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This is Western Comet. He is a 16 year old Standardbred Gelding. He is 15.3 hands or more. He is standing on a slight slope here
Pleas critique my standardbred gelding
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hes a handsome hunk of horse !!!
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He is a cutie. It may be the way he's standing, or the way his feet are trimmed, but in the third picture his front feet look like they turn in a little. He doesn't look like he's standing too comfortably. Of course it may just be my eyes...I can't see worth a daggone tonight. I think he has kind eyes, and from what i can see, his weight looks good.
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The biggest thing that pops out at me right off the bat is he looks like he's uncomfortable. He looks like he's tucking his tail and popping up his back because something is sore or is bugging him. He's got a nice chest, good muscling all over, and I like how much bone he has on him. He looks like a very nice very well cared for horse, except for the fact that he's popping his back and tucking his butt.
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he does look like his toes are turned in a little. i work with harness racers and cant even say this would be something from the way they are shod. they still should have nice straight legs right down to the toes.
although he is tall he seems rather short in the body for a standie but having said that, there seems to be more than one set of conformational rules for standardbreds. there are the leaner, longer ones and then there are the more heavy set, more compact ones. i have found though that overall the leaner, longer standardbred has better range of movement and will always do better at the races
i know your horse isnt a race horse though so this means nothing to you but yeah, just though id add that
all in all he looks pretty well put together. the only other things i would say is that for some reason i dont like the way his neck ties into his shoulders but that could just be me he also looks a little camped under in the front. he looks a little sore around the back end to
but he looks just lovely and those things mentioned are minor things its rare to come across a perfectly put together horse
although he is tall he seems rather short in the body for a standie but having said that, there seems to be more than one set of conformational rules for standardbreds. there are the leaner, longer ones and then there are the more heavy set, more compact ones. i have found though that overall the leaner, longer standardbred has better range of movement and will always do better at the races
i know your horse isnt a race horse though so this means nothing to you but yeah, just though id add that all in all he looks pretty well put together. the only other things i would say is that for some reason i dont like the way his neck ties into his shoulders but that could just be me
he also looks a little camped under in the front. he looks a little sore around the back end tobut he looks just lovely and those things mentioned are minor things
its rare to come across a perfectly put together horse 
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I agree with dressagebelle, he looks uncomfortable. Is that what they call a "hunter's bump" on his back? They are caused by repeated trauma, I haven't seen one before though.
His hooves look very weird to me, especially the left hind. They look like they are trimmed really short. Based on how he's standing, it looks like his hind feet give him pain.
I think he has a lovely kind face.
Overall he looks very gentle and dependable. He looks like he would be a reliable partner for pleasure riding.
Not really related to his confirmation, but his halter looks pretty tight around his throat.
His hooves look very weird to me, especially the left hind. They look like they are trimmed really short. Based on how he's standing, it looks like his hind feet give him pain.
I think he has a lovely kind face.
Overall he looks very gentle and dependable. He looks like he would be a reliable partner for pleasure riding.
Not really related to his confirmation, but his halter looks pretty tight around his throat.
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To me it looks more like a roached back than a hunters bump.
"Hunter's bump" is extremely common is SBs, partially because typical SB conformation predisposes them to it, and partially because pacing at racing speed is a terrific mechanicsm of injury to cause it.
I can't really tell from the photos whether it's hunter's bump or a roached back, but I suspect hunter's bump because of the horse's history. I also agree with the poster that commented on how uncomfortable he looks, particulary in the first and last photo. Might be because of other factors (cold, standing on asphalt) but I would definitely get his back looked at by a vet or chiropractor.
The other thing that jumps out at me is his front fetlocks - pretty typical for a SB that's raced, but those fetlocks are pretty thick and puffy.
Positives are a wonderful shoulder, attractive head and neck and a neck that ties into the shoulder well. Broad powerful chest. Both fore and hind legs reasonably square and straight.
Nothing here (other than the back) that would keep him from being a happy, healthy pleasure horse.
I can't really tell from the photos whether it's hunter's bump or a roached back, but I suspect hunter's bump because of the horse's history. I also agree with the poster that commented on how uncomfortable he looks, particulary in the first and last photo. Might be because of other factors (cold, standing on asphalt) but I would definitely get his back looked at by a vet or chiropractor.
The other thing that jumps out at me is his front fetlocks - pretty typical for a SB that's raced, but those fetlocks are pretty thick and puffy.
Positives are a wonderful shoulder, attractive head and neck and a neck that ties into the shoulder well. Broad powerful chest. Both fore and hind legs reasonably square and straight.
Nothing here (other than the back) that would keep him from being a happy, healthy pleasure horse.
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Maura, could the fetlock thing be the hair there? He has quite a bit that needs to be clipped
There appears to be something wrong with his hind left foot, and it is causing him pain. You can see it in his face. He has all his weight on his front legs and with his back rounded he is not relaxed at all. Tendon issue? Seems like he can't relax that back leg and put weight on it. I can image him relaxed, shed out and not in pain... good looking horse in my imagination.
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It is because I was placing his foot and he did not want it there lol
hey horseychick, i love your boy, very handsome!! i understand that you want to do the barefoot thing and it is totally possible but i can almost guarantee that the reason everyone thinks he looks uncomforable is becuase of how short his feet are. i bet he is a bit ouchy. my dad specifically is a farrier of standardbreds. please let his hooves grow out a bunch before your next trim. the shape and angles are okay, there is just not enough hoof there.
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They didn't trim his hooves that short, they are worn out. He is ridden on the road a lot. He is NOT sore. I promise. He is perfectly sound. It is just the driveway. He was on so many slopes there. His next trim is not in another 8 wks.
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He has an old stifle on the left hind. that is why he is standing funny also. The racing did it
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I dont like shoes and he doesn't hold them well. Once I get the $$$ I will get him some hoof boots. I have been riding him in the field more often since it is drying up. Shutupjoe- how did you come up with that username? It is hilarious. It makes me giggle every time I see it!
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He looks to me as if he is standing funny, but then again my mare does silly things like that for no reason (expessially when I try and take pictures). He looks as if he has a shorter back and his nick may tie in a bit high. I dont know much about standardbreds, that may be common but it looks off to me. His back may just be from the way he is standing, but it looks awful straight compared to most horses. No sway in it at all. He looks very kind and gentle, and that he could be a friend to anyone!
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HAHA! Shutupjoe lol. FF756, I think so too
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