My foals conformation - experienced people please give your opinion!?

Question

Hello.

Ok this is the wild foal who we took into care, the story below is here

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AmGLiyzfKKjWkTabw_9qOnDsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20080607123158AA6Kdg6

He is a real sweetheart who has gained trust in me and my children only. Anyone else he runs away from.

I am eager to find out his breed, and would love people to comment with detail on his conformation. He is a turkish horse and quite straight-backed but any other info would be great. Also how do you think his gaits will become judging by his conformation?

Please nice comments only, this little guy fills me with love!

Thanks guys - I would love top contributers to comment also. xx

pics here:

http://s201.photobucket.com/albums/aa312/SarahEsen/?action=view&current=CIMG1032.jpg

http://s201.photobucket.com/albums/aa312/SarahEsen/?action=view&current=CIMG1039.jpg

Answer 1

Agree with black

Big head, short neck, long back, weak rear, bad hocks...but he's just a gangly little kid.

congrats.

Answer 2

The trouble with commenting on a young foal's confirmation is that it can change.  What people may see as a confirmation fault at that age may not be a fault at all or something that will change as he grows, matures & builds muscle.

Cute though!!!

Answer 3

Very cute. He's still a foal, so his conformation now doesn't tell us much about his conformation later. He's still growing, you know. He looks very small, and you might be able to tell how tall he will be. If you have the info, find out how how long his legs were when he was born. Say they were 27", for example. This is 90% of how long they will be when he's done growing. So, if his legs were 27" at birth, they would be 30" when he was full grown. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

He is only flat backed because foals grow in stages. The back end will go up, followed by the front end, followed by the back end again, and so when fully grown this would not be as noticeable. He has strong, sloping shoulders, cleanish limbs, but a tad behind at the knee which is nothing to worry about. He might have some arabian blood in him, but doesnt really look like it. He looks like he could make about 14hh, and be quite a slim built, but strong pony. He should have a nice flowing presence about him and looks a lovely sort

Answer 5

I'm not a top contributor yet - and you've got some good feedback.

But how can you ask for conformation opinions on such a young baby?  This foal has a TON of growing to do.  One cannot truly tell what his conformation is going to become at this point.

The grow from the legs up - by about 2 years old, the knees down are developed about as far as they'll get - the joints are nearly fully spaced and developed.  At 3, they're typically done growing up to about the shoulder, with leg bones and joints about closed up and not a lot of height will be gained.  From 3 until about 7 they fill out and mature in width and breadth.  So from 3 until about 7 you can begin making some good educated critiques of conformation.

I would say at this point you should be focused on his over all health and mental well being.

I do have to add that I think he's pretty cute too!

Answer 6

All I see NOW is a little bit of a roach back and sickle hocks...[in both photos]  cow hocks too.

But like everyone else...baby conformation changes drastically.  The back can fill out, and when the hindquarters fill in at about two...can straighten the hocks.

This is just my opinion but....

I've taken some conformation 'tests' on this website...the conclusion is that I am not allowed to buy a weanling or a yearling because I fail the tests...*sigh*

Looks like he's going to stay a bay...I can see the dark hair next to his rear hoof under the foal coat...

He looks like a little darlin' though.  Very calm with you? and the photographer...

Answer 7

He's adorable!  

Well according to "The Encyclopedia Of The Horse" there's only one breed listed in Turkey.  The Turkoman, an Iranian bred horse, which they only had a 18th or 19th century print of and the The Karacabey with NO picture!  BUT the Akhal-Teke, which is a Russian breed, traces it's heritage all the back to the Turkoman (2,500 years).  Although this horse in the picture was LOOOONNNNNNNGGGG backed, he basically looked like an adult version of your colt.

I'd have a tendancy to say that your colt is Karacabey which was a cross between native Turkish horses (Probably decended from the Turkoman) and the Nonius horses.  Nonius horses (Who's back and hip also look like your colt's as well.) were supposedly founded by a French stallion that the Hungarians got as spoils of war during the Napoleonic Wars.

The book states that they have GREAT gaits and if you look at your colt's pasterns, you'll see they have length and slope which is a good sign.

I would Google all three breeds and see whatelse you can learn about them.  But chances are he's of Turkoman descent.

Best of luck.

Answer 8

That is a nice looking colt... but..u r rite he does have a flat back but it will get better with age. he does have a very good slant on his shoulder which is always good but the tail sits a little low for my taste.

Answer 9

SO CUTE!!! I don't do a lot with foals, so don't really take my words to heart, but I'd say he's going to stay pretty small. Usually the larger horses have big kneee joints and donkey ears. Couldn't give you a guess on a breed, but I'm thiking he'll turn out to be a cute little stocky pony :)

Answer 10

Look at his sweet little foal 'fro...

He's cute.  His back is the worst part - it almost looks like it has a slight roach.  His croup is quite flat too, probably having something to do with his back.  He is still thin, though, so his appearance may improve once he gains some weight and grows a bit.  His shoulder has a good slope and his pasterns and feet look pretty good.   His expression is intelligent and he has a kind eye.

I'd post his photo here, too:

http://fhotd64476.yuku.com/forums/9/t/Co...

It's the Fugly Horse of the Day (no, he's not fugly!) conformation critique board.  It's a message board intended for critiques, and some of the people there know their stuff.