3 yr. old Friesian Sport Horse

ingallsra · Yearling Joined: 08 Sep 2005 Posts: 21

This is my 3 yr. old Friesian Sport Horse gelding, Ritske McCue's Lakota. His sire is a Friesian, and his dam a breeding stock paint. He's currently 15.3H and 1,150 lbs (and still growing).
He's my dream horse, but I know that conformationally he's not perfect. I have my opinions of what I think is correct and incorrect with him, but I'd appreciate others' honest critiques of him. I apologize in advance for the front and rear shots not being better and of not getting better shots of his hooves.

Kassie Finley · Member Joined: 01 Jan 2007 Posts: 95 Location: Texas

Well all I can say is..... Hubba, Hubba! Frieisan is my favorite breed. I can't afford one so I was planning on breeding one of my QH mares to a Friesian but things did not pan out.
I can't pick anything out personaly because I am in love with him and am blinded by his beauty to nit pick him lol.

Kassie Finley · Member Joined: 01 Jan 2007 Posts: 95 Location: Texas

Oh and I wanted to say that one picture with the red barn in the background, I LOVE that barn. It looks like something you would see out of a book. Very cool.

horsetrainer89 · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 3:39 pm Post subject:

Barely base wide in the front, but that is how he could be standing, so might not be at all or could be more than what the photo shows, either way it wont affect the performance of this gelding. A little base narrow in the back, but again it could be how he is standing. His chest is a little narrow for my liking, but he is 3, so I expect for him to get a little wider. A little cow hocked as well, but if friesians are like clysdales than that is how they are supposed to be. Other than that it is hard to say since the two breeds have different conformations.

JR · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 5:50 pm Post subject:

ooooooh he's perdy !

Not too much to pick at from me. Only things I'm seeing is that his neck is tied in a bit high and there's something funky going on with his knees. I'm sure I could evaluate him better if you just bring him on over to my barn Wink

_________________
JR

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It's never the horse, it's the rider.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

surprisewind · Active Member Joined: 25 Jan 2005 Posts: 246

He looks a bit tied in and back at the knees. Could be the pictures... except it's in each one. I second JR. Best evaluated at my house Razz

ingallsra · Yearling Joined: 08 Sep 2005 Posts: 21

Thanks for all the responses. Sounds like Cody and I have a lot of barns to visit! Very Happy

Here's my take on him:
You're right, he is narrow, but, luckily, with increased work and normal growth, he is starting to widen out a bit. I would like to see him widen in front, but also especially in back. He comes close to interfering with himself with those hind legs. He has a long stride, and I often hear the toe of a hind hoof click the sole of a front hoof. He doesn't wear shoes, but I may start working him in bell boots to protect those bulbs. He hasn't injured himself so far, but there's a first time for everything!
You can't really tell from the pics because of the grass, but he toes out slightly in front. He is cow-hocked, but I can live with that. His hooves are a little small for his size (I call them pixie feet). My vet thinks they'll widen somewhat in the next year or two.
He has very knobby knees. The front-view pic shows that he's bench kneed--I'm not so thrilled about that and am hoping that it won't lead to stress injuries down the road. I think the look of his knees from the side gives the illusion of being back at the knee, but he may be back very slightly--I'll take a closer look in person and see if I can figure it out.
His neck is set high, and that is definitely a Friesian characteristic--they always have their heads in the clouds. His shoulder is a little straighter than I'd like, but we've been starting to work in collection at the trot, and it is VERY comfortable. But when he's not rounded at the trot I get bounced to the moon Shocked

Thanks again for the comments. I'm getting better at judging conformation, but I have a lot to learn, so I'd appreciate any more posts, either agreeing or disagreeing with my critique of him.
None of it will change how I feel about him though--he's my dream horse, flaws and all Wink

horsetrainer89 · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 9:55 am Post subject:

I thought he toed out a little bit in the front to, but wasn't sure. You did pretty well critiquing him.

ingallsra · Yearling Joined: 08 Sep 2005 Posts: 21

Oh, one more thing...it's not so much a conformation issue as a cosmetic flaw. Did anyone else notice his right nostril is higher than his left? Maybe his version of the Elvis lip Confused

horsetrainer89 · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 12:54 pm Post subject:

I did, but I didn't comment on it since it was only in that one pic. The other facial one he looked fine so I just shrugged it off. Is he really like that or only in that pic?

ingallsra · Yearling Joined: 08 Sep 2005 Posts: 21

Yup, he's really like that. Sometimes (like in that picture) it's more noticeable than others....

surprisewind · Active Member Joined: 25 Jan 2005 Posts: 246

It gives him character Very Happy

Overall, I think he looks like he would be a very nice ride.

horsewoman1965 · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 8:21 am Post subject:

Nice. Good job on your critique also. I bet he will get wider and his hooves will get bigger, probably before he turns 5. I bet he could be a monster of a horse by 7.
_________________
RMT Paints
Home of Joys San Skip