Curious: what conformation flaws are deal breakers for you?

[kashmere]

Dressage rider here. Absolute no-go conformation faults that I think would apply for most disciplines are things that either make the horse significantly more challenging to manage, e.g. very roached back (saddle fit), or parrot mouth (bitting, feeding issues) or that are not conducive to long term working soundness: poor hoof quality, small hooves relative to size, misaligned hoof/pastern angles, hoof/pastern angles that are too far in either direction (too upright or too low), back at the knee, etc. Not to say that those absolutely preclude a horse from being happy and sound with management, but for me I feel they’re too risky.

Conformation I steer clear of: Long (weak) loin, straight behind, neck tied in low, truly “downhill” (a slightly “downhill” back is fine, but hocks way above knees? no thanks), upright shoulder (almost always goes along with very upright front foot/pastern angles, so already ruled out for me anyway), true ewe neck, significant hi/lo feet.

Conformation “flaws” I don’t really mind: a long back - as long as it’s long through the thoracic region and not the lumbar. No long loins! Over at the knee, toed out mildly, a slightly upright pastern angle so long as it matches the hoof and has a good quality/size hoof underneath.

Can you tell I’ve been burned by hoof issues in the past? :lol:

I think when it comes to conformation, it’s important to look at the whole picture (how does the horse fit together), and also assess their history of soundness and performance.There are plenty of horses with less than ideal conformation performing their jobs splendidly and staying sound doing so - sometimes with a bit of extra maintenance or management, sometimes just because the whole is more than the sum of the parts

[horseshorseshorseshorses]

@Risuena

So, I was surprised at the number of people calling out over at the knee. I always understood that to be unlikely to lead to lameness. Am I misinformed? (Clearly this is assuming average over at the knee, nothing dramatic)

I’m another that’s more about the whole package and I have very few deal breakers. I think short, straight pasterns are probably my one hard no.

Over at the knee isn’t a huge deal for me but I have known two different horses that were over at the knee that had issues.

The first was over at the knee on one side, not crazy, just wouldn’t lock correctly. That horse would occasionally fall because the locking action would fail if he had full weight on it. He was still able to do a job and showed through 3’6" hunters. I did witness him fall under saddle and turned out on that knee not doing anything crazy. He was super honest and was so upset when he did fall with a rider.

The second is probably the worst horse I have ever seen. Somehow he stayed sound through a 1.10 showing career but as he aged his knees got worst. Now he can’t lock his knees to sleep and doesn’t trust himself to lay down to sleep (he does lay down and get up to roll just fine according to his owner). He isn’t ridden anymore because he trips on himself and can’t catch himself. Again he is the worst I have seen but when I look at horses I keep the aging processes in mind.

[anon6003733]

@TMares

I love this guy’s build. I’d be interested to hear your pros and cons of his build, and also, guess the breed while you’re at it ”‹

https://flic.kr/p/81aa1g

He’s a stunner! His whole neck/shoulder/barrel connection is lovely. Those white legs and that dear white chin…!!
Nice horse

[Compadre]

A horse with one club foot. Two is not as bad, I had a Paint mare with pretty moderate club feet on both fronts and it never caused an issue with regular trims.

One club foot effectively makes that leg longer than the opposite side leg, so it takes an undue amount of wear and tear on the whole leg.

[twinmommy]

@TMares

I love this guy’s build. I’d be interested to hear your pros and cons of his build, and also, guess the breed while you’re at it

https://flic.kr/p/81aa1g

I really like him too!!! I’m no expert, but not much to dislike. I guess Dutch Harness Horse!

[TMares]

@twinmommy

I really like him too!!! I’m no expert, but not much to dislike. I guess Dutch Harness Horse!

Thanks, I’d love to hear a few more guesses before the big reveal

[anon55755751]

@TMares, I assume from the fact that it’s a guessing game, that it will surprise people…I’ve seen a good number of TWH that look quite a lot like this, esp. through the loin and hip, though often with somewhat higher angle to the neck set.

[joiedevie99]

@anon55755751

@TMares, I assume from the fact that it’s a guessing game, that it will surprise people…I’ve seen a good number of TWH that look quite a lot like this, esp. through the loin and hip, though often with somewhat higher angle to the neck set.

The hip angle makes me think the same thing.

[TMares]

Yep. TWH

[Walk_N_Gal88]

Bad hooves, full stop! Anything else I can and will deal with for the most part, but after dealing with several horses with bad feet, I won’t do it again.

As far as preferences go, no ewe necks, no long backs, no sickle hocks, no dished faces or super dainty heads, super downhill builds, shark fins, and definitely no narrow chests. Pet peeve! I like my horses big and stocky, not skinny or real lean.
I will say this. I have currently, and have had in the past, some really really awesome horses with these issues. they preformed well, weren’t insane, and did their jobs. It’s really about the whole picture for me.

[Foxtrot_s]

I have to have a good looking horse…not one that looks like some sort of hybrid. Got to feed them al anyway, may as well look good. But I bred my last three horse so I suppose I am out on a limb on that one.

I need a good temperament, willingness, bravery, fairly high headcarriage – but most things are helped along by good training and communication.

[Melissa.Van_Doren]

Post-legged hind limbs. Suspensory issues just waiting to happen.

[Big_Tag]

Wow we REALLY need to pull discipline in on this. I am more in the business of evaluating yearlings (in the case of Standardbreds), or horses that are already doing their jobs (hunter/jumper types)

We just bought the longest-backed filly with longish pasterns and are so pleased with her as a prospect for a trotting Standardbred racehorse.

As a Racehorse prospect:
Things I do not like: Pig Eye; Tiny Nostrils; minimal windpipe clearance; short pasterns; post legged; Back at the knee; too short-coupled
Things I will live with: toe-out; cow hocks; slight toe-in; roach back; club foot

All Disciplines:
Over at the knee is 100% preferable to back at the knee.
Good nostril size
Must have a nice eye
Don’t care for horses bowlegged behind (or twisting out behind)
I am not the hugest fan of “upright” hooves, or hooves too small for the body type

[Big_Tag]

@NoSuchPerson

OK, I’ve got to protest this gross generalization. Pig eyes, in and of themselves, are not “indicative of their base personality.” Pig eyes are just smaller, more inset eyes. The problem with small inset eyes is that the horse may have a reduced field of vision, which can make him spookier and more difficult to handle. But it has nothing to do with the horse’s “base personality.”

It’s just like the old saying that a horse with visible white around the eye is going to be flighty and spooky. And yet, we’ve got a breed (Appaloosa) for which readily visible white sclera is a breed characteristic. And all Appaloosas are not flighty and spooky (despite the stereotype).

It’s not the same. You’re admitting the horse has an inset eye, which potentially affects his vision. Sclera does not. I am not suggesting a pig eyed horse is inherently a worse horse but just like any other conformation flaw, it is potentially working from a potential handicap.