Your thoughts on this mare?.....

[Kassie Finley]

I got this mare when the owners brought her to breed to one of our stallions, and they where not able to pay their bill, so they just signed her over to us. anyhow I have been thinking about keeping her, She has a very nice hip and a beautiful head I think. What are your thoughts on her?
this is when she first arrived in her summer coat:





And this is her now with a winter coat on:

[JR]

I'm not a fan of her conformation. She's just meh.. average. She's not something I'd go out of my way to breed. She may make a cute riding horse, but something about her front end bothers me. I hate her neck and have a hard time getting beyond that. Her head is ok, backend ok. She needs some groceries. She's not 'underweight' yet, but she's thinner than I like to see them going into winter. Can just barely see ribs. IMO, not something to keep as a broodmare. If you need a riding horse, go for it.
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JR

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It's never the horse, it's the rider.
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[horsewoman1965]

Hey wonderful job with the pics!!! Here are some decent conformation shots for all those experts to comment on. Come on, all you experts can come out of lurkdom now
Mare???? How old is this filly anyways? Why did they want her bred, and gee then can't even pay the stud fee and marecare, so oh well, let's just sign her over??? WTF??? Thank god she ended up in your hands so now maybe she can end up in somewhat decent hands? My advice, don't advertise her on Horsetopia or your local craiglist. FUGLY would have a field day with this one.
I think she needs groceries, worming, and some time to grow up. She looks to have a swan neck, long back (but hey, she's a mare ).
Have I said enough of a feel good response?
Why can't people just play nice when they do give conformation advice. Every horse will have some faults and some good points. I have seen alot on here over the years. Including some people that might have become decent horsepeople if not chased off of here by some know it alls. Who now for the most part don't even come here anymore. Oh, btw...sorry I got "off topic". Never seemed to bother some of those know it alls either.
Oh, but wait a minute, I like her color!
But seriously, she has a kind face. She looks like she might be a decent ride. would love to see how she moves. Got any video?
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RMT Paints
Home of Joys San Skip

[Kassie Finley]

She is 8 years old. And thanks I tried my best on the confirmation pictures . She is rideable, and a VERY VERY sweet mare. I kind of had a problem with her neck too, but I could not figure out what it was. Here pedigree is nothing great, she has Skipper W and Skippa Star farther back, and Jackie Bee farther back is Small Town Dude. I don't know if I will be keeping her or not. I have wormed her and took her to the vet to get all vaccinations and she has put on about 100lb. since we have had her. I love her gentle disposition. My husband rode her bare back and she did excellent, she has a very nice trot and it is smooth and slow, not choppy. I like that about her a lot. Anyhow she is a really sweet mare. Thanks for the replys . It will help me make my decision.

[JR]

[horsewoman1965]

Not at all JR. You were right on as usual
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RMT Paints
Home of Joys San Skip

[JR]

[Kassie Finley]

JR, You should post. I highly respect your opinions, and I know if I ask what you think, you are not going to tickle my ears . I want HONEST Opinions. I am still learning a lot, and I am reading your post often when looking at other horses to buy. some of the post you have made have even helpd me keep from buying some duds. I think I have decided to sell this little mare. She is really sweet and should make someone a great little riding horse. I am going to keep looking for that incredible brood mare that would make anyone proud to have her.

Thanks
Kassie

[horsewoman1965]

I said right on, not right. Good conformation is just that. or vice versa. You don't have to blow sunshine up someone's yahoo or blow them a new one all together, just point out the good and the bad and be done with it. and yes, contrary to all the "experts" there can be some good to even the worst of em.
I'm curious, is this mare registered? What was the intention of these broke people even breeding her. If she has got such a great temperment, they should've sent her to a decent trainer and made her into some kids 4H project. At least that way when they couldn't pay the bill, she would've been trained better and had a better chance of ending up in a better home. Now that she's bred (to what?), where is she gonna go? I hope and pray she gets lucky and finds a decent home.
and that's all I'm gonna say about that. for fear of saying more on this one.
I just don't have it in me to destroy anything about this mare. How about a few of the stud she's bred to?
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RMT Paints
Home of Joys San Skip

[Kassie Finley]

She is in foal to our Champagne stallion Scottish Five Bar. And I have already found a possibly good home for her. They are wanting a nice little mare for their 13 year for 4-H so that is what i figure she will be great at. She is so sweet. And yes she is registered she is Skipper W and Ima Cool Skip bred. And Jackie Bee breeding as well. They where wanting to have a foal to keep from her and raise for riding. I think they had the money at first but then had some bad misshaps while she was here at our place. The engin in their truck blew, and then his mother became very ill and they had to put her into Hospice. They where very nice people just hit a realy rough time. Anyhow now that I have her I will see to it she gets a good home and a good chance and being her best.

[Kassie Finley]

Oh and here is a couple pictures of our stallion. He is VERY light on his feet and can move fast. If he had gotten the chance when he was younger I would have LOVED to see him work cattle. I have watched him cut our dog, and man can this little guy move quick. He is 14 now. Has anyone ever heard of training an older stallion? Scotty was kept in a small boxed stall with maure up to his knees until he was 6 years old. Never even had a halter on until then. A lady rescued him and worked on getting him back in condition, then getting him halter trained. anyhow we have thought about possibly training him, but some have told us he is just to old to start now. I don't know what are your thoughts on training an older stallion?

[horsewoman1965]

Umm, was you wanting an opinion on him? Well, here's mine. Let's see if one of these experts agree.
Short thick neck, mutton withers, straight shoulder (kinda bad shot to judge, butt high (once again bad shot? prove me wrong). Calf kneed?(once again not the right shots). And for the record, fast and light on his feet? I would hope so. Doesn't mean he could do it with a rider on his back. I guess maybe he was kept a stud for his color? He doesn't look very tall either but nothing to really get a referance from. That would be a negative posting to me.
Now here are some positives, nice look to his face with an intelligent expression, from what i can see of his hip, it looks ok. Nice chest. And of course he is a gorgeous color. Why don't you clean him up and take him to a show? Is there someone near you who might actually be able to train him? I would say go for it, if he is well mannered. And if he is not well mannered, I wouldn't be breeding him or to him.
Are you a horse trader? You seem to go through alot of horses. I would've like to had that mini, she was so precious. Didn't even realize she was for sale.
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RMT Paints
Home of Joys San Skip

[Kassie Finley]

No not a horse trader. We bought the mini becaus we had an orphan colt this last year, and someone told us to get him a mini to keep him company, so he would not get so nasty. Well it did not work, the little mini was nasty to him so we had to separate them, and since we really liked her personality we decided to keep her for a while, but wanted her to have a companion so we purchased another little mini that was for sale. Anyhow, to make a long story short we just wound up not having a lot of time for the minis so we decided to make find them a new home.

We have sold a lot of our stock off because we wound up with to many (our own fault ) anyhow so we are back down to a more managable number now.

Scotties neck is pretty thick, I agree, but a lot of that has to do with the fact he has a HUGE thick crest on his neck. He was kept in tact, yes for one reason his color, but an entirly better reason he puts off the most gentle foals. They make great family horses. He has one colt, well gelding now, that is doing really well at barrels, and making just a great all around type horse. He has done roping, poles, barrels, and just a great trail horse. Another one of his foals has started showing a lot of potential in cutting so I am excited to hear what he does in the future.

Scotty is 14.3 but most of his foals wind up being 15 or more. I think Scotty was stunted because the original owner did not take very good care of him from what I have heard. Plus Scotties sire was pretty good size, and I am not sure about his mother. But several of his foals are over 15 hands, and Scotty even bred one Pony mare a long time ago and that resulted in a 14.1 hand foal.

I would love to show Scotty. There is not way I would ever cut his mane however. He has the most beautiful mane and I could never trim that for Halter shows. He does sometimes look a little but high, but really he is not, I think a lot of the pictures are taken on a slight hill. I thought the same thing so measured his hip and his whithers and they both came out to 14.3, on cement.

He is ridable, but I don't know if we should try to put some more traning into a special event or not. He shows a LOT of potential for a cutting horse. Some cows got out at the end of our street once, and they came down to our place, he was chasing them up and down his pen with his ears pinned and that was when I saw him move and turn on a dime.

May favorite thing about him is his muscled up chest, and hip. Oh and I love his little tiny head. We had to order an arabian size halter because all the average horse size halters where to big for him.

Anyhow I know some people don't like him, but we love him. He is so sweet and so smart. I love to raise horses that make great family horses that are gentle and good enough for anyone to ride, also that could do something more if someone wanted. And we have found that Scotty produces foals that make great all around type horses.

Thanks for all your responses .

[horsewoman1965]

Well, I'm glad to hear you are happy with him and he has a great attitude. Also very glad some of his babies show some potential. I am also very glad you are doing something with your horses getting them out there showing them, even if just at Halter.
I really do think he is a nice looking horse (and not just the color ). He may not be one of those high dollar horses everyone goes on about but if you are happy with him and his foals, that should be enough.
I'm glad to see through all of these postings, you didn't take anything wrong cause I wasn't meaning it that way. Just trying to prove a point. People don't have to be nasty to give a conformation crtique. I by know means claim to be an expert. I don't think such a thing exists. There are too many types of horses and too many people that have their favorite breeds. and yes, the basic conformation is the same but people would tend to mark horses that are close to their ideal higher than one that is a breed they don't particulary care for. For example, me. I prefer the stock breeds and would not judge, say a saddlebred as well.
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RMT Paints
Home of Joys San Skip

[Kassie Finley]

No offence taken at all. I feel if you don't want the truth than don't post lol. I am still learning a lot and I honestly don't think you could ever learn enough. I am doing my best to increase the quality of our horses when we purchase new ones in the future. The only way to do that is to learn what to look for and what to avoid. I have found this board one of the best and most honest places to do that so far.

We have found we like Scotty and his foals the best, we started with 3 stallions in plan to keep our favorite and the one we saw the most potential for in offspring. One of these days as we can afford better, we may purchase another stallion that is a higher quality. But that is down the road. And for now Scotty and his foals are making the cut.

I agree I don't think anyone can be an expert, there are so many opinions and different things everyone likes in a horse. Afterall you can go to a show that is double judged and one will place one horse first and the other judge will place the same horse in third. So who is the expert there? lol. Also we went to a show once and I saw a little filly that was perfect, she was incredible, but the judge placed her second to a filly with a HORRIBLE roman nose. I was like what is up with that. That filly did have a great hip, but with that head? I think a lot of people where shocked over that placing. I heard several compain about it. One lady told me the shows where very political. I don't know, I just think it is what everyone values differently, some think hips are more important than heads, and some think shoulders are more important than necks ect.

Anyhow I am wanting to show one of Scotties colts next year, he will be a yearling then and we will be gelding him in the spring. I was going to geld him this year, but he is just now 5 months old and it is starting to get cold, so I think I am going to wait until spring. I think it will be easier to exercise him in warmer weather.

I had another question, who blankets their horses in colder weather? and how cold does it have to get before you blanket them? I am noticing several people in our area are blanketing their horses. It has not even dropped below freezing yet, and our horses have pretty good winter coats on. Just curious why some do that? Wondering if I should blanket mine?