so still very much a baby. I would not try to ride him until 4 or 5. it takes that long for all the spine to fully develop . There is a chart that can be googled or searched for when their bones all fuse. You can ground work him etc. It is good if you have a large turn out for him so he can learn how to be a horse, to move , where to place his feet. Stall babies can end up with more problems. He could probably use a wormer. He will be a really cute horse when he is mature. Yes he has the quarter horse build. He is a cute guy.

Reactions: 1

Zimalia22

· #16 · 7 mo ago

I know we all have our preferences on when to start a colt, but I would be doing ground work with him now, and get in a few rides on him before winter really gets going. Then, you're that much ahead for next year. As I said, I would put him with a cutting trainer asap.
Yes, I do believe he's either full QH or mostly QH.
There's really no reason not to start him.

Reactions: 3

lovetolope

Discussion Starter · #17 · 7 mo ago

@Zimalia22, I thought the same thing. Only problem is that neither of my saddles fit him, so I have to buy a different one. After I get one that fits him I will be lightly riding him. Nothing strenuous, but I will be lightly riding. I'm also not heavy at all, so he won't be carrying too much weight.
For now, til I find a saddle, lots of groundwork.

Reactions: 1

Knave

· #18 · 7 mo ago

He looks like he’s going to need an antique tree for a while!

Reactions: 1

Zimalia22

· #19 · 7 mo ago

Got to remember too, he's still growing, and will get rounder as he gains both weight and muscle.
I love my cutting saddles cause they are fairly light, around 30 pds. Pad one up and even if it's not the best fit, for just starting on ground driving and such, they are fine.
I had a saddle that I used just on colts, a special order Hamley, loved that saddle! Now that I'm old enough I'm not going to be starting any more colts, I gifted it to a young man that starts a lot of colts. I love his breeding program, and he's just a heck of a very nice young man. He will get a lot of good use out of it.

Reactions: 2

tinyliny

· #20 · 7 mo ago

have not read the other posts. I believe it best not to before giving an opinion on conformation , otherwise one is overly influenced by others' opinions.

I see a tidy looking horse who has no glaring faults at all. He has an upright shoulder, more so than his hip angle. He has nice short canons, fore and rear (I mean low hocks). His front legs toe out a wee bit, on his left, angling out from the knee. He has good bone, nice pastern length and angle. His head appears large only because his neck is not yet developed. I think he is, honestly, a peach!

Reactions: 2

1 - 20 of 48 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.