My $60 dollar colt -May walk away from this opinions PLS!!

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Maybe with teaching him to "round" his back and get him collected a little might help strengthen his back muscles...they have driving harnesses that will help do that (they have different head settings based on the horse's level of training). I would just wait and see...

Is he sound? I also noticed that front leg immediately....it looks swollen or otherwise enlarged? Does he head-bob when he trots?

 

[muddyhorse]

my hubby's gelding has a sway back he had it when we got him at two. he does just fine. they make special saddle pads for swaybacks. one thing you might try is running a comb handle along his belly line. it makes them round the back and can strengthen it. using your hand can be counter productive because you want to be able to touch him.

 

[WIChookchick]

Muddy Horse- Thanks for that tip. I have done some research and I think he will be able to have a productive life even if he can't be ridden. Time will tell with his back.
I will try to get more and better pics of his legs.
Here is his You tube video put out by the breeder when he was about 16 mths old

here is his sire's video-

And here you can see baby pics of him as a young foal and a weanling.
http://public.fotki.com/nwind2/nw-the-alchemist-th/

Carol

 

[duckluck]

Quote:
I haven't had that experience...my best horse ever was a purebred Egyptian. He was bred from a racing line of Arabians (full brother ran at the track) and did everything from breeding stallion to ranch horse, mounted patrol to three-day eventer, and even was harnessed and hauled hay on a sledge through the snow to a back barn in winter. I even took him to nursing homes to visit with elderly people. He was a true partner that could pretty much trust with my life; I had to put him down at 27 and my life will never be the same without him. I knew him since I was 10 and he was 3. It is my sincerest hope that you can make such a partner of this horse and save him from the miserable life (or death) he could face if he is being sold that cheap.

I had ridden a pretty swaybacked Welsh some years back and I used her for years for a lot of riding, so you might not have the problems you might think. I'm more concerned that this guy looks kind of weedy in the pictures, but again, he is growing. I'd be much more concerned about that weediness if he was a QH but he is not. It's all to the better that you want to train him to drive first...if he can be strengthened, that is good exercise for that and he definitely needs to have a job to start getting his mind busy. Good luck!

I hope it all works out!

 

[duckluck]

You know, I looked at their website (am I to understand this colt is The Alchemist?). If so, then he is barely more than a year and a half old. He has a LOT of growing to do. I'd definitely take a chance on him for that cheap. There's never any such thing as a free horse but I do like this one. Course, Arabians are my first love and I am a sucker for Arabians and Call duck drakes!

 

[WIChookchick]

Well some updated news- I went and worked with Cal, he gave me a brief bit of grief over learning how to lead. but in the end, was a very good boy and did quite well.
I did get pics of his knees and I think he must have some of the most god awful conformation ever.. OR he was fed WRONG.. alot...
But not enough to make him a bad horse.. just a ... trail quality or small/fun show type...
OTHER good news, I posted the pics of him on the saddlebred rescue, as a lot of loridosis/sway back horses go thru the rescue and the folks in the ASB (saddlebred) world know and work with horses
that are sway backed.
THey don't think he is, they say "low" backed at worst, and just in need of alot of slow miles to help him build his top line.
So here are updated pics of his knees... part of it could be the floor, but I just think. bad conformation. And I don't think his rear fetlocks should be that big....

But he is soo cute!!

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Yeah, but the thing is, Arabs and Saddlebreds are different things. If he were an ASB I would not think twice about his topline. For an *arab* on the other hand, it really makes me go Hmmm. However, I will repeat, if what you want is a horse to DRIVE and "well we'll see whatever works out" with riding, then I do not see it as being an issue.

So here are updated pics of his knees... part of it could be the floor, but I just think. bad conformation. And I don't think his rear fetlocks should be that big....

He may perhaps have developmental joint problems for nutritional or whatever reasons. HOWEVER please notice that the near (left) knee is quite a lot larger than the right (in your original pics as well as these). That is absolutely not just bad conformation. That is an injury or other defect in there. I can't tell too well from the pics, it gives the impression of being mainly a fluid enlargement but <shrug>. I would really suggest getting a vet to look at him before you do any work at all with him, in fact preferably *now* just so that you can get a sense of what you are dealing with and whether there is anything useful you might want to do or know.

Sorry, I am not trying to worry you needlessly, and it is not *necessarily* something athletically-serious (could just be a cold set enlargement of the joint capsule or bursa that woudl have no soundness implications at all... but, there are a bunch of more significant things that can also cause a big knee like that), but it is quite definitely abnormal and not just "factory equipment" so to speak, and I think it is something you ought to figure out what it is.

He *is very cute, as you say

Good luck, have fun,

Pat​

 

[onthespot]

That knee would bother me a lot more than the low back. Lots more horses get around fine wth a low back than a blown knee. Hope it all works out for you. At least you did not give a lot for him, in the event it works out okay. All you can do is try.

 

[welsummerchicks]

You could have a vet xray the knee with a portable xray machine, right at your barn.

I don't think that's just fluid on his knee.

It used to be called 'broken knees' - looks like the aftermath of a fall or accident.

 

[Redcatcher]

It could be epiphysitis. I am not a vet so you should get a vet out to get a diagnosis. If that is what it is, it usually means stall rest, bute and a more balanced diet. It is treatable but the vet can get you going in the right direction.