Conformation Clinic # 11 ~ Quarter Horse Gelding

astablehand · 03-21-2006, 08:59 PM

Before you respond with a critique, please make sure you thoroughly understand the guidelines. If you haven't already done so, please read them here:

http://forum.horsetopia.com/viewtopic.php?t=5936

Also, please forego comments such as "He sure is pretty." Or "I like him a lot". The participants here are looking for technical critiques.

Time for our next Conformation Clinic candidate!

Breed: Quarter Horse

Sex: Gelding

Age: 14 years old

Hight: 16.3hh

Other Information: He seems to have lots of trail experience and some pleasure type training. He is 16'3" hands tall! He has lots of running QH blood in him Hazard County- Tufferenhell - Te N' Te - Stage Bird Tom and Three Chicks.
We bought him as a spare trail horse without papers, later received his papers. I would like to work with him on barrels, as he should have plenty of speed if I can teach him to move out freely and willingly, but will definitely use him for trail riding.

Have fun, and critique away!

MollyGirl7503 · 03-21-2006, 09:11 PM

Looks even to me. Maybe a little biger neck. It looks a bit small for his body. Chest looks bigger then his hindend but very nice. All in all he looms like a very wellput together boy.

ron · 03-21-2006, 09:14 PM

I just don't see too much wrong with this guy for want you want to do with him. At 14 he is still well able to start a new career, but will have to be a bit slower in condintion on the older horse.

His head is rather plain but not ugly either. Does that make sense? His neck is nice and long and ties in reasonably well. the throatlatch looks trim enough to let him flex well. Good chest but could stand a little more muscle and forearm, but that will come with work. pasterns are a tad upright for cushion, but you aint gonna be trottin'

He has good high withers, comes from that TB and running blood so you wont have to worry about saddle slipping, but you will have to have a high gullet. Back is a little long, but not enough to hurt. His topline does dip a little and is a tad uphill, but again, it should not hurt him.

Now this is where I may differ from some. I like his loping croup going into that hip which is pretty fair sized. His hocks have a set to them, not as upright as some like, but for your use, it may be an avantage digging around them barrels and launching off to next.

All in all, he aint bad at all.

Renae · 03-22-2006, 03:02 AM

My very first impression was not a good one. Non of his "parts" flow together well. Each part looks seperate from the others which is not pleasing to the eye. I do however like his markings. His head is nice...plain...but nicely formed with good sized small ears and large soft eye. His neck is short in the second picture but looks OK in the first and dips just after the withers...probably came from his TB ancestors. His shoulder is a tad too upright but his neck ties in just fine but slightly coarse. As I mentioned first he doesn't flow together well from part to part. His wither are too high and seem out of place but it will be great for keeping a saddle on him. His back is nice and short but ties in oddly and weaking through the loin into his croup. He angles well from his croup to his tail and his tail set if just right. He's very deep chested which for a performance horse will be good as it probably means he has large well developed lungs. His underline is of good length and shape, and is one part of him that ties in well. His forearm and stifle look well muscled. His cannon bone is short...almost too short...but that may be the way his sock makes it took. He's a little upright in the pasterns both front and back but they are short and he should stand up to hard work well. His hocks are low to the ground and slightly above his knees which means he's well balanced. His hip angle is nice and his feet look to be of good size relative to his body weight. I think he'll fit your needs nicely and he has nice bloodlines as well.

Kahlua_Twist · 03-22-2006, 07:27 AM

I'll give it a shot! My 1st impression was not particularly good either, but after looking more carefully, he's not all that badly put together. He does have a few "flaws" but nothing that is so major he couldn't accomplish your goals. I am not a fan of the typial TB neck, which he seems to have acquired, but it's not a real fault for a trail horse or low-level barrel horse. I agree with Renae in that he doesn't flow well. His back is a touch longer than I would like but has a very deep chest which will be an advantage for long rides and performance sports. IMO his hindquarters are ok, but he seems to have a tiny bit of a sloping croup which could just be lack of work and therefore underdeveloped muscle.
All in all he seems like he will be suited to what you want and as long as he's willing to try, he'll be a superstar!! Decent bloodlines too.

miss leanne · 03-22-2006, 12:41 PM

Well, here goes! I agree with most of the previous posts regarding his other conformation points, but also his shoulder is pretty straight. For what you're doing with him that may not matter much. He's overall a pretty nice gelding, and will probably be a nice trail horse and with his bloodlines stands a chance to be pretty fast. You should look up Tuffernhel, your horse bears a striking resemblence to him. http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/tuffernhel

The only horse I've ever been around that was Tuffernhel bred was a really unflappable gelding that had a lot of athletic talent and was overall a joy to be around.

mellowdane · 03-25-2006, 02:12 AM

Hm. I will say that overall I think this boy seems uite pleasant and will make a nice trail horse and a good barrel prospect. He is solid, nice muscle on his forelegs and chest. Picking apart the pieces, he does have a low tie in on his neck that makes his neck and head seem like they belong to a different horse. His shoulder and pasterns are pretty straight also, But.. I do like his hip, butt and legs and I think his head is plain but very cute and has a real honest look to it. He seems just like a really nice, what you see is what you get kinda guy. Nothing major wrong, but enough little things that he isnt gonna win any big brownie points

Personally I would be more than happy to see him trucking around my pasture and heading out on trails with him.

03-21-2006, 08:59 PM
astablehand Yearling Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Creston, British Columbia Posts: 527	Conformation Clinic # 11 ~ Quarter Horse Gelding Before you respond with a critique, please make sure you thoroughly understand the guidelines. If you haven't already done so, please read them here: http://forum.horsetopia.com/viewtopic.php?t=5936 Also, please forego comments such as "He sure is pretty." Or "I like him a lot". The participants here are looking for technical critiques. Time for our next Conformation Clinic candidate! Breed: Quarter Horse Sex: Gelding Age: 14 years old Hight: 16.3hh Other Information: He seems to have lots of trail experience and some pleasure type training. He is 16'3" hands tall! He has lots of running QH blood in him Hazard County- Tufferenhell - Te N' Te - Stage Bird Tom and Three Chicks. We bought him as a spare trail horse without papers, later received his papers. I would like to work with him on barrels, as he should have plenty of speed if I can teach him to move out freely and willingly, but will definitely use him for trail riding. Have fun, and critique away!

03-21-2006, 09:11 PM
MollyGirl7503 Newborn Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: racine, wisconsin Posts: 45	Looks even to me. Maybe a little biger neck. It looks a bit small for his body. Chest looks bigger then his hindend but very nice. All in all he looms like a very wellput together boy.

03-21-2006, 09:14 PM
ron Started Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 2,651	I just don't see too much wrong with this guy for want you want to do with him. At 14 he is still well able to start a new career, but will have to be a bit slower in condintion on the older horse. His head is rather plain but not ugly either. Does that make sense? His neck is nice and long and ties in reasonably well. the throatlatch looks trim enough to let him flex well. Good chest but could stand a little more muscle and forearm, but that will come with work. pasterns are a tad upright for cushion, but you aint gonna be trottin' He has good high withers, comes from that TB and running blood so you wont have to worry about saddle slipping, but you will have to have a high gullet. Back is a little long, but not enough to hurt. His topline does dip a little and is a tad uphill, but again, it should not hurt him. Now this is where I may differ from some. I like his loping croup going into that hip which is pretty fair sized. His hocks have a set to them, not as upright as some like, but for your use, it may be an avantage digging around them barrels and launching off to next. All in all, he aint bad at all.

03-22-2006, 03:02 AM
Renae Weanling Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: United States Posts: 216	My very first impression was not a good one. Non of his "parts" flow together well. Each part looks seperate from the others which is not pleasing to the eye. I do however like his markings. His head is nice...plain...but nicely formed with good sized small ears and large soft eye. His neck is short in the second picture but looks OK in the first and dips just after the withers...probably came from his TB ancestors. His shoulder is a tad too upright but his neck ties in just fine but slightly coarse. As I mentioned first he doesn't flow together well from part to part. His wither are too high and seem out of place but it will be great for keeping a saddle on him. His back is nice and short but ties in oddly and weaking through the loin into his croup. He angles well from his croup to his tail and his tail set if just right. He's very deep chested which for a performance horse will be good as it probably means he has large well developed lungs. His underline is of good length and shape, and is one part of him that ties in well. His forearm and stifle look well muscled. His cannon bone is short...almost too short...but that may be the way his sock makes it took. He's a little upright in the pasterns both front and back but they are short and he should stand up to hard work well. His hocks are low to the ground and slightly above his knees which means he's well balanced. His hip angle is nice and his feet look to be of good size relative to his body weight. I think he'll fit your needs nicely and he has nice bloodlines as well. __________________ Renae Just do it!

03-22-2006, 07:27 AM
Kahlua_Twist Started Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sudbury area, ON Posts: 2,847	I'll give it a shot! My 1st impression was not particularly good either, but after looking more carefully, he's not all that badly put together. He does have a few "flaws" but nothing that is so major he couldn't accomplish your goals. I am not a fan of the typial TB neck, which he seems to have acquired, but it's not a real fault for a trail horse or low-level barrel horse. I agree with Renae in that he doesn't flow well. His back is a touch longer than I would like but has a very deep chest which will be an advantage for long rides and performance sports. IMO his hindquarters are ok, but he seems to have a tiny bit of a sloping croup which could just be lack of work and therefore underdeveloped muscle. All in all he seems like he will be suited to what you want and as long as he's willing to try, he'll be a superstar!! Decent bloodlines too.

03-22-2006, 12:41 PM
miss leanne Seasoned Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,532	Well, here goes! I agree with most of the previous posts regarding his other conformation points, but also his shoulder is pretty straight. For what you're doing with him that may not matter much. He's overall a pretty nice gelding, and will probably be a nice trail horse and with his bloodlines stands a chance to be pretty fast. You should look up Tuffernhel, your horse bears a striking resemblence to him. http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/tuffernhel The only horse I've ever been around that was Tuffernhel bred was a really unflappable gelding that had a lot of athletic talent and was overall a joy to be around.

03-25-2006, 02:12 AM
mellowdane Long Yearling Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bainbridge Island, WA Posts: 1,090	Hm. I will say that overall I think this boy seems uite pleasant and will make a nice trail horse and a good barrel prospect. He is solid, nice muscle on his forelegs and chest. Picking apart the pieces, he does have a low tie in on his neck that makes his neck and head seem like they belong to a different horse. His shoulder and pasterns are pretty straight also, But.. I do like his hip, butt and legs and I think his head is plain but very cute and has a real honest look to it. He seems just like a really nice, what you see is what you get kinda guy. Nothing major wrong, but enough little things that he isnt gonna win any big brownie points Personally I would be more than happy to see him trucking around my pasture and heading out on trails with him. __________________ Has is occurred to you that there's a certain inefficiency in questioning me on things you've already made up your mind about? - Spock