Calling all horse people...

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

What EXACTLY does "flashy" mean? Does it have any hidden meanings like "cute"...?



Thanks!

 

[BorderKelpie]

I always took it to mean fancy looking - lots of white markings, bright colors, 'pretty' attitude. I guess in a word - attractive.

IDK, that's just what I always thought.

 

[froggiesheins]

I know it to mean, extra fancy color, extra fancy conformation, extra fancy mane/tail, something about a horse that will make you go "wow".

 

[hennyannie]

Um, I think maybe it is refering to the color. Like lots of pretty white markings. I have often heard paints refered to as flashy.

 

[Baymule]

It means lots of rhinestones in their manes and tails, sparkly polish on their hooves and bubba teeth.

 

[petchickenlover]

Quote:

I agree with the others, just overall pretty.

 

[SourRoses]

Yep, I agree too, colors that really stand out. From the horse show world, I know many people also use the term in regards to attitude... the way they carry themselves... and may call a horse that is pretty plain, but has that "look at me" attitude, flashy.

 

[Celtic Hill]

Its used to describe a horse that catches your eye. So like a big black warmblood is flashy, or a pinto is flashy. Or a High Stepping sadlebred is 'Flashy" It just means that that particular horse stands out over the rest in a good way.

 

[onthespot]

Always when I go to look at a "flashy" horse, I use extra scrutiny, look extra hard at disposition, training, respect, let problems, anything else that might be wrong. A lot of times you will see a paint with what I call "cute markings syndrome" where it is a spectacularly beautifully marked horse, but had been made a pet of so much as a baby, hugged, scratched, played games with that they grow up disrespectful. Often they are sold for more than they are worth, over and over to new people, like a one horse pyramid scheme, each person trying to profit on the horse in a short time. Not saying that is always the case, just be on the lookout for it if you ever go to look at a "flashy" horse.

 

[welsummerchicks]

As always with horses, 'it depends'.

Most lower level riders use 'flashy' to indicate a horse has a bright, pretty color (especially chestnut or a light bay) and lots of white markings. White markings are all the vogue these days, even in the hunter show ring. 'Flashy' is how the white markings look to the novice, as the horse moves (however it actually moves).'Flashy' is often used for a nicely marked Pinto or Appaloosa, or a Palomino with a nice deep vibrant gold color.

A lot of more experienced riders use 'flashy' to mean something entirely different. In this next meaning, it has nothing to do with color or markings.

Sometimes in this next sense, it's interchangeable with 'fancy'.

If they're hunter riders, they may use the term for a well balanced horse that sweeps over the ground with the desirable straight knee and hock and yet a little 'push' off the ground that takes the horse forward with a little bit of suspension (time in canter or trot when all 4 feet are off the ground). It's not a big upward bounce, but more like a float forward over the ground with all 4 feet not bearing weight. That goes back to the original use of hunters, to efficiently cover the ground (though the most efficient use of energy is NO suspension, SOME suspension is liked in the show ring).

If they're dressage riders, 'flashy' or 'fancy' might be the word for a horse that really lifts its knees and bends its hocks, and yet still floats forward over the ground, but the 'suspension' (all 4 feet clear of ground and not bearing weight) is different than the hunter, instead of JUST a float forward over/across the ground, it's both floating across the ground AND bouncing way up in the air.

Here's the ultimate dressage bouncer - Quatarback - no artificial devices to teach this - no long feet or heavy shoes - this is 'just him' - with a little encouragement from the crowd -

Quaterback having fun at home:

He isn't just a good bouncer though, he's also extremely fluid and well balanced. Just sit up, hang on and smile.