So this is how Bryan looked when we got him. There are several things to be noticed, eh?
The most outstanding conformational anomalies were, to me, his neck and shoulder. I see his sloping croup, his 'poverty line' (an old term for that line of muscle that leads from flank to belly; look at his flank and see the line that points up to the left toward Terri's knee. I think of it more as a 'tummy distress line' as I have seen it on horses that were not particularly weight compromised as well). I don't really care about his puffy ankles. But the upright front pasterns and the killer straight shoulder and totally weird tied in neck are freaky. The muscle bulge on the underside of neck and the dip behind his saddle pad are also big 'wrong' nesses. I also dont really mind the over at the knees thing; its way preferable to being behind at the knees, and its actually somewhat associated with a nice low hunter movement. Not that it is desirable, but in the grand scheme of things its not a big deal to me. Same day below; he carried his tail up and to the right most of the time, a sure sign of issues (unless you're an Arab!)Here's another one just a few weeks after we got him. He's a little fatter and smoother looking, but pretty scary; hind legs forward, front legs back. Hunters bump and pointy croup. Bulgy underside of neck, and neck ending way below the wither. Big muscle at the third vertebrae. All wrong.
I think you can see how his neck is changing over time...another couple of months later. His neck is getting longer and the bulge underneath is gone. The area behind his poll has lengthened and the muscles along the crest are starting to develop. His shoulder is still very straight but getting less so. There is a hint of more muscling in his loin and his croup is not quite so pointy. His front pasterns are not quite so straight nor does he stand with his hind legs so far under him. His flank and hip are also getting bigger.
From this:
to this:
You can see his neck is very different and it no longer ties in in front of his wither. He is getting a nice big shoulder and his hip is much bigger. He is filled in behind the saddle and though his croup is still sloping it still looks like a powerful rear end. He is a TB, after all so will not have a flat croup. His front pasterns are much less straight. I think what I love the best though is the expression on his face. He was 'there' by this time. Still over at the knees. In his size 3 shoes by now.
More tomorrow!
he certainly went from an ugly duckling to a swan!!!
ReplyDeleteHe did indeed! But isnt it sad that he had become so ugly, and through no fault of his own. He wasnt born ugly or neurotic. We put that on him. For every one that gets saved and fixed there are thousands that continue on their sad path if confusion and misunderstanding. I wish that we, as horse people across disciplines, could see what we do to them in the pursuit of money and fame. And dont get me wrong, you know I love horse shows. But man, we sure can wreck what we all say we love.
DeleteIndeed an amazing transformation. I love the look in his eye once he started to get himself back and felt loved and cared for and appreciated. Thank heavens for you Abby -- and I know the horses agree with me.
ReplyDeleteI love seeing the perfectly aligned hind leg in picture #5 -- you could practically drop a plumb line from the point of the hip right onto the hock and down the cannon.
I also love to see proof positive that hollows in front of the withers can be fixed, when the horse is trained properly. That's one "conformation defect" that I don't pay any attention to (although I've seen lots of good horses passed by because of it).
I've also observed that line in the belly, often on horses with ulcers, but I'd always heard of the "poverty line" being in the hindquarters. Maybe there's more than one! There should be.
He's pigeon breasted as well as classically over at the knee and looking at him, I have to wonder whether the knees were related to having to work his front legs so much underneath him, or whether he started off over at the knee. Do you know?
There's so much that can be fixed when horses are properly gymnasticized and cared for. You really did an amazing job with Bryan. He looks so happy and proud. It warms my heart.
Why thank you ma'am! He was a wonderful and wondrous project indeed. His knees did continue to straighten after we took his shoes off and his feet improved. But I think it was probably a response to his time at the track, the shoeing practices common there, and the way he had been shod before we got him. Add the endless jumping he went through as an A/O horse and the wonder becomes that he could recover at all!
ReplyDeleteI had actually only heard that 'poverty line' once, from Holly HV. I can imagine that it can have different meanings >;-> and perhaps its regional as well.
And you are right, the BEST part was seeing his silly funny playful nature come out. Look at that face! His expression is totally changed. Thanks Katie for your wonderful comments.