Conformation Critique?

[sabowin]

This is Scoot, a 12-year-old QH gelding I'm thinking of buying. I'm mostly going to trail ride, and hope to condition both of us for some longer-distance rides next spring and summer. He's not a very experienced trail horse, but has a good heart and a lot of try. He worries about things on the trail, sniffs and snorts, but hasn't yet spooked.

Comments

[alicephilippa]

Not the worlds best set of pictures to judge conformation from, but even with the best pictures it's still better to see the beastie in the flesh. That said I don't see anything majorly wrong with his conformation.

If he looked a bit club footed on the right fore, I'd be very tempted to get a set of x-ray done of it just to double check that there's nothing sinister going on there. At the very least I'd be asking the vet about it at the vet check.

[sabowin]

Thanks! Yes, I plan to mention the clubfoot thing to the vet when making the appointment, so he can decide whether X-rays would be prudent.

[keeta]

I'm taking a conformation class at the moment, so I relish the practice. :) He looks pretty well-balanced to me in these photos. He looks cow-hocked, but that's not much of a problem for a trail horse. It's a bit difficult to judge his front legs from these photos, but he looks correct to the knee, and lower than that he looks a little "off" to me, particularly on the right, and I'm sure that has to do with his clubfoot. I'm with the person above me, and I'd definitely want to get a vet's opinion on his front legs. Still, he looks like a nice, fit horse overall.

Good luck!

[sabowin]

I'm definitely going to be checking with the vet. What photos would help judge his front feet? I'm sure it doesn't help that the one in question has a white pastern with the spot in it, and the other one is solid, but that can't be helped. :-)

[alicephilippa]

To judge his legs, not just his feet, I'd like to see photos taken level with knees/hocks from front, rear and both sides with him stood nice and square on hard ground.

[2omaha_withlove]

I'm no conformation expert, but he's a cutie and you two looks really good together. Hope everything works out =)

[wastedrock]

The pasterns are a bit upright, but his feet look pretty good to me, wide, and strong looking. He has good angles and conformation for what you're looking for (IE trail blazer =P) Barring any serious issues I like him. Nice looking QH.

[re_vised]

He's a cutie! I especially love his dark spot on the right front fetlock/cornet!

He seems fairly balanced to me, and looks perfectly suited to be a trail horse. Hope the vet gives him the OK!