Learning to judge young horses

[blue_heron]

Does anyone have resources (videos preferred) with information on how to evaluate young horses? I am confident with static conformation but not as much with the gaits, even after working for a breeder, scribing at sport horse shows, and buying multiple young horses. I know you buy the walk and the canter, but I always feel like I get the canter “wrong” especially in videos where the horse is just running around in a field or scooting around on the end of a lunge line.

I guess this is a sales ad grump. I understand that your 3/4 yo young horse is not going to be gorgeous, but can it at least move forward on the longe line or not be in flight mode while you chase it around with a feed bag? Please and thank you.

Evaluating a young horse for the first time.

This video is similar to what I am hoping to find.

[AnastasiaBeaverhousen]

Selecting Your Dressage Horse
by Hilda Guerney.
Covers all young and older horses.
Shows what conformation to look for.
Demonstrates young horses on the lunge and backed horses under saddle.
Great video.
It looks like you can get it on Amazon.
I had the VHS , but you may be able to get it on DVD.

[eightpondfarm]

My bugaboo has been misjudging base-narrow. I chose a young horse…just four, and as he matured, his rear toes began to click they were SO close. His hips widened and his hocks/supporting muscle and bone didn’t. He began close and as he grew/gained weight, the process which had begun early just got worse. I do not ride him…he’s a pasture ornament at age 8. Too bad because i sunk a lot of time into his training, and i’d say he’s emotionally my favorite ride. So in-tune with me and so sad he’s built so wrong.

[Jodyml813]

Agree with the Hilda Gurney video.

Showing your sport horse in hand is another good one. I think USDF had it for sale in their store.

[MapleBreeze]

Those are great resources.
Can i ask, what are you looking to evaluate?
Are you looking to judge young horses?
Are you looking to buy young horses to train and resell? Or are you looking for your forever competition horse?

When im buying for resale i look at ammy 3rd and below horses way differently that a personal competition horse for me.

And the market is funky right now. Like a big flashy trot might crush it at training and first but the hind leg is so straight youre going to die on a hill trying to get past third… but someone will pay big money for that big trot…

And personality matters. And thats intangible.

If you’re buying the canter you want to elimnate those horses that pull with a heavy front end like friesians and tbs - those are your lower level resells.

Have you ever tried to put flying changes on a horse and collect the canter on a horse with a really straight hind leg? It sucks. If im buying long term prospect i want it to be easy to collect -AND have excellent personality. If its going to be a 1500 lb pocket rocket it better be grounded and have a good brain.

[blue_heron]

It looks like it’s still on tape on Amazon. Unfortunately I don’t own a VCR anymore. Of course I scrapped it after the last time I moved as I hadn’t used it in five years plus…

[blue_heron]

I’m (casually) looking for my next competition horse. Third level is a must, doesn’t have to go to GP but needs to be trending towards it… I do not have the budget for a made horse of any circumstance. If it’s marketable for an amateur doing lower level work if it doesn’t work out for the upper level work I will be extra happy. The market is so strange right now. The lower level prospects cost just as much as the upper level prospect, which makes it harder for those of us who are not breeders and aren’t turning over babies every year to discern between the two.

I know what I like horse-wise. I can’t stand Freisians and don’t see TBs holding up to the upper level work. My ancient horse is an appendix and I’ve had pretty much Lusitanos/PRE/Lipps or a cross since then. I do like a sport pony or a meaty smaller warmblood as well.

As for the straight leg comment-- yes, my appendix. She had straight legs and a HUGE shoulder and a long back but loved to work. Her neck was practically attached between her elbows. We did the worst imitation of third level ever, but she did have changes and some kind of ambling collected canter. I never even tried to pretend it looked pretty.

[eightpondfarm]

Here’s one for you, check-out “Valentine”

Adopt

[AnastasiaBeaverhousen]

I didn’t find the video on YouTube but I did find these videos you might find helpful.
I apologize in advance I’m hopeless at posting links no matter how often someone tells me.

Dressage Horse Conformation :
Form and Function
Amelia Newcomb Dressage

What to look for in a Dressage Horse!
Joseph Newcomb

Don’t Buy a Dressage Horse until you watch this!
Sally Engelhardt

I just saw it on DVD at classichorsevideos.com

I don’t know if is in stock but the web site says its available.

[Scribbler]

@blue_heron

Does anyone have resources (videos preferred) with information on how to evaluate young horses? I am confident with static conformation but not as much with the gaits, even after working for a breeder, scribing at sport horse shows, and buying multiple young horses. I know you buy the walk and the canter, but I always feel like I get the canter “wrong” especially in videos where the horse is just running around in a field or scooting around on the end of a lunge line.

I guess this is a sales ad grump. I understand that your 3/4 yo young horse is not going to be gorgeous, but can it at least move forward on the longe line or not be in flight mode while you chase it around with a feed bag? Please and thank you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jowPQe3kbCM
This video is similar to what I am hoping to find.

It’s not always easy to see through bad video, including a horse ridden under tempo and on the forehand. And I bet you could make even Valegro look like a hot mess if you chased him with a plastic bag in a small muddy round pen on a windy day.

[Jealoushe]

I also think videos on the physiology of the horse, like massage, lameness, sport therapy, biomechanics etc are really helpful in learning what to see when you look at a horse.

Once I realized how a horse should move altogether in one motion, it became more apparent which horses have the right qualities and which don’t. Also, which can be corrected and which can’t.

[blue_heron]

So true. There is a cute little mare for sale in her 3/4 year old awkward stage. The only video of her that I was sent was her being longed by someone who is just learning to longe. Great video to show that she’s tolerant, but I don’t need my personal horse to be that tolerant of true beginners-- she’s unlikely to encounter one. I want to know what her movement is, which I can’t see while she’s trotting around on a 15m circle at a peanut roller speed trot. Of course she looks uneven.

ETA: She’s been for sale for two months, which is a long time in this market. I can’t imagine the video has anything to do with it.

[blue_heron]

The idea of adopting or getting a young horse with good functional conformation for cheap or from auction has occurred to me and I’m not ruling it out.

But, check out the “fine print” on the website. You adopt this horse and can do almost nothing with it. You have to tell the adoption center every time the horse’s permanent address changes. My horses move from my house to a farm with an indoor back to my house every year. You can’t teach on the horse and if you ever decide you don’t want it, it has to be returned to the adoption center. So if I train this horse up to third level and decide I want to sell because it doesn’t have the potential to go higher, I give it back to the adoption center, for free? I don’t get a payout for years of time, money, and training I put into the horse? No effing thanks.

[eightpondfarm]

Well, i have 9 horses from them…so i know their rules. Their focus is finding a ‘forever home’. That’s their deal. So if you’re not into that, then you and they are discordant. It was worth suggesting as she’s quite young and seems to check your boxes, physically.

And for what it’s worth, you actually can rehome one of their horses with their approval. (case in point: a good friend of mine was alllOVER a young gelding. I adopted him for her, he grew up here in our herd, while she took riding lessons near her home). Longmeadow knew of her(my friend) from the beginning, and gave tacit approval for an eventual rehome. Now, 3 yrs later, i’ve trained him/she doesn’t want (horse care too expensive in $ and time) So he’s here to stay. No big deal, i like him just fine, but he wasn’t my pick. He is my western dressage prospect. (HE’s the one my coach said i could sell for 50k lol). For the Humane Society, any new owner has to fill out the entire application and pass muster, but it’s doable for you to adopt and not return to them if you outgrow the horse. The one MAIN big non-negotiable deal is no breeding. They are serious about this. (i once was going to adopt a couple of hens from them but they would not allow because they knew i had a rooster or two)

Most of the horses that come-back to them come back with problems. They are returned in worse condition than when they left the first time. And i think it’s a very good thing that the humane society welcomes/requires them to come back. As, they’d prob be in the slaughter pipeline and Longmeadow is actually responsible (they are the ones that mis-placed the horse!) And, the people can’t sell/rehome because the horse is too problematic. The adoptee was just not able to train/ride/feed/handle…something like that. So when you see one that has been returned, the poor thing usually comes with a caveat of non-rideable. (i adopted two like this…for pasture ornaments and because i feel like with the wonderful horses i’ve gotten from them for basically ‘free’ that are excellent good quality riding horses, i OWED them).

[blue_heron]

You are incredibly lucky to have the resources to offer horses a forever home and I have a lot of respect that you are so committed to each individual animal. Unfortunately for mine, they have to “earn their keep.” FWIW, I’m not trying to start an argument. This is a good and relevant discussion on where to get young horses that suit your purpose.

I also believe that if a horse has so many issues that it’s only option is slaughter or if it unsafe for people to handle, the best option is euthanasia. A lot of adoption agencies, horses and dogs included, don’t mesh with that idea.

[candyappy]

@eightpondfarm

Here’s one for you, check-out “Valentine”

They only have her height at 12.2? Probably haven’t updated it since she came.

@blue_heron I have a young horse from there. Have had him over 2 years now and I can tell you that you wouldn’t have to update them on anything, especially if you are just moving him back and forth. I haven’t heard from them since I brought him home.

[eightpondfarm]

oh gosh, you’re right about her height. i missed that part about her being a pony. I like how she’s put together though. wouldn’t have passed her details along had i actually read the whole spiel on her.

[candyappy]

@eightpondfarm

oh gosh, you’re right about her height. i missed that part about her being a pony. I like how she’s put together though. wouldn’t have passed her details along had i actually read the whole spiel on her.

Did it say pony on her profile??

I don’t know how they measure them but my guy is way bigger than they said he was? Or maybe I am shrinking!

[eightpondfarm]

They said her parents were ponies.
Now, i’m pretty sure that if someone were actually interested to know for sure, they (longmeadow) would take a new, accurate measurement. They aren’t interested in wasting anyone’s time… Plus, for some people, it’s a long way

[candyappy]

I know @eightpondfarm. I went back and read the description ( for comprehension) and they did say her parents were ponies!

I can’t fault LongMeadow on anything. My yearling came fully vaccinated, trimmed, microchipped, well handled and in excellent health/ weight.

There were a lot of people interested in him ( probably due to his color) but afraid he may not get as big as they wanted. He has grown a ton and at 3+ he is plenty tall enough, big bodied for my 5’8 old body.

I went and looked at him, handled him, watched him move at liberty and got the adoption started immediately. I have never been sorry I did.