Let's go shopping....

Well, not really but I like to window shop the horse sights and see what is out there occasionally. I had a new follower bestow me an award (I am getting around to responding, really!) and after checking out her blog discovered they are in the market for a young horse. I couldn't help but put my two cents in on my opinion of the pics she posted, it is just a habit I have. When I see horses I just mentally start evaluating them to my standards, see what parts I like and what bothers me. Not that I am any sort of expert on conformation or picking horses but it is fun and since I judge from time to time it is cool to see if my predictions were correct when I see the horses ridden.

So today I decided to do a post on comparing some horses around the same age and figuring out what I like about them and do not. I know this is from photos and that can be misleading but we will just go with it and I will be interested as always to hear your thoughts.

For our little test my parameters were as follows:
Must be registered Quarter Horses
Up to 1 year of age
Reining bred

so here are our selections:


We will call this Colt #1



























This colt is pictured at 10 Mos old. Lets start with what I like about him.
1) He has good wither on him which tells me he will hold a saddle well
2) He has a nice short back
3) Has pretty good scope to his neck, not as good of a tie in as I prefer but good.

Now for my dislikes:
1) He is long in the front pastern
2) He has a short gaskin muscle which tells me he probably will not stop long.
3) He his is rather course for my liking.



Colt #2































This colt is pictured at 3 mos and in tall grass so not as easy to critique.
Likes:
1) This colt appears to have good bone
2) Pretty headed
3) Nice slope to his haunch which tells me he will really get up under himself and
use his hind end

Dislikes:
1) He is short necked. Will not have the scope to make a smooth turn around
2) Long backed, although I have learned in reining this is not all bad as it does
help them in the stops.
3) He is short in the gaskin which tells me his stops will not be long.






Colt # 3 (actually a filly)





















This is probably the hardest picture to tell exactly what she looks like with her head angle and bottom toward the camera. But we will give it a shot.
Likes:

1) She appears to have a nice tie in at her neck
2) She has a nice long gaskin muscle
3) She has a nice slope to her hindquarter and a nice short back

Dislikes:

1) She appears to be mutton withered
2) She is very upright in the hind leg
3) Her head is a tad longer from eye to muzzle than I like.




Colt #4























This colt is 9 mos old. I appreciate the fact that the seller took the time to set up the colt and make a nice presentation.
Likes:
1) Beautiful the way his neck ties in! He will be very light on his front end
2) Good Gaskin muscle for powerful stopping
3) Straight legged with good bone
4) Pretty headed

Dislikes:
1) He is slight in the wither area, which could make fitting a saddle tough


Let's remember I was looking at them from a reining horse standpoint and I do not know any of these sellers I just picked them off Equine.com for this purpose.

Now I will tell you #4 was my pick, that being said I will also tell you that this colt is exceptionally well bred and the price reflects that. The other colts were in the $2000 - $3000 range and the 4th colt was priced at $15,0000.

I had fun with it, hope you did too. Any other window shopper/critics out there?


Happy trails........

An Awesome Evening..

I had the most awesome evening last night. NO I did not win the lottery, lose the 50pounds I need to or meet John Wayne. I simply went out and rode my horse. The weather has finally turned spring like here and I could not be happier! 66 degrees last night! For me it is like awakening from a deep winter depression. After work I changed into my jeans and headed to the barn. I was a little apprehensive about what Frank might look like since shedding his winter blanket and the thaw out left plenty O mud. My fears were not realized.....he had some dirt on him but was not nearly as bad as he could have been. I love the fact that when I approach his paddock he whispers to me the whole length of the fence to the gate. Yes whispers, it is like a real soft nicker that he keeps doing until I pet him and put his halter on. Back to his stall to get cleaned up and I notice we need a pedicure, make a mental note to call the farrier on the way home. Back in his stall he is disappointed to find there is no feed or hay awaiting him, he gives me the look.































Poor pitiful Frank.


Out come the brushes and I notice he is still sore on that one spot on his back. aughh.......I have had him ultra sounded and the horsey chiropractor out to adjust him and given him apple cider vinegar and still it is tender. It is the strangest thing, he is not off, it does not seem to bother him when I ride but to curry it or palpate it sure enough it is tender. What to do??

We saddle up and I decide that I am going to make my barn owners day and let her ride the Frank. I have been hinting to her that she should and she is without her own personal horse for the time being so I am going to share him tonight. Her face beams when I call out to her on the way to the arena. She runs, yes runs into the arena and scrambles up on him demanding that I instruct her on how to ride him. She does really well despite the fact that she rides Saddlebreds and she is now riding in a cutting saddle with shank bit on a loose rein, looser than she is comfortable with. Frank is a star and perfect gentleman and Mommy beams!


After a bit I get up and we get down to some schooling to see what we can improve on, the lesson kids love watching him and are full of questions. I leave the barn with a heart full of love and pride for my boy. Hoping for lots more riding this weekend.

Happy trails......

Finally a reprieve...

Hi Friends,

I am happy to say I am catching a reprieve. From all the crazy things life has thrown at me so far this year. I am so happy to say my favorite is the reprieve from the blasted winter weather. This week the temperatures have been above normal and that makes me down right Giddy! We had a scare with my elderly Mother in law in Florida and that necessitated a quick trip down there. Work is well....work, I put in for a transfer to the horse dept processing passports, crossing my fingers and hoping I get it!

I actually got a ride in on Sunday afternoon and although it was mushy and wet from the snow melt off, Frank and I had a good time. Tonight I am heading there after work and hope to ride if Frank has not totally muddied himself up. With warm weather the blanket has come off and he has the ability to really get happy in the mud. Hopefully I will not have to spend the entire time cleaning him up and will get a chance to climb up on my buddy for a spin.

Back later with more news!

Happy trails......