"Willow Oak Bonfire"

[amanda]

;D Went to meet the welsh today.

I am in LOVE. She is SO sweet and she has smooth even gaits.

So just a brief about her...her name is Willow, her registered name is Willow Oak Bonfire. She's welsh/qh and she's registered with the welsh pony society. She's 12 years old. She has done cross country and jumping but she prefers trails to the ring. She is 14hhs...AHH. She is just wonderful.

Critique the confo? She looks back at the knee a little to me but it may be how she is standing.













This is the lady's PMU rescue mares...they are in foal to the same stallion, which was a TB. Perch and Belg. They are timid but so sweet. I could see the foals turning!

[jess]

shes very cutte
are her toes cut a little long or is it just the way i'm looking at it?
don't know much on the confo side sorry!

x

[amanda]

She just needs a trim...her owner Liz said the farrier is supposed to be out soon.

[Brooke]

aww cute pony

[•.Sandra.•]

she's very cute! she needs alot of muscle though, it looks like she hasnt been ridden much..

[rikkiiiii !]

She need's A LOT of work to build a better topline!
She looks a little cow hocked to me its a little hard to tell though.
Her head looks to big for her body, and her necks short.
Her hocks are nice, but there really is something I don't like about her front legs, can't put my finger on it though?

I like umm what was her name? The other horse you were looking at A LOT better!

[Rebecca]

I see what rikki is seeing in the front end. She is quite "over" her knees (probably not the correct terminology..) Her shoulder isn't very sloping and like everyone else has said, she's very out of shape.
If you're not looking for a pony that will have a huge stride and not have the greatest conformation, then she would probably be alright.

[amanda]

I thought she looked more back at the knee to be honest...I can sort of see where you might get over the knee though. To me she has a typical welsh look to her, but my experience with welshes is limited to pictures and magazine articles.

She hasn't been riden in a year, hence she is really out of shape. I am looking for a trail horse and pet and nothing more, so I am not really interested in what is flashy and whatnot. Unless the conformational issue will affect her health in any way.

[jesssie]

I don't think either of these horse's conformation will hold you back for what you're going to be doing, so I would just attempt to ride and try as many horses as you can and find one that is sound (do a vet check) and rides the best. I may be a little concerned about the welsh's feet if they haven't had proper care over the years. When a horse is shod or trimmed with improper angles, it can lead to the developement of sidebones, which is really calcification of the lateral cartiledges. Which could be a problem, or could not, just depending on how big the sidebones were. That's far fetched, but its a possibility with horses that have had poor hoof care for a good bit of their lives.

Both horses look sweet. I loveee ponies.

[jesssie]

Actually, I just looked at Desiree again and she has a big body sitting on some tiny feet. I do think that it would be good for her to lose some weight, probably 75-100 lbs. So, her feet concern me as well, probably more than the Welshs. Navicular disease is a disease involving several structures of the hoof and horses built like Desiree are more prone to it, especially if they've been worked on hard surfaces. If you were interested in her, I would have a vet X-ray her feet to check for Navicular changes. Navicular can sometimes be well managed but can also be a devastating and crippling disease.

[amanda]

Willow has had proper hoof care, it just happens to be time for a trim the woman said. She has a good repuation with several horse-knowledged people I know, so I know she's being honest about it.

You're right about Desi's feet, although in person they looked pretty good sized for her body. I don't know, to me Desiree doesn't look much like the pictures. But I know she is out of shape. Don't know how I'd want to be feeding her if I bought her. Right now she is on beet pulp and maybe hay, and constant turn out. But there again, she isn't being ridden at all other than what I've done with her. So if her work increases and she stays constant on the feeding, then she ought to even out, and if she looks like she's losing too much I can always up the feed. I'm going back soon but not sure when because Connie didn't e-mail me back.

They both have their good points, but I have sort of seen more pros in Desiree. She is 8, and I am getting whatever horse I get medical insurance, and it's basically the younger the better, and Willow is 12. I know all her history because she has been with Connie since birth, on the other hand the other lady doesn't know all Willows history plus Willow has a history of laminitis, and Desiree has never had ANYTHING wrong with her.

It's a lot to think about...all I know is, I'm SO glad I'm taking my time this time around.