Showing advice/conformation critique

[Chelsea]

Hi everyone.

I entered an "any age coloured horse inhand class" last weekend with my yearling filly. We placed 3rd (out of 3!) behind two big, mature show cobs. Judge said she can't see any reason why my filly wouldn't do well when she has more condition on, similar to the ones that beat us. I guess its hard to compete against older horses with a youngster. It was her first day out too. I'm not sure I want to put more weight on her, and its not like I can exercise her to build up her topline etc. Would she be better off in a normal non coloured yearling class?
This is her at the show:




And some more:



Anyone out there very good at yearling conformation willing to give me some more detailed feedback on her? She looked a lot nicer as a foal, she has gone a bit cow hocked and awkward looking now! I like showing and I'm a bit worried I might be wasting my time

[comanchediva]

She's lovely but looks like she's having a growth spurt so looks a bit gangly. Some yearlings look amazing but with others you have to wait a year.

So two options, either put her away till next year when I bet she'll be a completely different horse, or keep going and just enjoy her and don't be bothered about the results. And yes, I would show her in classes against her own age group but still do the coloured classes as well if you like.

Good luck and enjoy x

[Philippa]

Totally agree with the above. We very very rarely showed youngsters in group classes and more often than not they would 'miss' a season or two because they just weren't quite right. They often go through gangly, ugly, up and down stages in their childhood so rather than waste your money and be seen as a regular line proper then put your pony away.

You've said yourself she's gone cow hocked so why be surprised she was bottom of the line??

Don't do it to yourself of her, she looks a really useful sort who will come in time. Regarding condition, I don't think I'd want to see her with much more on than what she's got, save those joints and legs.

[judyh]

Post a photo taken from behind with her standing square.
I wouldn't show a youngster much as the travelling and long days put a strain on their joints.
How many " top class" young stock are as successful under saddle- let her grow naturally and don't try to pile weight on.

[Chelsea]

Thanks so much everyone. I guess I'm very glad she had the experience and she was so well behaved and seemed to enjoy the day so she can mull it all over whilst out in the field. I got some pictures just now when checking her this morning for you judyh. I thought if anything she's a bit heavy considering she's just a yearling so the judges main critique came as quite a shock. She only gets fed a handful of speedi beet, a vit and min supplement and a handful of linseed in the run up to the show for her coat. It doesn't even cover the bottom of the bucket!






How does she look more bum high 10 days later?! Before Chrsitmas she was level she wasn't cow hocked at all. She was lovely! I hope she comes out the other end a decent little horse, I'm not expecting her to win all the time but wouldn't like her to look out of place for poor conformation.

[Philippa]

She's a typical baby. Put it down to experience. She was well behaved, throw her out for the winter and see how she comes back next year. If you've time to wait you will reap the rewards.

[judyh]

I wouldn't worry at the moment, it looks more like weakness to me. Give her chance to grow and get a good farrier to make sure those hind feet are correctly balanced to support her.
From the photos they look small in comparison to her bone, it's hard to tell from a photo but I would be feeding something like Alfa A to get some quality growth of foot.

[nici]

My lovely Welsh C boy looked like a goblin as a youngster - a real ugly duckling! They all go through it as they don't grow in perfect proportions. Make sure she's getting enough vits, mins & protein in correct proportions for her growth - a good quality feed balancer would provide this - and keep her in nice condition, not fat - limit the strain on her baby joints & bones. My boy's proportions were better as a 2yo, although he was still gangly. Now as a 5yo he's looking good. When he's mature in a couple of years time he will be fabulous! Patience is the name of the game with babies.

[Chelsea]

Just an update for those with ugly ducklings like mine! Her hocks now look like this:



Very happy as I think they have improved, what do people think? She has shot up again height wise too, she never stops growing. She was supposed to be a show cob!

[Philippa]

Lol, see!!!!!! Sometimes you just have to be patient. Wait til she's another 12 months on her. She will be a stonker I'm sure.

[sarahp]

I always reckon to assess them at a week old when they have uncurled, and then forget them until adult as they can grow in such weird stages. My old stallion looked like a gargoyle as a youngster but turned into a beautiful swan and sired lovely babies to boot.

[judyh]

I told you not to worry- much improved

[Chelsea]

Thanks everyone it is amazing how much they change. Anyone have any idea how much more bone they develop? She has just over 8 inches I'm wondering if she'll grow much more.

String test says she'll make 15.2hh - will be interesting to see if it works. It has said this since she was a week old!

[Chelsea]

Here she is two months later getting her winter coat. No longer looking like a baby!

[diadem]

Love her.

[Chelsea]

Only saw this now Diadem! Thank you very much. She is off on grass livery with a herd of pals, hopefully when she comes home this summer she looks a bit better. She was nice before she left!

[lucynlizzysmum]

Just allow her to take time and mature - when we got the first baby horse we had ever had, I used to look at her and think, christ what on earth did they ever see in her (family friend and daughter bought her), however, she has gone through ugly stages and lovely stages and has matured up into a really nice little cob with a leg at each corner and a cooks backside! As a consequence with our next baby I've not bothered about her half as much!

[gillwales]

Don't be tempted to put too much weight on her now, that was, IMO, a judge that just had to say something and not what he/ she should have been saying! Try strapping her on her neck and quarters to build up the shape; this is not a quick fix and needs to be done on a daily basis to make a difference, remember to build up slowly and keep a rhythm when you strap or it wont work. You cannot often expect a yearling to beat mature animals unless it is outstanding. Try not to do too many shows, maybe 6 throughout the season as you can easily bore a youngster then it will be dull under saddle. Depending on your area there are not many show cob youngstock classes and she is not really a hunter, so you would be hard pressed to find a class to suit her outside coloureds. I am no expert on them but they do cover a wide selection and you shoud do your homeowrk and see what type suits what Judge... bearing in mind that it depends on what turns up on the day.

It is far more important that showing a youngster makes up part of it's education rather than where it is placed, so did she behave? Load ,stand, trot when asked etc. Showing is at the end of the day, one person's opinion on that day at that time, nothing more

[sarahp]

I endorse llsmum here, I've found over the years that I assess a foal at a week or so old, and then if necessary try not to look at it until adult! The first colt foal I bought to be a stallion looked like a gargoyle for years but grew into a beauty and a great sire to boot. His dam was the most beautiful mare I've ever seen, so I had faith and waited. LInes do vary, although in the OP's case I don't know how much knowledge of her filly's ancestors she has to help.