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Post by kya on Jan 5, 2008 9:05:59 GMT 1
He somehow looks wrong to me. However, I have no eye for a TB. He's 7 with stunning manners in every way. I'm used to looking a cobs!
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thelwall78
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Post by thelwall78 on Jan 5, 2008 9:08:36 GMT 1
If hes got stunning matters in every way and will give you your confidence then don't worry about what he looks like, a true confidence giver is worth his weight in gold and beauty is in the eye of the beholder in that case.
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Post by kya on Jan 5, 2008 9:23:23 GMT 1
Thanks Thelwall, but I have to keep an eye to the future. If he has any weaknesses that will require work or could lead to injury I mean? He seems a heavier set of a TB.
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Post by kya on Jan 5, 2008 9:50:30 GMT 1
Another one. Is that draws?
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Post by Yann on Jan 5, 2008 10:02:00 GMT 1
No expert but I can't see much wrong with him that would cause any problems, and photos can be a little deceptive anyway, the first one makes his head look a bit big. He's the same sort as my Tess and she's definitely from the more rugged and reliable end of the Tb spectrum. I would always choose a lovely personality over perfect conformation anyway for a leisure horse, unless you're really going to be working the horse very hard then I don't think it's that important. What's with the draw reins though, yuk
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Post by amelia on Jan 5, 2008 10:06:08 GMT 1
ask SS3 as she's brilliant on conformation. But i think he looks quite nice - he's lacking in topline but nothing that correct work won't fix
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Post by kya on Jan 5, 2008 10:18:39 GMT 1
Face only a mother could love?? Small eye. Big ears. Actually, I would say he's been flashed in the face.
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chitori
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Post by chitori on Jan 5, 2008 10:22:30 GMT 1
I'd say he looks fairly cute, but I'm no conformation expert. Yes she does appear to be riding him in draw reins from what I can see.
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debh
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Post by debh on Jan 5, 2008 10:24:41 GMT 1
He is wearing draw reins I've got an assortment of tb's - here are my thoughts. TB's are bred to run fast, not have perfect conformation. Many successful ones are way off the scale when it comes to prize money. They are required to win, not look good. Temperament to me, is more important than conformation providing of course there's not some glaring problem that would make a horse unsuitable for your purpose. He does have a weaker top line which is frequently seen in tb's, often as a result of them wearing saddles that are way too narrow and also if they've been in training to race, they are not required to work in an outline. "Shark fin" withers are not natural on a tb (his don't look too bad though). If he (or any other horse) is wearing a saddle that is too narrow, the muscle either side of his wither will gradually be squeezed until the cells die off causing the shark fin we are used to seeing. Once this has happened, the muscles that have wasted away cannot perform their intended function but the horse still needs to do the same everyday tasks, with or without them. What he has to do is find another way around the problem and he does this by using a different set of muscles. One of the main functions of the now wasted muscles is to work together with the big muscle underneath the neck and between them the pull the shoulder blade back and fore. With a much smaller muscle mass in the wither, the underside muscle has to work much harder and gradually becomes more prominent than the top of the neck. (Just think of a ewe necked horse). Also, if the horse has pinching behind the wither, he will automatically drop his back away from the discomfort - if he does this, he is unable to round his back. If he can't round his back, it will be very difficult if not impossible for him to step underneath himself, work in an outline (correctly I mean, not with draw reins) and will often drag his hind feet if trying to negotiate a downhill slope. If a horse is unfortunate enough to have some of the above stuff going on, he is likely to have quite a high headcarriage which might explain the drawreins. When a horses head is up/high, more adrenaline type chemicals are produced and he or she tends to be much "hotter". Just think when the hunt or something equally exciting to the horse passes by his field, his head automatically lifts and he is on full alert, ready to run. On the other end of the scale, when his head is low and he is grazing, he is calm. Sorting out his back comfort, sorting a well fitting saddle and re-educating this boy would be the nice way to go, draw reins will achieve nothing as it's likely that he cannot help but walk around with his nose poking in front of him. I imagine that once he was able to move freely he'd be a much more energetic boy - but with nice manners you have something to work with. One other thing which is worth bearing in mind with a tb type horse - they are not hysterical animals but are sharp having a good friend or instructor who is tb friendly is a good idea. TB's are wonderful but often come with baggage, make sure if you're interested in this one (or any horse really) that you get him checked out and be ready to work with an unfolding range of little things that make tb's so special. Hope this helps Deb
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Post by kya on Jan 5, 2008 10:29:17 GMT 1
Thanks Deb.... so much useful information. I have a friend with an ISH, with an alarming shark-fin. It's really scary. I'll paste and go over all that today. I am a loony about saddle fit and it's not easy here in Ireland with no travelling saddle fitters and people who insist on buying a saddle to fit themselves not their horse!
I'm looking for another horse, a nice uncomplicated ride with good manners in company as a priority. Having had Blue for two years, that was my only remaining fear, I think I've pretty much got over most everything else. Therefore, I'm open to any type with the right brakes and attitude. I don't ideally want a gelding as I have a mare here and she's very sexed up most of the year, but who knows. Can TBs make a good happy hack? He's inexpensive.... yes, I know, alarm bells.
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Post by Yann on Jan 5, 2008 10:31:00 GMT 1
A sheepskin noseband too, suggests he has a tendency to go around with his head up. Might be a narrow saddle and / or general greeness though, the lack of topline would indicate this as well, not that Tb's generally put much on.
It is worth noting that Tb's can often be as quiet as lambs on the ground but quite sensitive and forward going under saddle.
ETA, cross posted with the previous posts. Tb's can make happy hacks and not all of them are speed demons. Hacking is just about all mine does and she's brilliant at it, even if I tend to get tired before she does ;D
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Post by kya on Jan 5, 2008 10:34:27 GMT 1
Yes, I'm not keen on ears up my nose without hardware to drag it down!
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megnum
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Post by megnum on Jan 5, 2008 10:35:19 GMT 1
I like him he is quite long which is not the sort I particularly go for but he looks sweet and is nice looking. I cannot tell anything wron with conformation but I am not brilliant for that sort of thing
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Cheryl Walmsley
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Post by Cheryl Walmsley on Jan 5, 2008 11:20:41 GMT 1
I think he looks ok. Perhaps just needs a bit of correct work but I like him.
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Post by maxim on Jan 5, 2008 12:24:23 GMT 1
Big ears are a sign that he is genuine!
He looks nice - just like others have said he is lacking topline.
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