Comments | horsecritique: Conformation on Potential Horse

kayori_chan in horsecritique

Conformation on Potential Horse

Oct 21, 2008 22:03

Now I'm no expert, but I do have to take conformation testing in my Pony Club. Although, I'd like to hear some other oppinions besides my instructors' or riding buddies' oppinions. This is a little guy I'm interested in buying. ^_^

This is Liam:

( Liam~ )

Comments 16

_kollision October 22 2008, 01:27:40 UTC

He appears to have a roach back?
What were you planning on doing with him? What's your price range?

kayori_chan October 22 2008, 01:33:47 UTC

I was planning on doing dressage and some jumping. He had been free jumped (although I know he's REALLY young) and was a natural. Still, like I said he still is growing since he's only one, but I was just looking for someone else to take a peek and give me their two-sense. =3

kayori_chan October 22 2008, 01:34:41 UTC

Oh, and he's being offered to me for $2,500. I know the owner, and she said she'd drop price for since I know her personally.

_kollision October 22 2008, 01:46:18 UTC

It's kind of hard to critique based on these pics, but I'd say that you can get something a lot nicer that's already had some training (I'm thinking OTTB) that may be better suited for what you're looking to do.

It is hard to tell since he's only a yearling, I don't have much experience with babies and knowing how they develop and whatnot, but I don't really like him much. What is his breeding? I don't like his neck placement for a sport Morgan really.

shira October 22 2008, 01:48:48 UTC

I disagree with the previous commenter right now, but you'd really have to provide a better conformation shot to be sure. There's no evidence of any kind of upward curvature in the second picture which leads me to believe what you are seeing in the first is the engagement of the hindquarter. He has an impressive stride, and if his back is good, he should make a very nice dressage horse if his trot is any indicator of the rest of him.

quietann October 22 2008, 03:21:05 UTC

I more or less agree with you. This is not *ideal* hind end conformation, but it's pretty good. My Morgan mare is built very similarly behind -- very flat, short back leading into a high croup and lightly built hindquarters, but she's a pure athlete.

This is a photo of her from a couple of years ago. She was 7 or so at the time:

( ... )

shira October 22 2008, 03:26:40 UTC

Beautiful mare!

quietann October 22 2008, 03:28:48 UTC

Feronia's lovely, but OMG what a learning curve I've had with her. She is absolutely the best thing for my horsemanship ever, but there have been times I've been ready to give up on her. We're in dressage training now and doing pretty well.

Thread 10

dressagedreams October 22 2008, 03:22:15 UTC

I agree with the poster above me. I have seen some uber poorly backed Morgans and I just don't see it in this guy. Again, this could be premature considering his age. I also agree with the first poster that $2500 could get you a nice horse who's at least already started for you.

deathsvengeance October 23 2008, 21:30:29 UTC

God, looks to me like he'll grow up to be a pretty typical looking Morgan, though probably more foundation style than sport style, but that is my opinion. Morgan youngsters are very difficult to judge conformationally because they just don't look the same as yearlings of other breeds... And they aren't supposed to either.

Right now, his back doesn't look like an issue. He's only a yearling and that is painfully obvious, I mean look at how ass-high he is growing. Horses grow like a teeter-totter. He's at a really awkward stage in his growth in these pictures.

But like the others are suggesting, keep your options open, because you may possibly find a horse that you'll be able to do more with that has more training and experience.