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Discussion on Need Conformation Feedback...
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Member:
leec
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Posted on Tuesday, Jan 20, 2009 - 12:32 am:
Hello all,
I have found a horse I would like to purchase. She is a coming 5 yr old QH (not reg'd) mare. Great ground manners - friendly, quiet. Needs a bit of a tune-up (has not been ridden for 4 months), but I tried her out with a bareback pad and jointed snaffle and she was fine. Was a little hesitant to leave her pasture mates, but within a few strides she moved out nicely. Very smooth to ride. Good transitions, w/t/c, whoa, backs, leg yields, starting to neck rein, nice headset.
Obviously has some halter breeding - big bodied mare, requires a full QH tree saddle, has some white hairs at her withers on both sides from a past incorrectly fitted saddle. She's 15hh and overweight at the moment (in the winter pic). I have also posted some pics from last summer when her weight was better and she was more fit. My ONLY concern is her legs are quite fine boned and though she has a good looking foot, they could be bigger for her 'bulk'. She is priced right - no vices and I really like her. I am torn! I was wondering if you could all comment... Will be using her for recreational trail riding and pushing cattle. Am I being fussy, or do you all hear alarm bells?! She is a 4 hr drive away, so will be difficult to get more pics at this time. Will be getting a pre-purchase exam, but the more feedback the better!
Thanx, Lee C
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Member:
hollyw
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Posted on Tuesday, Jan 20, 2009 - 8:30 am:
She looks good to me, Lee.
She seems to be a bit straight in the back legs (in pic #3), but I don't know how to tell if she's straight enough to lead to problems down the road.
When you say "pushing cows" do you mean cutting or just riding after them?
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Jan 20, 2009 - 8:47 am:
I find it difficult to judge the bone as fine but Holly is being kind when she says the hind limb is a bit straight. The leg is very straight from the stifle down to the ground but particularly in the region of the gaskin and hock. Such conformation increases the concussion the joints receive during motion and probably represents a contracture of the flexor/reciprocal apparatus.
For easy recreational trail this may not be much of a issue but for more there will be increase risk of developing DJD and possibly some soft tissue injuries.
DrO
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Member:
imogen
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Posted on Tuesday, Jan 20, 2009 - 3:14 pm:
... and why's she been off for 4 months... possibly because she has already had a bout of lameness...?
Her canon bones seem very light for her body size to me and her feet small, but I am used to draughts.
As Dr O points out, it does depend a lot on what you want to do, how often you will be riding etc.
Imogen
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Member:
leec
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Posted on Tuesday, Jan 20, 2009 - 11:14 pm:
Hello again,
Thank you for your thoughts – this has been great! I actually didn’t really notice the straightness of her hind leg, as my 22 yr Appendix gelding has a similar build, so I guess I’m just used to looking at it!
Holly and Imogen, by cattle work, I mean pushing them on the range – this would be a few times a year. She is ranch raised and this is how she has been used as a 3 and 4 yr old in the spring/summer/fall. Her current owners raise cattle and have 17 horses – once the cattle are brought down in the fall, all the horses get time off until spring. Not uncommon in our Canadian snow belt – I don’t want to ride at minus 38 Celsius! Imogen, I agree her cannons are slender and she could have more foot. I am 5’-5” and weigh 110 lbs. I have been told by some horsey friends that due to that, her leg and foot size will not be an issue – comments on that one, anybody? Reason they are selling her (and most of the rest of their horses) is they are at retirement age and want to sell their ranch.
Dr O, when you say easy trail riding, do you mean smooth, flat bridle paths? We are in the woods on a mountainside. Some areas are rocky and steep. Though this mare was raised on the same type of terrain and, since under saddle, has been ridden on such – don’t know if that make a difference regarding future soundness. What types of soft tissue injury, and what might be the 'motion/movements' that would cause it? Is there a way to slow down DJD, say, by keeping the horse fit, diet, supplements, type of shoeing etc.? I know you are limited only to photos and the info I have given, but in your opinion, would you say, 'keep looking'? In saying that, for some reason, finding a horse that works has been difficult for me. When I find the personality and the training, something is off with conformation. When I find conformation, the other part isn’t there! Also, trying to work within a budget limits prospects.
Thanx,
Lee C
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Member:
hollyw
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Posted on Tuesday, Jan 20, 2009 - 11:26 pm:
Hey, Lee,
If you like this horse, and if the price is right, and if you are going to use her for trail riding and walking after cows . . . I'd say, "Go for it."
There are no perfect horses . . . and all the horses they sell are going to have to go somewhere, and if you can give one you like a good home, and if you can get several years of riding from her . . . well . . . ??
If she becomes unrideable, you put her down or retire her to pasture . . . same as with any other horse . . . That's my 2 cents.
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Member:
imogen
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Posted on Wednesday, Jan 21, 2009 - 3:04 am:
My 2c is tell the vet doing the purchase exam exactly what you plan for her and ask that the opinion be given in the light of those plans.
As Holly says, if price is right and you like her, and she has a quiet temperament that suits you, could be the horse for you.
But do not buy a horse like that thinking "oh well, if she goes lame I will breed from her..." that's how we get problems with horse overpopulation and "inherited" lameness. Your options will be the ones Holly gives.
Imogen
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Wednesday, Jan 21, 2009 - 8:37 am:
Lee, when the whole leg conformation deviates from the accepted norm it may predispose to injury but is not very predictive of when, where, and how it might occur. We all know horses with good conformation that go permanently lame and horses with bad conformation that remain sound. The increased concussion that this leg will take because it is not well "sprung" leads me to recommend that this horse not be ridden hard but how hard this horse could be ridden and remain sound is not known. Concerning the trail difficulty, terrain often has less to do with this and may be more related to how the trail is ridden.
DrO
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Member:
hollyw
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Posted on Wednesday, Jan 21, 2009 - 8:57 am:
Hi, Lee,
Dr. O. brings out a point I wrote into my post last night and then deleted . . . We have no guarantees with living animals . . . You could spend a mint and get a perfectly conformed horse that will go lame or die of colic the next day . . . or you may get a horse with a conformation fault who will live longer than your 22-year old gelding.
If your gelding has been a good horse and has similar conformation to this 5-year old mare, and if all the other factors about the mare are what you want . . . then . . . ???
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Member:
stek
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Posted on Wednesday, Jan 21, 2009 - 10:52 am:
Lee, I have a mare who I think is similarly a little straight behind (I confess I have never been a great judge of confirmation). She is also a bit flat in the croup, long bodied, short necked, big headed .. well I won't go on! Anyway a photo is below for comparison. She is used for medium trail work (lots of steep hills, rough terrain but we take it at a reasonable pace) and loves to jump. She's got the smoothest trot I have ever ridden and a rather choppy canter. I have had no lameness issues with her (knock wood) in the last 4-5 years I've owned her, and she is 15-16ish.
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