Would you buy an ugly face? A small eye?

[Pally]

So… when do we get to see a pic?!?

Count me in with the “shallows”. Horses are way too expensive IMO to buy an ugly one. That being said, my hanoverian has BIG ears that people love to comment on, but I LOVE them. So maybe beauty is in the eye of the beholder?

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJE-sA-jWK7/

Hey I figured out I can still copy and quote, just not use the stupid button.

Those ears are awesome! It certainly is in the eyes of the beholder…I knew someone who loved her big eared jumper mares. She started doing more Western stuff, and told another girl she liked her horse’s big ears…girl looked at her like she was nuts or being sarcastic - it’s not generally a compliment in quarter horse circles :lol:

I don’t have a picture, and won’t be posting one unless I buy him. I think it would be a little cruel to post someone else’s horse under the title “ugly head” on the web. His sire’s page is here, you can see the “type” particularly in progeny pictures.

[Highflyer]

I see what you mean about the forehead ridge, that’s not something I have ever seen on a horse before. That said in that picture of the stallion I don’t think his head is ugly, just plain, and the eye doesn’t bother me at all. My personal squick is horses with pink around their eyes (mostly Apps and blue eyed Paints) but I wouldn’t walk away from a really nice horse over it. Right now I have a super pretty horse with a lovely kind eye-- the type that makes complete strangers come over and compliment his sweet expression at shows. At home his personality resembles that of a Tyrannosaurus Rex.

[GotMyPony]

OK you may all think this is crazy but if he’s a “good as gold” horse in all other regards (including great gaits) and your typical market cares more about good brains and demeanor than just a pretty package and flash, I might do it. But one thing I’d do is give him a fun name like “Perfect on the Inside” or “What’s Inside Counts” - I’m sure there are many better than those two but you get the idea. Then he would be seen as a “character” horse and those seem to appeal to people.

[DrBeckett]

I had an ugly as sin TWH-cross that could jump the moon. She had a big bucket head and bony hips. But more than once, at shows judges would come up to me and say, “I really like your horse. She looks like a pleasure to ride.” She had the best extended trot ever. I trusted her implicitly. I am a firm believer of handsome is as handsome does. I once bought a horse because he was beautiful and had a wonderful trot, and he ended up trying to kill me. My next horse was a small paint that was the most amazing horse ever. He wasn’t the handsomest, but he was cute, and fun.

[Alibhai_s_Alibar]

Quoting Pally:

Gah…wish I could quote. Anyway, that is quite strange, G&T. I’m pretty sure that is not his case for his bump. I looked up the sire, and can see a little bit of the same there, and in the photos of his progeny racing (not being flattered by some of the racing bridles, lol). I don’t so much mind the ridge - I’ll call that adding character - but moreso I wonder about the eyes. Heinz, there is definitely no visible sclera…it’s almost like they appear small because the eyelids are rather doughy. It’s not quite like anything I’ve seen before.

I think I know exactly what you mean- I’ve seen that eye on certain Thoroughbreds and it has a sunken look with the fleshy eye socket that you mentioned. I’d prefer a horse with the oddest-shaped head in the world over that particular type of eye. I’m sure I could come around to love a horse with that eye if he was wonderful in other ways, but it’s really not my cup of tea and I notice it right away when I see it. I generally like unusual features on horses, but I’m never drawn to that type of eye.

[m_m1]

HJdaydream HJdaydream is online now
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So… when do we get to see a pic?!?

Count me in with the “shallows”. Horses are way too expensive IMO to buy an ugly one. That being said, my hanoverian has BIG ears that people love to comment on, but I LOVE them. So maybe beauty is in the eye of the beholder?

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJE-sA-jWK7/

HJ, I thought my mare had big ears! Those ears are wonderful!!! I love them!

[gypsymare]

I don’t mind a head with some character but I absolutely hate a piggy eye. Regardless of old wives tales I just don’t want to look at that ever day.

[Bluey]

Interesting on that head.

In quarter horses, there is the nose bump called “the Doc Olena” head/nose, that also is not very flattering, but no one minds if it belongs to a good horse.

When making decisions, generally it is good to heed the old, “if in doubt, don’t”.

Let us know if, when you check him over very good, what you decide.

[Garnet_Z]

If the price was right, and the horse was sound, dead broke and had an excellent temperament, then I wouldn’t care if he was ugly.

[tabula_rashah]

Being a Morgan and Arab person, I just couldn’t do an ugly head no matter what other attributes the horse had.

[cayuse]

I bought a lumpy headed pony once. He had an oddly bridged nose, not roman but definitely not refined and his head was ever so slightly large for his pony sized body. He did have a nice eye though. What was funny is I showed him in halter classes and the judges absolutely loved him. What he lacked in refinement he more than made up for with his charisma. He loved an audience.
So I would buy a fugly face, but I would think twice about the small eye (just because I had not such good luck with that).
I still miss that pony. Best little guy ever. We had 26 years of fun together.

[DJohn]

Head bump, eh- I don’t think that’d be a big deal for me, as personality/body confo is more important. That being said, pig eyes are a definite NO. I just can’t stand the look of nasty little pig eyes. It can make the most beautiful horse absolutely hideous. We have a few ponies that have a pig eye and it’s just so ugly! I don’t mind the white-rimmed eyes as my appy had those and they really suited his character.

Big ears, however, are not a flaw. They are the CUTEST thing a horse can have. The floppier, the better! My horse has both large ears and lovely, big eyes. I may be biased, but he is possibly the cutest horse I’ve ever seen

[HJdaydream]

[QUOTE=DJohn;9012206]

Big ears, however, are not a flaw. They are the CUTEST thing a horse can have. The floppier, the better! My horse has both large ears and lovely, big eyes. I may be biased, but he is possibly the cutest horse I’ve ever seen :D[/QUOTE]

Yay for big eared fans!!! One more photo showing off the largest ears I’ve ever seen :lol:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOTaTe_gnzh/

And OP- you’re exactly right about not posting his photo before buying, I should have considered that. Best of luck finding the right resell project!

[horsepoor]

Yay for big eared fans!!!

I like big ears and I can not lie…

All my best horses have had the biggest ears. I’m a sucker for that, even more than chrome (which I also love).

[Cheap_Trick]

If his head is his only fault, and your market is looking to buy safe, sweet horse for themselves, then yes, go for it.

The gelding I just bought has a coarse head and small eyes, and I LOFF him!

I shop for personality and soundness, and I also am a huge sucker for the underdog. If the personality that I love happens to come with pig eyes, then my heart will melt every time I see his head over the stall door. His goofy ugliness would endear him to me, like he was my own personal inside joke that no one else gets.

I think there are enough amateurs like me to provide a large enough market.

I loved the previous suggestion of giving him a funny name that acknowledges his “specialness”.

[fjordie03]

A small eye wouldn’t bother me as a buyer. In my 30 years in horses, I’ve met all sorts and often the prettiest were trouble and the ugly ones were the saints - the two horses in my barn prove this to be true right now. But then I realize that I’m not like most… so to appeal to the mass market, a slightly fugly horse would have to make up for it in other areas (great hooves, charisma, talent, health). JMHO

[mvp]

[QUOTE=HJdaydream;9012280]
Yay for big eared fans!!! One more photo showing off the largest ears I’ve ever seen :lol:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOTaTe_gnzh/

And OP- you’re exactly right about not posting his photo before buying, I should have considered that. Best of luck finding the right resell project![/QUOTE]

Aww… look at that. Like a horse who was given a surprise birthday party and is ready to enjoy it, on the spur of the moment!

I’ll take those big ears and the open, game expression.

[Pocket_Pony]

I also love big ears! I always compliment people who have big-eared horses . . . extra double bonus points if they are floppy.

http://i1310.photobucket.com/albums/s654/PrincessFishCheeks/Big%20Mac%20%202005%20BLM%20mustang/IMG_20120930_171531_zpshulpxofy.jpg

My mustang’s ears . . . big, but not as big as some. What I do love about them are the black tips I see from behind when I’m riding him.

[halt]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder… as are eyes.

I think Loughan Glenn has the strangest, ‘hardest’ and most untrustworthy eyes… and COTH did an article on how beautiful his eyes were.

[ThreeFigs]

Daddy’s head is beautiful, IMO. Nice eyes, too. Love his overall structure. And his kiddos look fine to me. So does the horse you’re considering look like them?

If so, I don’t see a problem.