Stallion walking videos on thoroughbredtimes.com

[CA Michael]

I find this site a very helpful tool in evaluating stallion conformation. I find myself shaking my head in disbelief at the high number of crooked high profile stallions/racehorses shown on it. Some farms won't even show the horse walking straight on, with Airdrie Stud at the top of the 'hide and seek' list. Others only show the horse's best race, which irritates me even more~

If there is any solace it's that excellent racehorses come in all shapes, sizes and degrees of correctness. Over the years I've come to expect the worst of all horses and allow myself to be pleasantly surprised if on personal inspection I find that some aren't!

[Rokeby Forever]

Take a look at Buddha - it looks like he's failing a sobriety test. LOL!

[sunday_silence]

I give Lane's End credit for full disclosure on their videos. Am I the only one who thinks Rock Hard Ten is kind of a disaster?

[CA Michael]

SS, I agree on both counts, and was also happy to see Mineshaft walking, not running in a race. It seems that many of the younger stallions' handlers opted out of the walking video in favor of their best race replay, but that only makes me conclude that they are trying to hide something.

Wasn't that impressed with the Hill'n Dale roster either. Stormy Atlantic is a diabolical walker, and the base narrow Candy Ride almost tripped over himself. Just shows that imperfect legged horses can still run--but as breeders we need to figure out how many of their defects we're willing to accept in our foals.

Can't help but think too that some yearling inspectors who so blithely critique young horses ought to take a look at their forebears before passing their harsh judgment.

[skeenan]

I give Lane's End credit for full disclosure on their videos. Am I the only one who thinks Rock Hard Ten is kind of a disaster?

He looks to me like he's almost tracking in a single line, like he's base-narrow. He must've interfered a lot... his feet look all on top of each other! I didn't like the side view, as he looks stiff in his hind end or just doesn't have a natural long stride. And I'm a fan of his, too... just my opinion/observations...

I did a quick pick & haven't seen a close-to-perfect walk from the front/back—many examples crossing over in the front, dishing in the rear. I did like Mongoose's & Western Pride's side shots, as I felt they have a nice reaching hind end. Eavesdropper's walk in the front is one of the most odd ones I watched... almost like he's bowlegged, although he seemed to track fairly straight...

I'm going off of a riding perspective... what things do you guys look for in a stallion's walk...?

[Playwithfire]

As a novice w/ confirmation, what should a "perfect" walk look like, and what should i look for in a walk (looking head on) that should dissuade me from a purchase?

Thanks.

[CA Michael]

Playwithfire,

In general you're looking for an active, athletic walker who tracks straight with a long, fluid stride (preferably an overstride), whose limbs show little deviation. Although most people pay more attention when the horse is walking towards them, it's just as important to watch the horse walk away. Like Wayne Lukas once said, I like to see a horse's hind end shift like a fat washer woman's~! A horse should put his feet down confidently and firmly.

Although many conformation issues are reflected in a horse's action, many are not. A posed horse may appear near perfect, but upon takeoff his real defects become readily apparent.

I've been looking at horses for over 40 years and still haven't seen the perfect one. And with every horse I see, I notice a small nuance that is unique to that animal. There are literally dozens of traits that a person develops an eye for as his experiences grow.

A personal knowledge of sire and dam's conformation and action is very helpful in evaluating the animal before you. Defects are defects, but if either parent was a successful racehorse and shared the same faults, I might be a bit more forgiving. Of course, the same holds true for positive attributes. The great trainer Vincent O'Brien once said that he would never buy a yearling colt by Northern Dancer unless it possessed a large, strong jaw. He believed that trait was shared by all good sons of ND.

There are many undesirable characteristics of a bad walker. As has been discussed here, many of the best racehorses/stallions have them! So to disqualify the animal you're looking at strictly on a black and white principle may be counter-productive, even though probability would be on your side if you did. Having said that, I haven't seen many good racehorses whose walks are short and choppy, disinterested, tentative,
stiff, or effeminate.

I believe several good videos on conformation evaluation are available if you want to pursue your interest. Good luck.

[pokeyman]

As a novice w/ confirmation, what should a "perfect" walk look like, and what should i look for in a walk (looking head on) that should dissuade me from a purchase?

Thanks.

Nothing! Don't not buy a horse because of his walk!! Uh, I think I would take Rock Hard Ten's race record anyday! This is not a beauty contest!!!

Besides, a lot of horses that walk goofy gallop straight even though the walk is the most able to be correlated to the gallop (both 4 beat gaits).

I have seen horses who wing, paddle, and even plait still kick butt on the track. Same goes for conformation faults.

If you were breeding show horses than the walk would matter. In that case, look for straight movement (no winging-deviating in, paddling-deviating out, or plaiting-deviating in and crosses flight path of opposite leg). You would not want to see a horse interfere (hit front leg with hind leg) or forge (hit front bottom of hoof with hind hoof).

You want to see good articulation of joints. From the side, a long stride with great reach and track up (horse's hind feet step way ahead of hoofprint of front feet). Full extension of shoulder etc.....

However, the walk should never be the "be all, end all" of buying a race prospect.

P.S. -This is coming from someone who breeds show horses AND racehorses!

[sunday_silence]

There are plenty of stallions with race records as good as or better than Rock Hard Ten's. I was a big fan of his, but I would definitely rather wait and see if he's successful (or at least 'til I see some babies of his) before deciding if he's worth $50 grand. This is primarily because of his legs. I like the way he is put together otherwise. I cannot believe they have that conformation photo circulating with his legs so puffy and his ankles appearing to be filled.

[pokeyman]

There are plenty of stallions with race records as good as or better than Rock Hard Ten's. I was a big fan of his, but I would definitely rather wait and see if he's successful (or at least 'til I see some babies of his) before deciding if he's worth $50 grand. This is primarily because of his legs. I like the way he is put together otherwise. I cannot believe they have that conformation photo circulating with his legs so puffy and his ankles appearing to be filled.

Yeah, I agree. However, the question was whether or not to eliminate a race prospect based on his walk. Lots of very good racehorses have bad walks.

[CA Michael]

Rock Hard Ten is a very good example of a horse with otherwise nice conformation (although his back is too long for my taste), but whose faulty legs caused an early retirement. Many of the defects we've talked about don't necessarily mean disaster in terms of talent, but certainly portend an abbreviated racing career. A horse that is back at the knee (like John Henry) can have all the grit and determination in the world, but unless patiently managed will usually become unsound long before it's time.

Personally, I think a horse with excellent BONE is one's best bet against unsoundness, as well as one with four good hooves. I didn't see a lot of the former in many of the videos on line. Shocking, really, at how light boned a lot of these horses are. Take a good look at IN EXCESS. Great body on top of toothpicks. Is it any wonder that his horses are known for unsoundness, magnified by California's hard dirt tracks?

[amanda1]

If you want a good idea of what NOT to look for in a nice walk, take a look at Victory Gallop.......one of the worst I've seen!

[pokeyman]

Rock Hard Ten is a very good example of a horse with otherwise nice conformation (although his back is too long for my taste), but whose faulty legs caused an early retirement. Many of the defects we've talked about don't necessarily mean disaster in terms of talent, but certainly portend an abbreviated racing career. A horse that is back at the knee (like John Henry) can have all the grit and determination in the world, but unless patiently managed will usually become unsound long before it's time.

Personally, I think a horse with excellent BONE is one's best bet against unsoundness, as well as one with four good hooves. I didn't see a lot of the former in many of the videos on line. Shocking, really, at how light boned a lot of these horses are. Take a good look at IN EXCESS. Great body on top of toothpicks. Is it any wonder that his horses are known for unsoundness, magnified by California's hard dirt tracks?

I agree. Check out the feet on Skip Away as compared to Candy Ride! Skip Away has some of the best feet I have ever seen in a TB (in terms of size and lack of shelliness)...

[pokeyman]

I have seen a lot of million dollar yearlings with great conformation crap the bed while racing. This isn't a beauty pageant!

Likewise, I think you just have to decide what you can and cannot live with.

Heart and raw talent make up for a lot of conformation faults in looks and movement.

I have personally seen a horse with double calf knees have over 60 starts..

Sometimes, you just never know. A lot of those greatly conformed horses have weak bone or tendons or bad feet (um..can you say Mr. Prospector/Unbidled Song/etc)....Or biomechanical issues.

Anyway, try to find the best pedigreed horse you can afford with decent (not perfect) conformation and movement and hope for the best!!

With that said, I tend to, personally, look for soundness above all else. If you see a horse that is crooked but 5 of its siblings each had over 50 starts and raced for 5 + years than the bloodline has probably compensated for it.

As an example, one of my mares has wicked long pasterns and a straight shoulder but was a multiple allowance winner, had 43 starts, raced for 3 years and retired sound. No horse is perfect. Her 4 siblings each earned six figures, raced for multiple years, and maintained good form.

However, I breed to race so RUNNERS in a pedigree are more important than anything. Unraced mare with first foal...I don't think so! Or a mare that produced a graded stakes winner but had 8 other kids that were bottom of the barrel claimers. No thanks....Look for consistency in soundness and form.

Just my two cents!!!

[Playwithfire]

Thanks everybody for all of the posts, very informative.