[ptvintage]

Hello!

This isn't a horse I own, but I am trying to train my eye for confirmation, which is a weakness of mine. I do think this horse is gorgeous though!

As I want to own an eventing horse one day, I want to be able to pick out flaws that would limit the horses jumping potential.

So please critique this horse in regards to his jumper potential. I'm mostly interested in his shoulder, as I know horses need a sloping shoulder to jump well. Is this horse's shoulder too vertical, or is this a sloping shoulder?

Thank you

 

[SlickDirtyDancin]

I didn't think we could post other peoples horses for critiques?

Anyways, he is beautiful. Not the best picture for confo since he is slouching or moving his hind leg.

 

[ridergirl23]

hes beautiful, i dont think we can critique others hroses unless its yours tho... hes very pretty hto! i love when theyre slim built.

 

[ptvintage]

Ah, I'll remove him then! I'm very sorry about that.

Thanks for your responses though

edit- can't figure out how to

 

[Mercedes]

Actually, that is incorrect. Shoulder slope is only one part of the front end, and isn't even the most important one. You will see lots of very good jumpers with an upright shoulder.

The bone that plays the biggest roll in the front end is the humerus bone. It's length and slope, and the angle it creates at the point of shoulder is what determines way of going, knee action, flat movement, knees to chin and so on.

After that, you take into consideration the placement of the knees, the slope of the shoulder, the length of the forearm.

In a nutshell, to get knees to chin the horse has to have an open shoulder angle, good length to a more vertical humerus bone, and low knees.

Having said all that and relating it to this horse:

This horse does not have an upright shoulder. In fact, it is about 51/52 degrees which is neither upright, nor laidback.

The humerus has okay length, but because the point of shoulder is so low, the humerus lies more horizontal than is ideal for jumping. The low point of shoulder tends to cause horses to jump shoulder first.

The shoulder angle is adequate at 90 degrees...but we really like to see that angle at 100-115 degrees for jumpers.

The knees are also a bit high.

I would say form over fences would be okay, relatively safe, but a long way from top shelf.

On the back end you want your jumper to have a big hip (this horse does), a strong, deep loin (horse here is wasp-waisted), and a straightish hind leg (can't say for sure, but I suspect the angulation for this horse would be fine for jumping).

This is an eventing type horse, who's strength should lay in the death phase of the sport. :wink: