conformation critique, por favor :)

[Runinonjoy]

I always enjoy reading and learning from others' conformation critiques, so I thought I would post one of my own. I am a pretty lousy judge of conformation, so all opinions are welcome! I should probably offer a preemptive apology for the photos, as I'm sure they're not ideal for confo critiques. I'm posting several from different angles, so hopefully that will help.

This is not my horse (though I'd take her in a second if I wasn't in grad school!), but I am her rider. She's an 8 year old OTTB (name is Miss Chalice... I don't know anything about her racing history, but I suppose you racing/pedigree gurus could find out if you're interested). I'm interested to read what you all think about her potential as a low-level hunter and/or jumper.

Links should work for non-facebookers and facebookers alike!
left side:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31259148&l=65da653664&id=59700781
right side:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31259146&l=29fe92942c&id=59700781
rear view:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31259149&l=eb66d4578c&id=59700781
Just because her face is so sweet:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31259147&l=bf7917762a&id=59700781

TIA!

[Runinonjoy]

Wow, really? No one? I guess my childhood dream of having the "invisibility" superpower has come true :( ;)

[HRH_Ingenue]

Well, if no one else is going to, I'll give you my thoughts... First, I'll state the obvious... She is ewe necked, which could cause her to carry her head high. Lungeing with side reins can build up her scalenus muscles to improve her topline. She has a nice long shoulder, but it looks to be a bit upright. This can effect her movement for the hunter ring, but make her a very careful jumper. Its hard to tell, but she looks like she may have low heels, very common in thoroughbreds... Not a big deal if you have a good farrier. Nice straight front legs with good pastern. One picture she looks straight behind, but the other she looks like she has better hock angles. Either way she looks to have a very powerful hind end. IMO based on the pics, she looks like she would make a good jumper. However, I will take a good mind over "perfect" conformation any day. I have competed on several different types of horses with different conformation flaws, that never hindered the horse if it had a good brain. I am also a big fan of mares, and I personally feel that they bond more with their rider. Once that bond is formed they will try their heart out! Good luck with her, and keep me posted.

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

I pretty much agree with HRH...

I'd do a lot of exercises to get her through her back and topline. Obviously, I agree, she is ewe necked, but her neck muscling also looks like she is going around inverted more than not (more muscle underneath). I'm not saying that's your fault at all, I have no idea on her history, etc. but it is something I would work on going forward.

I like that her joints (knees and hocks) are lower rather than higher from the ground. She's a bit tucked up and could use some more muscle everywhere (her loin and back would also improve with muscle)--maybe lots of hill walking.

Is she off the track? How long have you been riding her?

[alteringwego]

big things to me are that she's very ewe necked which is emphasized from her muscling and that she is VERY long backed.

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

Sorry, re-read your post and you did say she was off-the-track.

[Runinonjoy]

Thanks for your input, everyone, and especially your suggestions for how to work on some of the muscling issues--one of her flaws that can actually be improved. She definitely carries her head high. I guess I just assumed that was more a byproduct of her racing history than her conformation, but it makes sense that the ewe... neckedness... could be contributing to that.

I will also say that she is fairly short-strided at the trot. Could that be due to some aspect of her conformation, or possibly (lack of) muscling? Her trainer told us she was prone to being a bit foot-sore, and today I thought I detected a bit of that... but it could also be that I'm hyper-sensitive just because I'm expecting it. I just hope the short-stridedness isn't due to sore feet.

As far as her history goes, she just came to the barn a little over a month ago, directly from the track. The pictures were taken the day she arrived. She's raced for her entire life, and although I'm not sure exactly when her last race was, a quick google search assures me that it was at least as recently as July 2008 (maybe more recently than that, but I'm not sure). Regardless, this is her first time experiencing life away from the track.

I started with some basic ground work, which she took to very easily. I then put her on the lunge line a few times, and I've just recently started riding her. For now we're sticking to the basics-- standing for mounting, walking, halting, transitions, trotting, turning, etc. She's surprisingly balanced, and today I actually trotted her over a couple of widely spaced ground poles. She's super laid back and willing, and learns quickly, but I'm still going to take things slowly.

HRH- I completely agree with your statement about mares! I've always been partial to them myself, especially when they have dispositions as nice as this one :)

[klmck63]

I'm pretty awful at conformation critiques, but I think once she gets some more weight and some better muscling on her neck that she will look lovely! She already has a very nice face.

I love mares too :)

[lesson junkie]

OP-I think her top line will change a lot as she learns her new job. I think she looks pretty typical for fresh off the track. Her neck will "turn over" as she learns a new way to travel and balance. Her trot stride will lengthen as she gets stronger through her back, and she starts to relax and stretch down.

I won't call her ewe necked until she's off the track a little longer. I think a few months in side reins while she's lounged will make a big difference. As her muscles change she will be able to reach forward instead of up, and you will be able to see what pretty length of neck she has.

I like her-how tall is she?

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

I will also say that she is fairly short-strided at the trot. Could that be due to some aspect of her conformation, or possibly (lack of) muscling? Her trainer told us she was prone to being a bit foot-sore, and today I thought I detected a bit of that... but it could also be that I'm hyper-sensitive just because I'm expecting it. I just hope the short-stridedness isn't due to sore feet.

As far as her history goes, she just came to the barn a little over a month ago, directly from the track.

Absolutely YES! Short strided can certainly happen due to foot soreness. I would have a farrier or vet (or whoever you want) test her fronts with hoof testers. I had to take the whole summer off with my TB gelding this year due to sever sole bruises, and I notice she is barefoot, so I'm speaking from experience on this one (unfortunately).

I know she isn't your horse, so $ is probably an issue, but it would be very interesting if the owner did balance radiographs of her front feet to see how much sole depth is there and to see what is going on (especially if she hoof tests positive).

Also, my experience is that horses off the track usually require some let down time (mentally and physically) out in a pasture as their bodies adjust to their new lifestyle.

I think it is great you are being sensitive to what you feel and see. Her shoulder isn't so upright that she should be super short at the trot--she just might not extend as much as a horse with a more sloped shoulder.

[JinxyFish313]

Definitely have a farrier out to assess where her feet are and what can be done to keep them in good shape. Sore feet can make them take the tiny trot steps and carry their head up for sure. Looks like she has long toes and pretty low heels. Its pretty common and can be dealt with.


Even after muscling up that top line, she'll always seem long-backed. It's not a huge problem. I like her shoulder a lot, and the slope of her butt. If you get her strong and going straight I bet she could learn to use herself really well over fences.

For sure work with side reins on the line and get moving over elevation changes. Go slow, adding weight and muscle and asking a horse to use itself much differently than it is used to is a BIG change.

[sirensong4]

I have a friend who has an OTTB built a LOT like this one (actually has smaller hindquarters, but everything else is pretty similar) and i have to say, her horse can jump the MOON. 4'7" from a standstill when he wants to. She looks like she is a lot of fun.
Is there a Mare Fan clique? I love them too.