Feeding

[disneyhorse]

I think his conformation makes him look less "fit" than he actually is.

 

[ManyMinisFarm]

Does he have bad conformation? This is a bad picture to, and he has a fully winter coat.

 

[disneyhorse]

I will give a conformation critique if you want it. He does have some issues which can't be hidden by fur.

 

[Casey0Lee]

I agree about trying to visually tell a mini's weight in a photo with a full coat of winter hair. You HAVE to put your hands on the animal to be able to judge accurately.

His feet def need a balanced trim. Heels are very high. The way he's trimmed now, he actually looks clubby.

 

[ManyMinisFarm]

Yes I would actually like to here what you guys think about his conformation.

 

[disneyhorse]

Some horses, like some people, are conformationally built in favor of them looking "fit." Some women will never have "curves" while other women with "curves" will never be slender-looking.

This is something you must factor in before getting frustrated with a feed or exercise plan for a horse you'd like to show halter.

The little sorrel (gelding?) you posted a photo of is not built in an overall balanced frame. Proportionally, his hind end is extremely weak to a fault (hip all the way through the stifle). This means no matter how much muscle building you do, he just is built so weak behind that visually you will have the illusion his gut is "big." This is fairly common in minis.

Genetics and the size of his skeleton will always work against you in this specific case.

That said, he looks healthy and well cared for otherwise! Small changes in feed or exercise could help, but you can't change genetics.

 

[ManyMinisFarm]

In the summer once he has been conditioned fully he looks amazing, I had 3 judges tell me he looked amazing. In this picture his hind end does look weak, because he doesn't have much muscle on it . Do you think he will do good in Halter class, he is also a performance horse. Once he's shaved and conditioned he looks totally different, this spring I will post a picture of him once he's shaved and

conditioned.

 

[ManyMinisFarm]

Here is a picture of Trilogy during the summer, right before a show.

Sorry this picture is a little bad.

 

[Little Wolf Ranch]

The pic isn't showing for me

 

[Minimor]

He is very cute. I have to agree with Andrea. Since you asked--no, I wouldn't expect him to do well in halter if there were anything much for competition--but no reason he can't do well in other divisions--showmanship (assuming you get him well mannered in public) jumping or obstacle.

 

[ManyMinisFarm]

Thanks I plan on doing showmanship, model, show jumping, halter, and halter obstacle

 

[fourluckyhorseshoes]

Your horse will be fine for showmanship, jumping and obstacle, but will be judged on confirmation in model and halter.

 

[rabbitsfizz]

Agreed, not a halter horse I am afraid. Even in summer condition he is still long in the back and weak in the loin/hip- see the way he stands out with his hocks camped out behind? I know you did not ask this but I would geld him, that would solve all your problems in one go!

 

[Casey0Lee]

Agreed, not a halter horse I am afraid. Even in summer condition he is still long in the back and weak in the loin/hip- see the way he stands out with his hocks camped out behind? I know you did not ask this but I would geld him, that would solve all your problems in one go!

I agree 100%. There's no reason for him to be a stallion. Gelding him alone would probably solve most of your issues withing 6 months, maybe even sooner since he's young.

Stallions should be exceptional animals in temperment, conformation and bloodline. They should also have a "wow" factor that makes you take a double check.

 

[ManyMinisFarm]

In the summer picture he is moving. He was in halter class when he was one and we placed 2nd. These pictures I'm posting aren't good ones. His bloodlines have Boones Little Buckeroo and Sids Rebel. If you could see him in person you would think different you really would. I don't plan on gelding him.

 

[Casey0Lee]

I highly doubt they would change their minds.

I really don't know why people want to keep mediocre stallions. Especially one that behaves badly.

You don't breed on bloodlines alone. You must take all 3 into consideration (confo, pedigree and temperment).

Where are you showing? I could probably enter some local shows and do OK with my colt, even though he isn't a halter horse. But, if I took him to a big breed show, there's no way he's placing. Is he cute? Yeah. Does he have a temperment to die for? Yes. Is he bred well? Yes. Am I gelding him? Absolutley. I have enough common sense to know he is not stallion worthy and I have no problem admiting that to this forum and to myself.

Who wants to deal with a stallion anyways? Not I!

P.S. Please get someone to trim him correctly. His feet worry me.

Stepping off my soap box now.

 

[ManyMinisFarm]

Its not that big of a show... and his feet have been trimmed since then. And Trilogy is doing good now. I think he might have been acting up because it was his first time around horses for awhile.

 

[fourluckyhorseshoes]

Take him to a rated show with at least 10 other horses in the class and see how he does. That will be a better indication of quality. There is not always a lot of real competition at small shows. Also talk to people whose breeding program you respect and ask if they would be willing to breed their mares to your horse or a horse of his quality. I guess there will always be people out there looking to breed there mare to an average stallion. And just because a horse has "famous" horses in there bloodlines, it is no indication of that horse's confirmation or performance.

 

[ManyMinisFarm]

He was in a rated show with 13 horses and he placed 2nd.

 

[disneyhorse]

Did he place in the Junior or grand classes?