What do you think of this horse?

He's a beauty. Love his color! The only things that concern me, and it may be just the picture and the way he's standing, are his LF pastern looks very sloped (translate weak) and his hinds, particularly the right, look a little puffy? Maybe just the picture, though. Also, his LH pastern angle looks very straight, but may be the way he's standing. Very heavy in the loin, maybe a bit overweight. Definitely worth a look in person, though.

Add: You're welcome, Miss Luke! I also think his body is great. Nice sloped shoulder, good hip, making a nearly perfect trapezoid. I didn't TD the other commenter, but was puzzled by the straight shoulder and short hip comments, because I don't see that at all. Nor do I see super straight hind legs, other than that pastern.

I like him a lot. His head is a tiny bit big but not super way big. He is slightly knife-necked in the photo but a little conditioning, a tidy mane, and some work in draw reins can hide that enough, it's not gross or even a soundness issue. I love the level of the neck, I love where it comes out of the shoulder, I love the length of it. Nice neck.

I like his back. I like his hip.

The pastern issues and feet are obviously something that needs tended too. It wouldn't put me off of this horse, especially if the price is right.

His back looks short and strong, he looks like he could use a couple rounds of quality wormer.

His hip I like but the way he's standing gives him a look of straight hocks, which will keep him from jumping bigger than say 2 '6''.

What is the price? In my area, if this guy rides around nice, and has papers, will get $800. (Horses in my area are super cheap right now, I'm not bagging on him). If you can get him cleaned up, get rid of the hay belley, and get him packing some pony clubbers around on 2' fences though, his value could go up to $3,000 in a few years.

To Samantha who did not like my answer to her question:

As someone who has been riding for over 40 years, who has taken lessons and boarded horses at various riding schools, who is currently a school teacher of teenage girls, and who has given riding lessons to seveal dozen youngsters, I believe I gave you a very accurate answer based on long experience. You asked how not to get off on the wrong foot with this instructor, and I told you.

Unless she is very young and inexperienced (in which case you shouldn't be taking lessons from her), this instructor has seen it all. She's not going to be impressed with a young girl's claim of riding at a particular "level" (which is a meaningless concept anyway.) In fact, it might even put her off because it implies that you, a 13-year-old, are a better judge of your skills than she, a professional, and that you are TELLING her what you need. That attitude can suggest a person with a lot of self-conceit who isn't really open to feedback. Since I know that is not the impression you wish to create, I advised you against it. In any case, what you can and can't do will become immediately apparent within the first 10 minutes of riding.

That is why I also discourage you from thinking of her as a friend. She CAN'T be -- any more than your teachers at school are your friends. As "Like a Fox" also explained, you are paying her for her knowledge and expertise -- which means she HAS achieved a certain level of proficiency, and you haven't -- yet. After all, if you already knew everything there is to know, you wouldn't need to take lessons.

Additionally, your instructor has a responsibility to be fair and impartial to ALL her students. If you and she are "friends," some other student will perceive you to be her special pet, become jealous, and guess what: we now have barn drama. If there's anything an instructor hates more than a know-it-all, it's barn drama because it inevitably spills over into other aspects of her job and life (especially in this age of incessant Facebook posting.) So she needs to keep her distance, and you should too. There will be times when she will come down hard on you about something, and both you and she need the space to handle those issues in a mature, constructive way.

This is not to say that you and she can't be on friendLY terms. As I also suggested in my previous answer, be NICE -- to EVERYONE in the barn. (Even that inevitable kid in every class who's always late, never has her horse tacked properly, and holds everyone else up: to her, you should be the nicest, going out of your way to help her be ready on time.) And it is absolutely acceptable for you to share your goals with your instructor so that she can help you achieve them. But if you really want to impress your instructor and have her think well of you, you need to be like a little sponge, soaking up everything she says and doing your best to apply her teaching. And that does mean keeping your opinions to yourself, and packing your sensitive little ego back inside your mind. Otherwise, you're going to have the same problems you had at your last barn.

Miss Luke,

I guess I am doomed to see things a little different.

I see a horse that has been ridden poorly and has developed poorly.

His back is short which is good.

The withers are high enough to hold a saddle.

*UPDATE* To develop the haunches and backstrap uphill work at a trot is beneficial. Beware for riding downhill is a navicular precursor. Lots and lots of trotting pulling weight will also do this. The weight thing strengthens the top of the haunches, engages the backstrap, If he will put his head down and pull (no overcheck!) it will lengthen and develop that top neck line. And of course you start with a light cart and move up to a drag with blocks of cement, and you do it slowly! I have used a horse pulling a jury rigged drag of a stout wooden pallet with cement blocks to dress the round pen or arena.

Now all of this requires a lot of equipment that the usual rider does not have. If you can find someone with a treadmill and a equine swimming facility you can do a lot of this without a cart :))

He looks to me like he has been ridden all strung out and so has not developed that nice round look that speaks of weight carrying ability. Also the way his belly drops tells you he has not been engaging the full circle of muscles that allow a horse to round up and fill your seat.

Good work will correct a lot of this but it will take T-I-M-E.

The heart girth looks a bit light to me.

A string line from just behind the top of the wither to the bottom of the chest (where the girth goes) should be the same length as from the bottom of the chest to the ground.

He looks a little light duty to me here. Again, it could be camera angle.

His ribs (the back ones) are showing so I surely would not consider him over weight.

Don't fall in love with that color, it won't last, he will go lighter and lighter as he ages.

Now some of this can easily be camera angle but.

Do you see the way his hip points are lower than his back bone? This is a weakness of the loins. That should be broad and flat. I stretch my hand out full and put a thumb on the back bone. The little finger tip should not reach the point of the hip. This goes to the ability to carry weight. If the point of that hip is lower than the back bone by more than the width of a finger you have very little frame to muscle up.

I could show you some photos but this will only let me show one :((

I will show the drawing of what to avoid and add the good image in comments (I think I will)

This drawing shows the point of the hip well below the spine...not good at all. This is a severe case.

He is standing with his hind leg out but that open angle at the hock suggests weak muscle behind which will sure not help him get over fences.

It is impossible to tell if he is narrow in front but I'd bet your outstretched hand will not fit between his front legs at his chest, not much lung room.

Do you see light bone below the knees/hocks? Bad camera angle to be sure, but look closely and critically at this. TB are notorious for light bone and thin hoof walls. I'd take a rasp and file just a little spot so I can see the actual thickness of the hoof wall at the quarter which is the weakest point.

A better camera angle is to lower the camera to about where the stirrup would hang and shoot from there. Shooting from a standing position tends to make legs look spindly.

Can you tie his tail forward and look at the motor. If the motor is good almost everything else will fall in place. To judge the motor look for these things. Back off a bit and look at the rump. It should be wide and flat. Hips lower than the spine by more than a trifle is weight carrying issue and will affect jumping.

The widest point should be at the gaskin (above the hock). The gaskin muscle should be full on the inside of the leg as well as the outside. The Stifle should tie in with no noticeable swelling or lumps. Beware of locking stifles.

*Good* over all (not activity specific) QH conformation is correct for a sport horse with the exception of the tie in of the neck at shoulder.

You might look here a bit.

http://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.cfm?n...

I like to take a laptop and a digital camera to look at a horse.

I get several photos then use a editing program to draw lines and angles and spots.

I use video in slow motion to track the travel for the feet.

Then after all that I ride the horse if possible and get a *feel* for it because when all is said and done about conformation "want to" is the more valuable attribute.

Have him vet checked, and shoer checked too before you consider buying him. Ask if he is on any meds, when last wormed, on any special diet? Always, always, ride a horse before you buy. But you are right, he needs some work done on his hoofs before he can be ridden and I am not sure if he has overcome his past injury to see what he is really about. If he is in a multi public/pay stable boarding situation, ask other boarders/riders about him. Take your time, this is a big decision.

You and CDog have already covered the pasterns and the too long hooves... On the positive side, I think he has a really strong back, good angle to the haunch, and a nice long neck. Plus, he looks to be an easy keeper:) Did you ride him?

Hi.... I really thought your answer on my questions was very disrespectful and didn't answer the question asked. Beautiful horse btw

Super straight hind legs, short hip, long, weak pasterns, straight shoulder.

Neck is decent length, but lacks any definition. Head looks plain, but it's hard to see.

The top line is also hard to see, but what I can make out is okay.

looks pretty horse name him/her starlight!!!

send him to tescos...