Conformation on Potential Horse

[kayori_chan]

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:

Comments

[shira]

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]

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]

Beautiful mare!

[quietann]

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.

[shira]

A lot of times the best horses, the best competitors, end up being the ones that are the biggest training nightmares.

[_kollision]

See, Feronia is a well built Morgan sport horse. Compare her with the baby, you should see some obvious differences. At least, I do anyway...

[morgieporgie]

IAWTC. Feronia is very well built (at least, imo). Although it's hard to tell with those pictures, the baby just isn't built like a Morgan sport horse prospect should be (again, imo). But then again, who knows what another 3 years of growing would do for him.

But I do think that $2500 is way too much to pay for a year old Morgan gelding, unless his breeding is spectacular.

[blitzen_]

absolutely agree.

[quietann]

I absolutely agree about pricing, but am not enough of an expert (ha!) to be able to predict how this little guy will turn out. He does seem *really* short-backed. It's really hard to tell much without conformation shots, though.

Feronia does have lovely conformation, though she's somewhat lacking in Morgan breed type. I have no intention of breeding her, ever, but with the right stallion I think she'd make great babies. I would want a super-typey Morgan dressage stallion with more "junk in the trunk" and straight legs (Feronia toes in), and a calm attitude.

This is one of Feronia's relatives as a 2 year old (I think.) She is 4 now. I do see the similarities between her, and Feronia, and the colt. She's a real sweetie (and no, I do not need another horse!)

[morgieporgie]

You're right. It's so hard to tell how a baby will turn out when they grow up. I've seen some FUGLY babies grow up to be drop-dead GORGEOUS 4 or 5 yr olds.

Feronia is very uphill, which I like a lot in a sport horse. There are a lot of new "standards" for Morgans now, especially sport Morgans. Also, I think Feronia would have beautiful babies! I'd breed her to something other than a Morgan, but that's just because I have a thing for Gatsby, and I would breed pretty much anyone to him.

My boy is a Morgan cross, but he looks more Morgan than anything else. Unfortunately I have only craptastic confo pics of him, otherwise I'd show you one (icon, if that helps lol). As for Feronia's relative - she's cute, but either it's not an excelent picture, or she looks kinda like she's built like \ if that makes sense.