(almost) ready for breed shows?

[Jazzysmom]

about 2 months ago I asked for some opinions on my little yearling stud colt.

this was him

and then this was him today at a show, I believe he is a June baby.... yearling

now what I am wanting to work on is getting to have a more upright headset, I know he isn't going to get that saddlebred type headset like a lot of the very modern minis do, but I feel he could come out of his shoulders a little more... so what are your opinions?? tell me the truth, cold hard truth! it really won't hurt my feelings!!

I am new to minis, but not to fitting halter horses, I have fit multiple world and national champion appaloosas, and understand proper feed ect...ect... but always want to hear insight from the mini pros since that, I am not! lol

 

[Sandy B]

His coat color looks fantastic and his neck looks much better too. I would make sure he is freshly body clipped but especially his legs and head. It looks like he may have some hair around his hind leg fetlocks. The mini world tends to show with a bit longer bridle path too. Make sure you gel or oil his forelock to make it wispy and lay flatter and the mane maybe a bot more too (hard to tell) and maybe a a bit more heavy on the face oil. You are right I would get him to stand up a bit straighter and not lean so far forward as it makes him look heavier on the forehand. The other thing I see is that his halter is laying too long on his nose. It should be closer and just under his cheek bone. You will also want to pull the halter closer behind his ears if you can. At breed show I believe that people typically hoof black the feet too. He looks like a good minded guy and that you are doing a good job training him to stand and pay attention. I just think you need to fine tune a few things

 

[Jazzysmom]

His coat color looks fantastic and his neck looks much better too. I would make sure he is freshly body clipped but especially his legs and head. It looks like he may have some hair around his hind leg fetlocks. The mini world tends to show with a bit longer bridle path too. Make sure you gel or oil his forelock to make it wispy and lay flatter and the mane maybe a bot more too (hard to tell) and maybe a a bit more heavy on the face oil. You are right I would get him to stand up a bit straighter and not lean so far forward as it makes him look heavier on the forehand. The other thing I see is that his halter is laying too long on his nose. It should be closer and just under his cheek bone. You will also want to pull the halter closer behind his ears if you can. At breed show I believe that people typically hoof black the feet too. He looks like a good minded guy and that you are doing a good job training him to stand and pay attention. I just think you need to fine tune a few things

thanks Sandy! this is what I needed... how much would you shave off his bridle path? I knew it was probably to short, but figured it would be better to not shave enough then to much! whats a good trick to really slick down their manes and forelocks? I did the whole shave away a little bit of his mane to thin it out, but its still thick, do I need to drench it with ... baby oil, or maybe a gel that won't flake? Im not used to having issues with to thick of manes... I have Appaloosas ;-)

and yes, ugh, his stupid halter, I realize its to big and should be right up against his cheek bone,

also with standing them up, how do you want their hind legs? with stock horses you want them to align with the point of their hip, typically creating a "posty hock" look..... what is he goal with stretching them out like so many do?

 

[Kelsey - Vandy's Farm]

thanks Sandy! this is what I needed... how much would you shave off his bridle path? I knew it was probably to short, but figured it would be better to not shave enough then to much! whats a good trick to really slick down their manes and forelocks? I did the whole shave away a little bit of his mane to thin it out, but its still thick, do I need to drench it with ... baby oil, or maybe a gel that won't flake? Im not used to having issues with to thick of manes... I have Appaloosas ;-)

and yes, ugh, his stupid halter, I realize its to big and should be right up against his cheek bone,

also with standing them up, how do you want their hind legs? with stock horses you want them to align with the point of their hip, typically creating a "posty hock" look..... what is he goal with stretching them out like so many do?

We use gel. I pick up tons of it at the 99 cent store. I gel the top of the mane and smooth it down. Then I gel the whole forelock, twist is and tuck it under the halter on the same side as the mane. I also use a couple different shine sprays....can't remember the brand, I'd have to look. We put highlights or baby oil to shine up the muzzle and over the eyes. As for the hoofs, I personally like to see them natural. I sand them down using a sander. If they are white or striped, I paint them clear. If they are black, I paint them black. I agree with Sandy....The halter is a little low making his head look longer than it really is. But, over all I think he looks great!

 

[kaykay]

Clip some bridle path then stand back and look. Clip stand back and look. Just do whatever is most flattering for HIM. Every horse is different.

When showing in halter you will want those two front legs forward a bit more than they are in the pic and the back legs square. Set the back legs first then the front. In this pic hes out too far on the back legs and under himself on the front legs. This will also help the appearance of his neck etc

 

[Jazzysmom]

thanks Kelsey! I was thinking gel, but forgot to grab it, and I agree he's got really well stripped feet, and I think their adorable! hahahaha plus im used to the clear due to the Appies as well...

also, Kaykay, I am a hair confused, you want his hind legs square? as in, you can draw a straight line from his hocks, down to the ground, but his front stretched? will this set him up for the correct posture? as I am wondering since I was checking out some of your horses on your website, and their all stretched out quite a bit, a few even more so then he is? is it due to his body style or??

 

[StarRidgeAcres]

Kay has mostly ponies, your boy is a mini right? ponies are set up differently than minis. you want your boy to basically look like a square box when set up. Front and back legs parallel. If you bait him with an up, then out motion, he will eventually bring his neck up and only reach with his head. It will give him the more upright look you are going for.

Good luck and HAVE FUN!

 

[kaykay]

Yes dont pay attention to my pony pics as they are more stretched than a miniature. Im trying to find a good mini pic while I wait impatiently for the vet to call lol.

See how his front legs are slightly under himself??? Compare to your first pic where the front legs are in the correct spot. This is why when I am in the ring showing I try to go out from the side and take a quick look. It can look misleading when you are standing in front of your horse

You can see in the first pic his neck etc looks better because those front legs are not under him. Some minis look best a little stretched but I have a feeling your guy will look best square in the back and bring the front legs slightly forward. If you stretch his back legs too much his croup looks weak

 

[Sandy B]

Yes, as someone mentioned above, clip a little bridle-path and then stand back and keep doing it. If his mane is really think, shave underneath it to thin it down. Also you can use baby oil and water to comb through it to "wet " it and get it to lay flat and nice, same with the forelock. I also use a hair shine product for humans and just use a bigger amount and running it through right before you go in to show. I twist the forelock as well around my finger and pull to side under halter or if not long enough straight down or off to the side.

And yes what Pamela said is right- hind legs square under-neath them, like you would set your apps and then front legs slightly in front. When he baits and reaches up and to you he will lean slightly forward and level his topline.

 

[Kelsey - Vandy's Farm]

thanks Kelsey! I was thinking gel, but forgot to grab it, and I agree he's got really well stripped feet, and I think their adorable! hahahaha plus im used to the clear due to the Appies as well...

also, Kaykay, I am a hair confused, you want his hind legs square? as in, you can draw a straight line from his hocks, down to the ground, but his front stretched? will this set him up for the correct posture? as I am wondering since I was checking out some of your horses on your website, and their all stretched out quite a bit, a few even more so then he is? is it due to his body style or??

Yes, I love the striped hooves and don't like to cover them. I like natural but I know there are different opinions on it.

 

[mydaddysjag]

Normally I prefer black hoof polish, but I dont know if I would like it on him. He has 4 whites, and Im thinking the black hoof polish will make his legs look "chopped off". What I would do is paint them black, take a pic, and compare the pictures to decide what you like best. Every judge has their own opinions. If you are leaving them clear, be sure you sand them so they are spotless.

Some minis look better stretched, some look better more squared, it just depends on the horse. Mine is a bit in the middle, Ill try to find a picture to show you what I mean. Hes not conditioned in these pics, they are a few years old, and Im not good at posing halter horses, but youll see what I mean about him not looking right stretched.

Hes a bit under himself in front, but see what I mean. The best poses I get from him are setting him up square making sure his legs arent too far under him in front, then asking for his head/neck. They naturally lean out a little bit giving a nice stretch, but not that overstretched funky look

 

[Jazzysmom]

thanks guys! this is what I needed!!!

ok, now the question is, can someone show me an ideal horse, who is similar to my guy? I know he isn't as breedy and typey as the top horses.... I just want to make sure I get it right so I dont look like a dweeb next time!

 

[kaykay]

Here is Tease showing as a miniature B class. Sorry but the wind was crazy. Notice where her front legs are and the back is only slightly stretched

Oh also here is a good pic of a smaller mini set square

Fashionista

 

[Zipper]

He is looking great.

Great topic.

Learning lots and you will look awesome I am the one that looks like a dweek out there

but I love showing someday I will have it right or a horse that does.

 

[Minimor]

If I'm showing a Mini in a slightly stretched stance, this is about the position I prefer:

(Please keep in mind these aren't show photos, just fuzzy spring photos taken at home!)

This fellow has a nice long hip & is level anyway, so he looks good stretched or square...coming from Morgans I just like the parked out pose! Note that the front legs are perpendicular to the ground, while he has stretched forward over his front legs (which is the proper way in a stretched pose) he is not leaning too far forward so that the legs angle back under him.

For a square stance, this would be about right, except that his left front leg should be up even with the right one--this was a registry photo so I wanted all 4 legs showing.

Note that he's nicely balanced on both ends, not leaning back and not leaning forward over his front legs.

In both photos I'd like the nose to lower just a little bit--neither is bad as is, but they're both lipping at the bait & have their noses up just a little more than I like.