I have seen plenty of for sale ads where the horse in question is described as fancy, but I’m not seeing much in common among them.
What is a horse with “fancy” movement? Any videos of a horse with obvious fancy movement?
If you are talking hunters, then my take on fancy is a fabulous mover–really eye-catching in the front, effortless trot and canter. Chrome is a given, socks, tall ones. A special spark, a charisma that just can’t be created, it just is. They command your attention with their look and movement. The jump is a knee snapping one, but still quiet and floaty, even and just simple looking. Like you’d want to ride that one, and it would be awesome.
They just make the job look fun, easy, and you can’t look away. I don’t think their is a common denominator, but movement for the discipline, in spades, is the one I can think of.
[QUOTE=Calvincrowe;7272368]
If you are talking hunters, then my take on fancy is a fabulous mover–really eye-catching in the front, effortless trot and canter. Chrome is a given, socks, tall ones. A special spark, a charisma that just can’t be created, it just is. They command your attention with their look and movement. The jump is a knee snapping one, but still quiet and floaty, even and just simple looking. Like you’d want to ride that one, and it would be awesome.
They just make the job look fun, easy, and you can’t look away. I don’t think their is a common denominator, but movement for the discipline, in spades, is the one I can think of.[/QUOTE]
You made me smile just reading your description. 
Is there a well known horse (that I could find a video of) that fits this description?
[QUOTE=lferguson;7272379]
You made me smile just reading your description. Is there a well known horse (that I could find a video of) that fits this description?[/QUOTE]
Most top hunters do. One in particular would be Rumba.
[QUOTE=hunterrider23;7272388]
Most top hunters do. One in particular would be Rumba.[/QUOTE]
Got it! Wow. That was lovely.
Well lets start with a perfect example: Betsee Parker’s Inclusive (Captain). He’s a freak and amazing.
I agree with what calvincrowe says but I have one caveat from an amateur perspective. Fancy is as fancy does! You can be the fanciest, prettiest hunter with lots of chrome who wins the hack, yanks its knees and has perfect changes but if its a total spook or a general idiot then you can keep it as far as I’m concerned. Fancy is only good in my world if it comes with a great and obedient mind.
[QUOTE=DarkBayHunter;7272399]
Well lets start with a perfect example: Betsee Parker’s Inclusive (Captain). He’s a freak and amazing.
I agree with what calvincrowe says but I have one caveat from an amateur perspective. Fancy is as fancy does! You can be the fanciest, prettiest hunter with lots of chrome who wins the hack, yanks its knees and has perfect changes but if its a total spook or a general idiot then you can keep it as far as I’m concerned. Fancy is only good in my world if it comes with a great and obedient mind.[/QUOTE]
Inclusive was my first thought too, if you want to include chrome in the equation.
Captain and Inclusive- SO fancy!
[QUOTE=lferguson;7272411]
Captain and Inclusive- SO fancy![/QUOTE]
Inclusive is Captain. 
Captain is his barn name.
Every sale horse is fancy. And moves a 10. and Jumps a 10. Don’tcha know
[QUOTE=Tha Ridge;7272431]
Inclusive is Captain. Captain is his barn name.[/QUOTE]
LOL! That would explain why “both” are fancy!
[QUOTE=vxf111;7272442]
Every sale horse is fancy. And moves a 10. and Jumps a 10. Don’tcha know ;)[/QUOTE]
My horse was briefly up for sale last year. I hired a woman to sell him. I got around to looking at the ad and it said “16.2 hh, flashy, show ready.”
He’s a green 15.3/16 hh TB with some chrome.
[QUOTE=hunterrider23;7272388]
Most top hunters do. One in particular would be Rumba.[/QUOTE]
Has Rumba done anything with Destry Spielberg that even approaches the kind of wins he had under John French? I’m not slamming Destry - she’s a nice rider - but Rumba is still being promoted as the creme de la creme four years after that jaw-dropping perfect score hunter derby win.
[QUOTE=Mara;7272516]
Has Rumba done anything with Destry Spielberg that even approaches the kind of wins he had under John French? I’m not slamming Destry - she’s a nice rider - but Rumba is still being promoted as the creme de la creme four years after that jaw-dropping perfect score hunter derby win.[/QUOTE]
I thought he got hurt??
[QUOTE=vxf111;7272442]
Every sale horse is fancy. And moves a 10. and Jumps a 10. Don’tcha know ;)[/QUOTE]
And he may look 16H but he’s really 16.2. LOL
My favorite has always been Rumba…
There are many ads for “fancy” hunters, I open them up hoping not to like the horse because I would want to buy it but more often than not they are not very fancy. IMHO
I usually fall in love with a horses trot. I like a horse that has that forward swing from the elbow/shoulder and not much knee as the toe points. The hind must be engaged and stepping well under their body using their backs.
A slower, long trot and canter stride are to me what looks very pleasant. (talking hunters)
[QUOTE=vxf111;7272442]
Every sale horse is fancy. And moves a 10. and Jumps a 10. Don’tcha know ;)[/QUOTE]
I’ve seen ads for horses that apparently move and jump a 20… Must be a pretty fancy horse
I agree with what most are saying–a “fancy” horse is one that is going to win a the top levels, eye-catching, lovely mover, beautiful over fences, etc.
I just wonder if anyone else agrees with me that a lot of the top hunters look fat. I mean, noticeably fat. It has been striking me more and more lately, and it struck me again when I looked up some videos of Inclusive.
[QUOTE=Dewey;7272903]
I just wonder if anyone else agrees with me that a lot of the top hunters look fat. I mean, noticeably fat. It has been striking me more and more lately, and it struck me again when I looked up some videos of Inclusive.[/QUOTE]
I have a hunter I bought at 5 and now that he is 6 and in work he looks fat (round) too. But I think much of it is the work they do and how they start to develop their rump and shoulder from the work. Like a body builder… and maybe, just maybe a bit too much hay
“Fancy” is like “expensive”. It’s relative. A horse can be fancy for a local circuit and win everything there, when it wouldn’t be fancy enough to even get a ribbon at a rated show or on another more competitive local circuit.
