confo critiques needed for a coupla OTTBs, would like to use for dressage

[fit_to_ride]

Hey all, I'm new to this community! I'm in the "shouldn't-be-looking-for-a-horse-but-am-anyway" market, hooray! That's always the superfunnest

Comments

[meupatdoes]

I'd avoid the Standardbred if you want to do a jumping job, because he really hangs his legs in the one pic.

In the second pic, yes, he brings the bottom half of his legs up, but he's still pointing his knees at the ground.

Heading in to any jump, especially at cross country, you want to make sure the knees go higher than the elbows. That way, even if he unfolds, his lower legs will just follow across.

If he's pointing his knees down and misjudges, though, he'll catch a rail to the chest and likely go for a roll. No bueno.

I still like Ryan; not a huge fan of the chestnut with the very large ass and the very small (and lower) front end.

[fit_to_ride]

Yeah, I'm still not 100% set on the whole jumping thing - I keep thinking I'll get back into it and yet it's always a no-go. I've become a huge chicken in my (not-so) old age.

I still like Ryan too... he's still my favourite of all the ones I've come across. I even have that picture on my fridge... and his new barn name/show name picked out. Because I am a huge dork.

Oh my god, you're totally right, he's completely out of proportion (the chestnut). It's like he ate Taco Bell and it all went to his ass or something. I was probably so fixated on his relatively short back that the huge ass and tiny front end blew past me.

[blauereiterin]

sooo where are you? i know of a very nice ottb available for adoption (ie free) that will come with prof training. he's 3 (4 now?) and probably won't be good for jumping bc he has some arthritis in his knees. he's a sweet and gorgeous horse tho and i'd love to see him go to a loving home.

[fit_to_ride]

I'm in Southeastern Michigan - I remember you said something about OTTBs in your area being free. How lucky!

Well, if I'm not too far away, do let me know details on this guy! Like I said, I'm not completely set on jumping, so that wouldn't be a huge deal.

[z111]

I like the first one best of the ones in the post (I didn't click the links.) He doesn't look uphill or downhill to me. He's got big powerful muscling in the shoulder and rear. His back doesn't look long or short to me.

His croup drops off a little fast but I'm not sure that matters for dressage or jumping.

Second horse looks skinny to me and disproportional.

Third looks built downhill.

Fourth...maybe it's the way he's standing, but yes, he does look really upright.

All that said, I'm only just starting to learn about conformation so take my opinions with some salt.

BTW, I have an HJ horse and don't jump. I'm currently learning dressage on him. But I think my trainer wants me to do HJ or eventing with him. Right now, I'm happiest having my horses have at least one foot on the ground at any given time! And I prefer two!

[z111]

I also noticed the thing about his croup. I wasn't sure how big of a deterrant it was for him. Like I say, I've had my eye on him for awhile, so if/when I go and see him, it might just be love at first sight

[fit_to_ride]

that was me... idiot computer logged me off. Durr.

[z111]

Yes, Danny the Hanoverian and Zahra the Arabian. I write about a lot of not horsey stuff, but if you add me, I'll add you back and put you on my horse filter.

I don't know if you know this or not, but I also had a bad fall, not even a year ago. Most of my horse writings these days is about my long journey back to feeling safe again.

What happened when you hit the wall? (I hit a wall also.)

[shira]

For dressage only, the standardbred is far and away the best candidate that I see on this page. Seems like a great mover, and wow, what a body

[shira]

Isn't his trot nice & big? There was a gelding with an even better trot a couple months ago but he got sold. This one is one of the best-put-together STBs I've seen

[fit_to_ride]

yeah, that was me. Idiot computer logged me off :(

[shira]

You're quite welcome. Good luck, and let us know what you end up with, especially if it's that STBD. He just seems really spectacular, to me, and I suspect that if he's got the right mind, that horse could do a lot more than simply low-level dressage. He's got a great build for higher...

[weeklygeos98]

no time to crtique.

I love the first horse, but i think he isn't being stood up well and could use some miles to remuscle him. I think if he was aligned and had his neck strechted he would look a lot better.

2& 3 are a little downhill for my taste, 4 has open angles, the others are unremarkable

[fit_to_ride]

thanks for your input! Would time invested help out candidate #1 more than the others? I'll probably go look at him in a few weeks when I have a weekend off.

I love the horse in your icon! What a cutie.

[weeklygeos98]

I think that that time invested would be the best on him. Yeah, his backs a little short, but My trainer has a horse with an even shoarter back and he's a pretty killer dressage horse. it makes them even easier to put together. As long as your're not aiming for like grand prix wih him, he should be fabulous. Hes SUPER cute, has to total dressage "Look" to him, and he looks like he will muscle out a little thicker than the others.

Two and three as so downhill that they will take a LOT of work to put together, and you will ALWAYS need to be working with them on that.

Thanks for the comment about my horse- He's my baby :) Unfortunatly, he has a long back and is a lil downhill.....

[fit_to_ride]

I thought he had a more "dressagey" look to him than a lot of the others, too, that's one of the first things that caught my eye. I'm definitely going to go take a look at him.

Thanks so much for your help!

Toby looks very chrome-y, is he? I love a chestnut with a lot of white (who doesn't!)