FEI Potential Dressage Prospect - Too Small?

[Wild Oaks Farm]

Two dressage prospects for sale. One is 4, the other is 2 1/2. Both are unstarted but have lots of potential and are very brave. They are both difficult for the farrier and vet, but I'm sure they could be trained to behave if someone just worked with them. I expect they could both be doing grand prix in a year or so. Both are registered. The younger one's sister is a local champion. A real steal at $50,000 each.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v692/wildoaksfarm/Norman057Medium.jpg

Do you think they're too small?

[PiaffeDreams]

Oh, I'll take 'em!!! Absolutely adorable. They look eager to learn.

FWIW, one of my neighbors shows her mule at USDF shows. She sometimes gets some snarkiness in the warm-up from riders who think their horses are having a fit about him when in fact its all in their own heads. And his bling browband really shows off his head and ears. ;-) Personally, I've always wanted to get a nice TB or Arab mule to train in dressage.

[Altamont Sport Horses]

What a deal!! I think I'd better focus on the chestnut though since the other is a little too small for me. :)

[ASB Stars]

I want to brown one. I am going to name her "Petite Rocher", and when her ears flop in gentle rhythm...people will undoubably see the resemblance! :winkgrin:

(with apologies to George and Rocher-my very favorites! :yes:)

[Kate66]

I believe their height is irrelevant. They look like they would have fabulous movement. It's hard to tell from the photo just how uphill they are, although they do both have their noses in the air, which may not be great. Nothing you can't train them to fix though. Personally I wouldn't have put their price and photos up here as someone may snatch them out from underneath you! Thankfully you didn't post their location.

[merrygoround]

I think that GP in a year or two would be pushing it, having listened to far more knowledgeable minds on the COTH but any thing is possible.

Go for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Philosopher]

Are they yours? This seems like an ad to me. I'm going to have to alert the mods if you don't remove specifics;)

[J-Lu]

I think you are standing on a tall ladder to snap these photos because you really DON"T want to sell them.

I think they are the perfect height. Think of how much room you have to prepare for those tempis on the diagonal. Think of how many steps you have in the trot half-pass to really perfect that angle.

I'll give you $75K for Rocherita and sis!

[billiebob]

I'm about 6 feet tall, do you think either of them is too big for me? Would I get marked down if my feet don't actually leave the ground?

Thanks for a giggle at the end of a hard day!

[Equine Obsession]

Frankly, I see a lot of potential there. Their uniqueness will really help them stand out from the competition!! I say go for it. I suggest offering 150 K for the two of them though, you don't know how fast they'll go now that you've posted them on COTH!

[PiaffePlease]

haha, I was thinking "unstarted and doing grand prix in a year! they must be tallented!!". they are adorable!

[Bugs-n-Frodo]

OMG! <3 <3 <3

[Sithly]

Wow, I had no idea those things were so CUTE.

[Eclectic Horseman]

What a face!!!! :D Too precious!

[veezee]

Too cute.:)

[Kimberlee]

I'm about 6 feet tall, do you think either of them is too big for me? Would I get marked down if my feet don't actually leave the ground?

If you were to wear roller blades, you would not be marked down, because your feet would remain motionless (just the little wheels going round and round and round...):):):)

[ise@ssl]

We refer to this special breed as Burrito's

[Orange Horse]

I don't think anyone has addressed the issue raised by the original poster that these animals are "difficult for the farrier and vet." I for one am tired of dealing with spoiled show animals that have no manners and spook at everything. I really think that for 50000, I would expect for them to stand for the farrier and vet. I just don't care what their movement is like. I have been riding Intro at recognized shows for over 14 years, and that has given me a level of expertise that is rarely matched, IMO. If the ground manners could be fixed, I would take a closer look at the brown one as I think the angle of his pasterns is just right for a potential GP mount, and the pastern angle is really the best measure of FEI potential in an unstarted equine.

[TropicalStorm]

Well damn, I'm going to have to send up a fund on eBay now. I see potential in the brown one. Oodles. I'll have him at Grand Prix in 6 months. Just you watch. Possibly the olympics too, if someone wouild just fund me! :P

[Wild Oaks Farm]

I don't think anyone has addressed the issue raised by the original poster that these animals are "difficult for the farrier and vet." I for one am tired of dealing with spoiled show animals that have no manners and spook at everything. I really think that for 50000, I would expect for them to stand for the farrier and vet. I just don't care what their movement is like. I have been riding Intro at recognized shows for over 14 years, and that has given me a level of expertise that is rarely matched, IMO. If the ground manners could be fixed, I would take a closer look at the brown one as I think the angle of his pasterns is just right for a potential GP mount, and the pastern angle is really the best measure of FEI potential in an unstarted equine.

I am afraid to instill manners in these finely bred animals as I think it would dampen their spirit. Also, I would hate for one to be injured if he reacted badly to my reprimands. For this quality of an animal, I see nothing wrong with having to deal with the occasional kick at the farrier or attempt to knock down anyone with a dewormer in hand. It is in their bloodlines to misbehave (coming from the rare S line), so there is really nothing you could do about it anyway. Anyone with any experience with this caliber of animals should know that some are just difficult and will always be that way, and there's nothing you can do about it.

The brown one is toed out in just such a way that I think he could master the piaffe in a month or so of good training. The grey one's legs are a bit clsoe, but I think it will help his extended trot.

[Orange Horse]

Although those are lovely dressage prospects, I must also point out as you mentioned that they are really too small for the sport. I would like to present an alternative, crossbred for height. She stands 16.3H and of course her color is well known to be received with great interest by FEI judges. As you can see, she is also closely related to Rocher. This mare is not only going to began her show career soon, right after we teach her what "whoa" means, but also we will be offering the option of embryo transfer to a few lucky individuals for only $100,000 per embryo. Of course her rider in this photo is attired in the traditional dressage black and white. Please excuse us for not tacking up as she is still somewhat fussy about girthing, but a bit of work should get her over that. Just look at the shoulder angle in that extended trot, doesn't it make you drool? She is offered for sale by private treaty, because if you have to ask, you probably don't need a mare of this caliber (hope that doesn't violate the board rules).

www.pinkgeese.com/hannah.jpg

[Wild Oaks Farm]

Her rider, although very capable, would score much better if his mount was better suited to his size.

[J-Lu]

oops - double post!

[J-Lu]

If the ground manners could be fixed, I would take a closer look at the brown one as I think the angle of his pasterns is just right for a potential GP mount, and the pastern angle is really the best measure of FEI potential in an unstarted equine.

I thought the best indicator was:

[(angle of pastern + angle of croup) * (height at withers/height at croup) + (width of chest - length between pastern and hock/length between pastern and knee)]/ ratio of twinkle in the eye (converted to scale of 1-10): twinkle in brightest stone in blingy browband (converted to scale of 1-6.5)/the square root of the annual vet and supplement bills?

Have I been wrong this whole time?:o

[ASB Stars]

FOOLS!!

Have you no clue at all???:confused:

The ONLY correlation ever shown to matter is the length of the ears should approximate the length of the cannon bones.

REALLY...do I have to explain it all to you?:uhoh:

BAH!

:winkgrin:

[J-Lu]

FOOLS!!

Have you no clue at all???:confused:

The ONLY correlation ever shown to matter is the length of the ears should approximate the length of the cannon bones.

REALLY...do I have to explain it all to you?:uhoh:

BAH!

:winkgrin:

OMG, THANK YOU for explaining this! THIS IS WHY my horses have never made it to the Olympics.... This whole time I thought it was my riding but now I know better. Thanks for your wisdom and insight! :D

Bowing deeply,
J.

[JackSprats Mom]

I have been riding Intro at recognized shows for over 14 years, and that has given me a level of expertise that is rarely matched,

ROFLMAO :lol::lol::lol:

But they are just too DARN cute, I WANT!

[Luvmyappy]

Thought...WTF? at the original post...then...OMG..too cute!!

[TeddyRocks]

Thought...WTF? at the original post...then...OMG..too cute!!

I cannot believe how adorable. I want both of them please, and I think you are asking way BELOW what they are worth... PRICELESS as they are.

Thank you for this!

[vanheimrhorses]

oh they are so cute, i actually had a chance to longe two baby 2 yr old mules which had more horsie in them then these, they were pony and had little pony heads with big ears and they were perfect movers, but what do you do with them, i just adored them though, smart as heck learned walk trot canter command in two days