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#1
12-11-2011, 06:57 PM
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Conformation pictures for idiots
I was hoping that maybe a few of you could tell me about conformation pictures.....
I know absolutely nothing about them. What do you look for? What is the first thing you notice? Is there a deal-breaker? Obviously there are vast differences between say Pins and Southern Image. If i weren't familiar with these names though... if i couldn't see the fee and asked you to help me choose a stallion what is it you'd tell me? Is there anything that stands out about say... Hat Trick? What about Flashy Bull? Hat Trick http://www.gainesway.com/horses/hat-trick-2783.html Southern Image http://www.ranchosanmiguel.net/southern-image.shtml Pins http://www.waikatostud.co.nz/pins---conformation Flashy Bull http://www.airdriestud.com/flashy_bu...s&record=video Can you try to explain what it is you see (sans sarcasm - although i know it might be tempting)? Thanks in advance! 
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#2
12-11-2011, 07:00 PM
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Great topic Ms. Cat. Looking forward to learning something here.
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#3
12-11-2011, 07:36 PM
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I don't think you can judge a horse by photo -- particularly with race horses you want to see how they move and their character.
The TOBA has an informative series on conformation. http://www.toba.org/owner-education/conformation.aspx After awhile most people form preferences and have ideals in the kind of runner they are looking for. For example, I don't like the light-frameness of Songandaprayers and am particular about necks, pasterns and feet. You have to approach a horse with a goal in mind too -- are you looking for a win early 2 yo, a Classic horse, a turf horse, etc.
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#4
12-11-2011, 07:50 PM
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Quote:
__________________
All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind. ~ Joseph Conrad A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right. ~ Thomas Paine Don't let anyone tell you that your dreams can't come true. They are only afraid that theirs won't and yours will. ~ Robert Evans
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#5
12-11-2011, 08:21 PM
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Quote:
 Quote:
 * * * This is from the "sideview" part of the link you posted, Sightseek... Head - The head should be broad enough to permit adequate air passage. Generally, the distance from the back of the jaw to where the head ties into the neck should be about the size of a fist. Nostrils should be of adequate size. People refer to an "attractive" head. That usually means the head is short, with well-set ears; has large bold eyes, a short distance from eye to muzzle, large nostrils and a refined muzzle with a shallow mouth. In general, there is no physiological benefit to the horse having an "attractive" head. An "ugly" head functions similarly to an attractive head. Off the top of your (attractive) head can you think of an example either way?
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#6
12-11-2011, 08:36 PM
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always thought vicar had a nice, attractive head. just looked him up on the stallion register to see if they still had a pic of him since he went overseas. they do not.
__________________
Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren't very new at all. Abraham Lincoln
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#7
12-11-2011, 08:36 PM
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Just a quick glance at WinStar's line-up - Hold Me Back vs. some of their other stallions such as Bellamy Road (
 ! ) Super Saver, Distorted Humor etc. http://www.winstarfarm.com/horses/ho...back-2016.html
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#8
12-21-2011, 08:04 AM
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Quote:
Some people's 'definite no' might actually be somebody elses' 'yes please'. It really depends on what type of horse you are looking for, and the long term plan for him/her. I always find that the most interesting conformation 'defect' is being back of the knee. Personally I do not like it, and won't go near a yearling who is back of it's knee. However, one of the best racehorses and sires (danehill) was infact back of his knees and often threw that onto his progeny, and it hasn't stop them either. You will often find that certain sire lines will throw certain issues. Storm Cat being one of the best examples. He and most of his sire sons are quite offset (usually in their near fore, correct me if I'm wrong). Now in the early days this would have put people off, but once he and his progeny could run and run fast even with those knees, people decided to pay less attention to this conformation defect. Then you come to simple things like quality, and if the horse is good looking and this more or less comes down to opinion. For example, I believe a horse like Super Saver is a stunning looking horse, with heaps of quality. Like Sightseek I'm not a fan of light framed horses, or horses who lack bone. I'm more forgiving with horses who have long pasterns, especially in europe where they race on a more forgiving surface. However, i'm a little more harsh on long pasterns in both North America and Australia. The only problem being, that these horses are often exceptional walkers - a personal must. The big thing for me is feet. "no feet, no horse" beiing one of the most important phrases to remember. I spend a lot of time looking at the feet when inspecting yearlings. It's almost impossible to find a 100% correct horse these days, whether that's because of how we are breeding or whether it's because we are becoming more criticial on conformation, I'm not sure.
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Avatar ~ Nicky Whelan and now we murderers because we kill time Last edited by NoChanceToDance : 12-21-2011 at 08:06 AM. Reason: spelling and add
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#9
12-21-2011, 09:44 AM
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i know what you mean about likes and dislikes. i personally don't like to see high withers on a horse...another thing i don't like is when the rear is higher than the withers-i've seen horses were their hind end was substantially higher. not sure if either has anything to do with running ability-just a personal quirk of mine. i like a smooth transition from neck to withers and then to the rear-with the withers and high point of the back end on level.
or is that just plain wrong?? i see bloodhorse has a conformation video for sale....anyone buy it yet? is it a good one? stonesider is one i like: http://www.bloodhorse.com/stallion-r...50&origin=link eskenderaya is an example of a horse with a higher rear than withers http://www.bloodhorse.com/stallion-r...?refno=8000094 now, here's hard spun: http://www.bloodhorse.com/stallion-r...63&origin=link thoughts? like the looks of corinthian: http://www.bloodhorse.com/stallion-r...35&origin=link but of course you can't get a great feel for the legs, since you can't get a head on and from behind view....
__________________
Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren't very new at all. Abraham Lincoln
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