Yearling Conformation Critique

[Hot Tamali]

Just curious to hear your opinions on this colt's conformation. What are his strengths and weaknesses from a racing point of view? Sprinter or distance?
Thanks!

[ratherrapid]

horse looks in superior condition. first glance everything is perfect. nit picking, maybe slightly overly long pasterns, though that may change, and slightly over on right knee on second photo if true. appears to be a beaut. to me! whose he by?

[LB]

I agree with ratherrapid. That's a lovely yearling.

[Dave C]

He will almost certainly be a sprinter. For a yearling, he already has a long back and it will get even longer as he matures. Long backs are hallmarks of sprinters. His stifle is set high giving a high stride frequency in the hind end. His shoulder is 'closed' which forces him into a short high frequency stride in the front as well, making him reasonably well balanced front and back. (Very nice conformational photos by the way).

This colt is still a yearling and as he matures he may not grow evenly which can change how he performs. If he grows evenly he should be a sprinter but not particularly distance limited. If he grows unevenly, he may have trouble getting 6f.

This is not the type of conformation I like in race horses, but that is a personal preference not a criticism of the horse. As a saddle horse I would find this conformation desirable.

[Venusian]

I'm very far from being an expert on conformation, but he looks a potential speed horse to me.

He doesn't seem particularly long-backed but maybe it's just the way he's standing.

He's got a good set of limbs on him, he'll stand a bit of racing.

[pokeyman]

Really nice baby. Pasterns a tad long as mentioned but no big deal. His front legs are also set a bit underneath him instead of at the corners.

Oh, you most certainly cannot tell wether a baby will be a sprinter or stayer by looking at him. I must disagree with that idea as I, personally, think that's crap!!

Secretariat looked like a sprinter and Midnight Lute looked like a stayer!

We have had babies that you might guess at and you would be wrong.

In fact, everyone looks at our Deputed Testamony daughter and says, "Nice 2 turn horse". Only problem is that she is a crack sprinter!!

Also, everyone who looks at our Concerto baby says stayer but she is out of the mare above and nobody in that family has ever gone past 6 furlongs (no matter who they were bred too) so I doubt it! But, I keep stupidly trying to stretch the family out...

People thought our Runaway Groom was a stayer on "looks" but he turned out to be a sprinter.

So, I think that's nonsense. Almost as bad as D. Lukas saying he can pick out a grade 1 horse on looks!!
But, that's just my opinion and I can only go from personal experience.

[griff]

Secretariat was a sprinter, it's just he did not know when to stop sprinting.

griff

[LB]

Secretariat was a sprinter, it's just he did not know when to stop sprinting.

[Rachel Alexandra]

He will almost certainly be a sprinter. For a yearling, he already has a long back and it will get even longer as he matures. Long backs are hallmarks of sprinters. His stifle is set high giving a high stride frequency in the hind end. His shoulder is 'closed' which forces him into a short high frequency stride in the front as well, making him reasonably well balanced front and back. (Very nice conformational photos by the way).

This colt is still a yearling and as he matures he may not grow evenly which can change how he performs. If he grows evenly he should be a sprinter but not particularly distance limited. If he grows unevenly, he may have trouble getting 6f.

This is not the type of conformation I like in race horses, but that is a personal preference not a criticism of the horse. As a saddle horse I would find this conformation desirable.

Where are you seeing a long back on this yearling?? He is short backed. THAT makes him a sprinter. Long backed horses usually are not sprinters. I think you have your theory turned around.

[Firebrand]

He seems to have a more upright slope to his shoulder. He also bears a bit of a resemblance to Mr. Prospector.

[Dave C]

Where are you seeing a long back on this yearling?? He is short backed. THAT makes him a sprinter. Long backed horses usually are not sprinters. I think you have your theory turned around.

It is always difficult seeing the length of a yearlings back, and if someone wants to say that they think this yearling has a short back I will not argue with their opinion. As for sprinters being short backed, I've never seen a QH with a short back and I've never seen a good TB sprinter with a short back. On the other hand, I've seen many 12f horses with short backs.

[da hossman]

Why is it that no one has mentioned that he is sickle hocked? Camped out is a variation of the same conformation, just a matter of where his leg is positioned.

Having said that he is an attractive horse and almost all TB's have some degree of sickle hocks. Interesting that the photos are from the off side rather than the near side and taken at an upward angle...photos can never substitute for seeing a horse in the flesh. Could have a little more hip but certainly is not lacking...

I would want to see him walk before I suggested distance capability, and I have seen sprinters with short backs (Yes Its True, D'Wildcat, Distorted Humor) as well with long backs (Lord Carson, Fabulous Strike, Belong To Me). My interpretation of this photo would be that he is neither "short" nor "long" backed.

[Savana Star Dubois]

It takes alot of courage for an Owner to put his horse up for public review..I would probably cry and be depressed if I uploaded my filly's conformation shot..I was told at the training center that the 2 year old looks like a 3 year colt..when she runs I will keep an eye on the guy checking tatoo to see if he looks underneath I think her pasterns are too long but everyone ignores me on this point...they like her huge butt, nice shoulder and long stride