[Jenje!]

Okay, I've read through this, and I'm hooked.

Would you take a look at my little mare, please? The last thread I concocted about her took me about an hour to finish, and there are a lot of pictures, so I'll link you rather than clog up this thread. She's an eight-year-old Arabian, currently in foal and due April 24th!

My broodmare -- image intensive! Critiques welcome!

What do you think of her from a "haltery" standpoint? (She was shown in halter as a babe, before I got her at age 3.) After the foal is weaned, she'll be coming home to be ridden more often (well, hopefully), and eventually, I'd like to show her; what discipline can you picture her going well in based on her "look" and conformation? I would like to try some english-oriented things with her, dressage or maybe hunter, but will have to get some lessons first as I'm more of a western girl by raising! She's actually quite cowy when worked regularly, which I found strange.

[Heavenly Jumper]

I was wondering if (in english rings) the judges care about a roached mane? Do they even notice, if they do...does it detract from your score or placing?

[ridegrrl]

Originally Posted by HeavenlyJumper

I was wondering if (in english rings) the judges care about a roached mane? Do they even notice, if they do...does it detract from your score or placing?

Do we care? Well we don't mind, if that's what you mean.

Do we notice? Oh yes... we notice everything (mwahahaha!)...

Really, as long as you're not showing in breed competition that calls for another style, a neatly roached mane is fine. Just keep it straight and smooth and short... the punk rocker, mohawk look is cute but not too professional!

[ridegrrl]

Originally Posted by Jenje!

Okay, I've read through this, and I'm hooked.

Would you take a look at my little mare, please? The last thread I concocted about her took me about an hour to finish, and there are a lot of pictures, so I'll link you rather than clog up this thread. She's an eight-year-old Arabian, currently in foal and due April 24th!

My broodmare -- image intensive! Critiques welcome!

What do you think of her from a "haltery" standpoint? (She was shown in halter as a babe, before I got her at age 3.) After the foal is weaned, she'll be coming home to be ridden more often (well, hopefully), and eventually, I'd like to show her; what discipline can you picture her going well in based on her "look" and conformation? I would like to try some english-oriented things with her, dressage or maybe hunter, but will have to get some lessons first as I'm more of a western girl by raising! She's actually quite cowy when worked regularly, which I found strange.

She's a doll. How are her feet coming? Along with her fit and condition, her feet will need to be back up to par before showing her at halter. She could play, she has a great hip and a cute look about her. She is definitely true to her bloodline!

Okay, for the critique you wanted. The pics aren't close enough to really show her facial profile, but moving backwards from there, she's got a nicely set neck, and laid back shoulder. Smooth and evident withers, short strong back, and my favourite feature, a long powerful hip with a nice topline. I'm looking at her build from a "potential" point of view, because a major feeding/conditioning program will change her musculature a lot. Can't really analyse her legs or feet from these shots, but she does have eye appeal with the colour and markings. She really does look like a Varian bred horse doesn't she? The cowiness comes in there too.... some of today's best working western Arabians (in cutting, working cow and reining) are descended from or related to the Desperado V line.

I'd be interested to see the baby... I've got a mare with one of the Brusally horses in her pedigree (Brusally Gwiaztyn)... they're notoriously athletic! Her movement might change a lot as her feet improve, after the baby's born, with more conditioning, and with training. I'm sure she could do hunter, but from the photos....... honestly, her look screams "Arabian Western Pleasure" to me.

[CrunchieTown]

I sent you a PM could you please critique my beautiful boy?? I'm not much of a showie AT ALL, and In my PM i read it and I sound like a bit of a snob, I am just lucky to have the tack and equipment I do. And i either recieved it as gifts from close family and friends or i payed for it myself, so you know...I dont just get everything I want when I want it Just making sure that was noted hehe :P If you could critique us that would be awesome thanks

[Jenje!]

Thanks!

I agree with yah about the feet... I hate to look at them, they're so bad. I haven't gotten the farrier out yet (I'm not working again until Friday the 3rd, and so am a little nervous about spending money with that factor -- but gah... will do it anyway, super soon). I showed the guy a picture of her (feet included and his first word was, "Holy..." followed by "NO." So I'm dying to give him a try!

I probably wouldn't show her in halter... but yes, she's TOTALLY out of shape! She's been a pasture pony for coming up on a couple of years. She is very Varian-like, I think so too! The cow in her surprised me a bit because her daddy does CEP and Park, and her mom's a Park horse as well... I don't think she'd ever seen a cow before she came home with me, but man, she was all over that! Very cool.

I asked the halter question with the baby in mind more than momma. I find her gorgeous and apt, but I've never shown, and she's not halter-fit by any means... sooo was thinking it could've easily been a bit of barn-blindness. The babe, if I keep it, I'd LOVE to show halter. If you have time, I may fire a few questions at you on that front via PM or e-mail...?

Orzaborr was a western pleasure champion way back when, as well as a race horse. Now he's... a big lazy brat. *giggles* But I LOVE him, and he's super-fun to ride! I'll definitely be spewing photos all over this forum when his or her highness arrives!

I'm not much into western pleasure... more of a working cow, cutting, reining kind of girl, but have been wanting to get into the english side of things. Page is, above all else, my trail horse (actually Orzaborr is too... he'd never really done the trail "thing" before I started riding him, but he's amused by it and plows over and through anything and everything you point him at with some degree of finesse) and anything else fits under "guinea pig" category based on my whims.

Thank you so much for your comments! I do have some pictures of her trotting that I'll send along to you if you'd like to see them.

[Bailey-Boots]

Originally Posted by ridegrrl

3. Common errors in trail...

You forgot to add that its not a good idea to lope over the bridge as I have done on one occasion when the wonderful little trail horse turned into an evil beasty all of a sudden! .. also hooking the bit on the trail gate and trying to leave the arena with it is not in the best practice LOL!!

Thanks so much for your help on here - Its going to be great picking your brains !! you have given so much wonderful advice !!!!

I only have one bit of advice for trail .. even if it goes wrong, just smile I do a lot of the ring assistance in the Trail (replacing poles etc) for many an hour at a show and you see people get really angry with their horses when they make a mistake .. I say 'just smile .. there is always next time'

[irideazip]

Originally Posted by Bailey-Boots

You forgot to add that its not a good idea to lope over the bridge as I have done on one occasion when the wonderful little trail horse turned into an evil beasty all of a sudden! .. also hooking the bit on the trail gate and trying to leave the arena with it is not in the best practice LOL!!

Thanks so much for your help on here - Its going to be great picking your brains !! you have given so much wonderful advice !!!!

I only have one bit of advice for trail .. even if it goes wrong, just smile I do a lot of the ring assistance in the Trail (replacing poles etc) for many an hour at a show and you see people get really angry with their horses when they make a mistake .. I say 'just smile .. there is always next time'

you forgot to mention eating the fake plants edging the obsticles

[ridegrrl]

Bwahahaha! Bailey Boots and Zip... why do I get the feeling that you ladies speak from experience....?

LOL... not that my first horse ever grabbed any shrubbery.... or tried to haul it through the gate with her.... oh no. Never.

[horse4eva]

In an english..hunter under saddle class... Should the horse be at a good faster movement...with a longer stride?
Also for any english class....which classes is the rider supposed to sit to the canter and which classes should the rider half-seat in the canter?