Is he ewe necked?

mustang_hope22 · 09-03-2008, 02:56 PM

I have this amazing 2 year old Quarter Horse and i had someone tell me that he looked ewe necked. I was just wondering if you think he is or not. Is that a bad thing and can it cause problems later in life?? Thanks!

Crookedblaze · 09-03-2008, 02:58 PM

Your picture isn't showing up!

Ewe necks usually don't cause any physical problems later in life, they are just a little confirmation problem. You can do some muscle building to make them look better.

Soliae · 09-03-2008, 04:15 PM

Sometimes horses may look ewe necked if they resist the bit, are always worked wearing a tie down, or are underweight - but in reality they may not BE ewe-necked. The muscles on the underside of the neck may just be overdeveloped.

However, some are born with it as a conformational default. A genetic ewe neck will have the lower line of the neck longer than the top line, usually resulting in a bulge at the lower base of the neck and/or a sunken look to the top of the neck.

It does affect the way a horse balances and carries itself, as well as the appearance. However, for a backyard/family type horse used for pleasure and trails, it shouldn't be an issue.

mustang_hope22 · 09-03-2008, 07:55 PM

hmm..thats odd about my pic...cuz when i get on it shows it...wow...can anyone else not see the pic???

horsey-gal · 09-03-2008, 08:00 PM

Pic isn't working for me either

mustang_hope22 · 09-03-2008, 08:05 PM

here i will try to copy it again..tell me if it still doesnt work!

BarrelGirl · 09-03-2008, 08:07 PM

Nope, it says "image or video has been moved or deleted"

Lil Bits · 09-03-2008, 08:08 PM

I can't see it, but just wanted to add that horses that are more flighty or look around alot and hold their heads up all the time looked ewe necked but aren't. As others said muscles on the under side of the neck are more developed than others. My trainer calls them the "uh-oh" muscles.

Amanda

Slim Pikkens · 09-03-2008, 08:08 PM

Nope Photobucket says pic has been moved or deleted.

ChasnCans · 09-03-2008, 08:12 PM

cant see it

mustang_hope22 · 09-03-2008, 08:21 PM

OOO dont worry i will put it back up right away...thanks guys for being so patient....please come back and check on it to see him and tell me your opinion.... here it is..i figured out the problem!

Horse poor · 09-03-2008, 08:26 PM

Now it shows in all three places. I think he just needs to grow up and mature some more.

ChasnCans · 09-03-2008, 09:06 PM

Looks like a typical two year old neck, I don't think you'll have anything to worry about once he is done growing, plus working him and building that neck will be a plus.

He is a nice looking guy BTW

dreamcleaner · 09-03-2008, 09:56 PM

What exactly is ewe neck. I know what I 'think' I am seeing, but don't want to say, in case I am way off base and end up being offensive.

If it is what I think she means, I'll say after

ChasnCans · 09-03-2008, 10:02 PM

The easiest way to explain this is the horse's neck looks disproportinately short and overdeveloped on the underside.

This is bad for two reasons:
1) it usually means the shoulder is quite upright (which means short, choppy action in the front - not fun to ride); and
2) lack of musculature over the topline (which means the horse is carrying itself in a manner that makes it prone to break down)

Bottom line, while every horse is different, a ewe-necked horse is (in every book I have read) a pretty risky bet from a performance perspective.

Could really find a good definition but here --

ewe-neck (plural ewe-necks)

noun

Definition:

neck defect of horse or dog: a thin concave neck in a horse or dog, considered to be a disadvantage

But I still would say your horse is in fact, not 'ewe neck'.

Soliae · 09-04-2008, 09:28 AM

He does look a little ewe necked, but it's hard to tell if it's muscle or conformation in that picture. He may well grow out of it if he starts adding muscle along the topline of his neck as his training gets underway.

Many QH's are bred to have flat pencil necks and this often looks like a ewe neck from different angles. In some cases, it IS a ewe neck.

**gbarmranch** · 09-04-2008, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChasnCans

Looks like a typical two year old neck, I don't think you'll have anything to worry about once he is done growing, plus working him and building that neck will be a plus.

He is a nice looking guy BTW

I agree.. he is a pretty boy..

Tobiesmom · 09-05-2008, 08:24 PM

What a lovely young horse you have! He looks big... how tall is he? I agree with the others, that he looks like a young horse that is still growing. They often have sort of lopsided growth spurts that can cause their proportions to look a little off, but he doesn't have anything wrong with his neck that would cause any problems for him in anything you'd want to do now or in the future. He looks like he'll be very nice to work with.

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09-03-2008, 02:56 PM
mustang_hope22 Halter broke Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 138	Is he ewe necked? I have this amazing 2 year old Quarter Horse and i had someone tell me that he looked ewe necked. I was just wondering if you think he is or not. Is that a bad thing and can it cause problems later in life?? Thanks!

09-03-2008, 02:58 PM
Crookedblaze Started Join Date: May 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,360	Your picture isn't showing up! Ewe necks usually don't cause any physical problems later in life, they are just a little confirmation problem. You can do some muscle building to make them look better. __________________ Owned by Rocketman, a 17 year old AQHA and Stormy, a 10 year old Peruvian Paso x Arab

09-03-2008, 04:15 PM
Soliae Halter broke Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Tennessee Posts: 127	Sometimes horses may look ewe necked if they resist the bit, are always worked wearing a tie down, or are underweight - but in reality they may not BE ewe-necked. The muscles on the underside of the neck may just be overdeveloped. However, some are born with it as a conformational default. A genetic ewe neck will have the lower line of the neck longer than the top line, usually resulting in a bulge at the lower base of the neck and/or a sunken look to the top of the neck. It does affect the way a horse balances and carries itself, as well as the appearance. However, for a backyard/family type horse used for pleasure and trails, it shouldn't be an issue. __________________ Click on the Eggs and Hatchlings to Help them Hatch and Grow!

09-03-2008, 07:55 PM
mustang_hope22 Halter broke Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 138	hmm..thats odd about my pic...cuz when i get on it shows it...wow...can anyone else not see the pic???

09-03-2008, 08:00 PM
horsey-gal Coming two Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Valley, N.S Posts: 1,624	Pic isn't working for me either __________________ " If God made anything more beautiful, he kept it for himself. "

09-03-2008, 08:05 PM
mustang_hope22 Halter broke Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 138	here i will try to copy it again..tell me if it still doesnt work!

09-03-2008, 08:07 PM
BarrelGirl Coming two Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,824	Nope, it says "image or video has been moved or deleted" __________________ I'll never forget you, Clyde! 3/18/02-12/30/06.

09-03-2008, 08:08 PM
Lil Bits Weanling Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 310	I can't see it, but just wanted to add that horses that are more flighty or look around alot and hold their heads up all the time looked ewe necked but aren't. As others said muscles on the under side of the neck are more developed than others. My trainer calls them the "uh-oh" muscles. Amanda

09-03-2008, 08:08 PM
Slim Pikkens Started Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,936	Nope Photobucket says pic has been moved or deleted.

09-03-2008, 08:12 PM
ChasnCans Coming two Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: KS Posts: 1,560	cant see it __________________ In memory of baby Mayln Marie Loyd. I love and miss you! (Aug 13th-Oct 29th)While he may knock over a barrel he will never break my heart

09-03-2008, 08:21 PM
mustang_hope22 Halter broke Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 138	OOO dont worry i will put it back up right away...thanks guys for being so patient....please come back and check on it to see him and tell me your opinion.... here it is..i figured out the problem!

09-03-2008, 08:26 PM
Horse poor Started Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,102	Now it shows in all three places. I think he just needs to grow up and mature some more. __________________ 'A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have.' - Thomas Jefferson

09-03-2008, 09:06 PM
ChasnCans Coming two Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: KS Posts: 1,560	Looks like a typical two year old neck, I don't think you'll have anything to worry about once he is done growing, plus working him and building that neck will be a plus. He is a nice looking guy BTW __________________ In memory of baby Mayln Marie Loyd. I love and miss you! (Aug 13th-Oct 29th)While he may knock over a barrel he will never break my heart

09-03-2008, 09:56 PM
dreamcleaner Started Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: ontario Posts: 2,285	What exactly is ewe neck. I know what I 'think' I am seeing, but don't want to say, in case I am way off base and end up being offensive. If it is what I think she means, I'll say after

09-03-2008, 10:02 PM
ChasnCans Coming two Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: KS Posts: 1,560	The easiest way to explain this is the horse's neck looks disproportinately short and overdeveloped on the underside. This is bad for two reasons: 1) it usually means the shoulder is quite upright (which means short, choppy action in the front - not fun to ride); and 2) lack of musculature over the topline (which means the horse is carrying itself in a manner that makes it prone to break down) Bottom line, while every horse is different, a ewe-necked horse is (in every book I have read) a pretty risky bet from a performance perspective. Could really find a good definition but here -- ewe-neck (plural ewe-necks) noun Definition: neck defect of horse or dog: a thin concave neck in a horse or dog, considered to be a disadvantage But I still would say your horse is in fact, not 'ewe neck'. __________________ In memory of baby Mayln Marie Loyd. I love and miss you! (Aug 13th-Oct 29th)While he may knock over a barrel he will never break my heart

09-04-2008, 09:28 AM
Soliae Halter broke Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Tennessee Posts: 127	He does look a little ewe necked, but it's hard to tell if it's muscle or conformation in that picture. He may well grow out of it if he starts adding muscle along the topline of his neck as his training gets underway. Many QH's are bred to have flat pencil necks and this often looks like a ewe neck from different angles. In some cases, it IS a ewe neck. __________________ Click on the Eggs and Hatchlings to Help them Hatch and Grow!

09-05-2008, 08:24 PM
Tobiesmom Weanling Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 442	What a lovely young horse you have! He looks big... how tall is he? I agree with the others, that he looks like a young horse that is still growing. They often have sort of lopsided growth spurts that can cause their proportions to look a little off, but he doesn't have anything wrong with his neck that would cause any problems for him in anything you'd want to do now or in the future. He looks like he'll be very nice to work with.