Conformation Faults you can "live with"

[Little Wolf Ranch]

We all know there is no perfect horse but what are some flaws you can "live with" and try through breeding to make better in your foals? What are some of your "cull" qualities?

Just want to keep this a friendly discussion please

 

[Performancemini]

We don't breed; but still: Cull wise, I would have to say I would definitely want to weed out bite problems, any dwarfism, and, if genetic, any hoof problems, such as club foot (but I don't know if that is genetic). Really any genetic problems that are detrimental to a horse's health.

Things I can live with: Kind of depends what I want to use the horse for; maybe like a shorter neck, longer or shorter back, not as "pretty" as head.

There's lots of pros and cons I think.

 

[Minimor]

Things I can live with--plain head, even a somewhat homely head, as long as it doesn't

come with thick nostrils.I can tolerate a slightly-shorter-than-ideal hip as long it is well angled and not "chopped off" with a low tail set, and as long as it does not come with a weak stifle. (talking not quite long enough hip, not a very short hip!). I don't mind longer ears as long as they are well set on.

Things I cannot put up with--short neck, thick throat latch, low set or upside down neck, straight shoulder, excessively long back, short hip, low tail set, straight and/or thin stifle, sickle hocks, meaty hocks, round bone, off bite, thick nostrils.

 

[disneyhorse]

A plain head. Beyond that, there are far too many horses being bred so no sense in perpetuating faults.

 

[FurstPlaceMiniatures]

I REFUSE to purchase a horse (for breeding and show) without perfect feet and legs, perfect topline, perfect bite, and a strong front end. The animal must also be well balanced, an overall well conformated horse, 100% sound, and a good mover. Can't be too long backed no matter what, a touch short is ok so long as its not over exaggerated. With the market, there is no excuse for a horse not to be exactly what you are looking for!

What could I live with? Honestly, not much. I'm not much for a bug eyed arab head, however, i don't like them plain either, but, I could deal if everything else was 100000% perfect in every sense. I'm a conformation snob to be completely honest. This is also why I have been searching for a mare for over a year now!

 

[rabbitsfizz]

I'll accept a plain head, but not an ugly one! (sorry I am a purist) I might use a mare with a shorter than normal neck so long as her shoulder was good, but not a stallion, so I have two sets of criteria, one for mares, who can only have one foal a year, and one for stallions, who can sire 50 foals a year and do a lot of damage to the gene pool!

 

[Marsha Cassada]

I do not breed, but two characteristics I would never own again are a low tail set, and small eyes on the sides of the head; I like the eyes to be able to see forward. Could I/would I live with them? Nope. Tried it and it didn't work.

 

[Tremor]

Cow hocks, long backs, weak hindends, short necks.

Needless to say, these are common traits in my herd.....

 

[BSharpRanch]

Cannot live with pig-eyes and post legs. Also will not live with a bad brain, (unless I am paid to).

 

[Tab]

The faults in my herd I am living with...big teeth that require more frequent dental visits. My senior mare who is now retired is high in the rear, but with a perfect front and perfect tracking. Niobe has a big head, but she's so darn pretty in other ways I overlook it. Imperfect movement. Velveteen coats that take way too long to shed. Have to say that Joe has a perfect coat when he sheds, but there are others who are almost perfect except for their coats. Front tracking that is good but not perfect. I have a couple scrawny butt horses. The faults I can't accept, and second, pig eyes, wonky rears, bald faces (it isn't a fault but they remind me of cattle), underbites, and if the head is going to be big it has to be pretty. They can and do have faults but they must be and are very cute!

Know that perfection doesn't exist. If they are perfect (or almost perfect) on the outside, chances are pretty good that something is wrong on the inside.