Horse experts: Critique this mare? Pretty Please?

[TinyTotsSeramas]

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When you do get the pictures of her squared off, get a frontal and hind shot so we can see if she's pigeon toed or cow hocked, and both side veiws (pretty sure you obviously knew this one) to see if she is standing in front of or behind herself (if she's kneed over or if she has an upright sholder or slopping sholder), also make sure she doesnt have an under or over bite (also called "parrot mouth) blah blah blah blah and all that happy horse poo im sure you've already heard (havent looked at the other posts)

Until you get the better pictures no one can really give you a 100% accurate observation on her..

(she is a pretty mare though!!)

 

[TinyTotsSeramas]

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Cant really take that into consideration when the mare isnt even squared with her head up!

 

[welsummerchicks]

I can't confirm the hock angles from looking at that picture. I'd have to see something else, not in stuffing my face mode, LOL. Having the head down tends to straighten out the hocks.

And agree, not that it would matter.

On the track, a very straight hind leg (less hock angle) is liked. It's believed to be faster.

In general, a slightly more angled hock is liked for sport horses...but again, how the whole hind quarter works together and how the animal balances and uses the hock, that's important in sport. I've seen some jumpers who were rather straight behind but had NO-HO-HO trouble bending their hocks and jumping ME out of the tack, LOL, nor staying sound.

So if a horse stands real straight I am sort of thinking it's not going to be my next Grand Prix Dressage Horse, but, well. Agree.

 

[starryhen]

Hi What is visible in this photo shows good basic conformation and would spark further investigation if I were looking for another horse. Other photos may show something else. The one thing I would watch out for at this age and with a horse who has had an athletic career are the lameness issues. I agree that hooves, leg joints and back should be evaluated by a vet and/or equine chiropractor. Many nice horses are passed on because they can no longer do something strenuous and constant but are perfectly fine for family fun.