Does this horse seem to be sway backed?

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I think the camera angle is making him look more awkward than he actually is: the photographer evidently took it standing slightly uphill from him and close to his shoulder, making his head and neck look too large, his legs look short, and his hindquarters look smaller than they really are. (Conformation photographers really should remember that the camera doesn't "see" the way we do; they have no depth perception, and so flatten and foreshorten images.)

I don't think he is sway-backed, but he does have a very uphill build, with large, prominent withers. That in itself isn't a bad thing, but may make saddle fitting difficult.

There are a couple things I'm not crazy about, though. He's back at the knee, his shoulder's a bit straight for my liking, and his hind legs look as though they'd be camped out behind him if he were stood up squarely on level ground. Also, his pasterns are short.

I would still try him out, mostly because I doubt this photo does him justice, and also because many horses do perform better than their conformation suggests. It really depends, too, on what you plan to do with your horse. If you're looking for a nice pleasure horse and this one's well-trained with a good disposition, he may do just fine....Show more

depending upon how bad her sway is, you might try a wool western pad under her saddle blanket. It worked well with two of my older horses. And eric?.. my old by was quite comfortable with being trail ridden over easy terrain when he was 27. The arab we had then also went along and he was 30. we only walked and they both did fine. The old men enjoyed the attention and acted like colts when turned out after a walk. when they had shown any reluctance, stumbled frequently, balked, or had problems we stopped and then they were retired....Show more

That is the way a lot of old horses get! I do hope you take someone with you who can read teeth or Rib him so you will not be paying a 15 year old price for a horse that is 25....Show more

If the horse is older than 15 then its normal if it is younger then it is sway back. But then again its an Arabian and they are build differently then other horses....Show more

It appears to be a male, so its not pregnant.
I see it. Yes, its back is weak.
Maybe it drank too much water.
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This video shows some horses near my house.
http://youtu.be/o0KOva908iY...Show more