[ThisTooShallPass]

http://horsedigests.com/1emails/horze-02-19-13-b.html

What a poor choice of advertising photos to use. I cannot even blow it off as concentration on the work at hand. That horse so does not look happy.

[JeanM]

no kidding!!! poor critter

[ctanner]

Agree!

[Plainandtall]

Nice braids?

[Judysmom]

Nice braids?

LMAO!!!

[ReSomething]

Braids. No, that's almost an angry eye to me. I suppose the ears could be flopping in relaxation but not the eye . . .

[equinekingdom]

wonder if anything happened shortly after this photo was taken....

[KateWooten]

Did you click the 70% off part though ?

[Big_Grey_hunter]

It may not be the best advertising photo, but I hardly think 'poor horse'. The bit isn't being cranked and we can't see the rider, so you can't assume he's being ridden rough. Could just be a bad picture, or the horse just got bit by a fly or the horse is a cranky horse, or ..... you get the point.

[TheJenners]

Every time I look at those cute Horze breeches, with the cute little details on the back waistband...I wish I could buy the butt to go into them too. Sigh.

Back to regularly scheduled programming.

[Hpilot]

I think the horse looks worried. I see worry lines over his eye.

[CFFarm]

"Maybe it's just his driver's license photo"?

[Bluey]

I don't know, not a good picture, that is true.

I think the horse is either on the way to get mad, or was concentrating hard and listening, maybe somewhat worried as others noted.

Without knowing more, seeing where that picture came from and what developed the next second, I would say it is not enough information there to make a definite call.

When a horse is clearly mad, the ears are more back, the nose more wrinkled, the eye hooded.

The way his upper lip is sticking out, I would say, right there, he shows some strain as he seems to be making an effort and trying hard, but can't say where that is going, not knowing the horse and rider.

If the hand gives softening, he may relax his face and start flopping his ears in a few steps.
If the leg/seat keeps pressure with little relief in front, he may well put his ears back, ring his tail and look annoyed to mad.
I have no way of telling from that moment.

[analise]

It might a bad moment in time that will resolve in a second, it's correct that we don't know that for sure either way.

Still, I think it makes it a bad picture to use for advertising. Why not use one where the horse looks relaxed?

[JSwan]

I wonder if the layout people were just looking for a certain photo that allowed a lot of text to be in a column on the side. It's certainly a narrow profile picture - and there's no way of knowing if the employees know jack about horses. You'd think the horsey company who paid for the ad would check it out before paying for it, though. Then again, isn't there a dewormer ad showing a rider with his spurs on upside down?

[Plainandtall]

Just in case anyone missed my inside joke- this COTH article is a gem:
http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/nice-braids

[furlong47]

Could be a graphic designer who just has no clue about horses, or advertisements created by a hired firm and not in-house. I can't tell you how often I have, for example, seen someone get professional photos (senior, engagement, whatever) done with their horse in them and it was very obvious that the photographer, while otherwise excellent, didn't understand horse expressions or body language.

[pAin't_Misbehavin']

Did you click the 70% off part though ?

No, I actually didn't see it until you brought it up. I was too distracted by the awful photo. I'm going to click on it now, though!

[Daatje]

Just in case anyone missed my inside joke- this COTH article is a gem:
http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/nice-braids

That was awesome.

[lifeishorsesarelove]

Still not the worst advertising picture I've seen.

I'm still wondering where the 4th rein went - the curb rein on the off side appears to be missing.