A good horse is never a bad color, but a bad horse can be a good color – Part I, Sabino Thoroughbreds
Jul 26 2007
I like exotic colored horses as much as the next person. Truly I do. But like any horse, they must also have correct conformation, athletic ability and a good disposition. Let’s look at Trendy Color #1 today. These are two sabino Thoroughbreds…but what a difference.
This is a 2004 stallion (we will hope and assume this is not a 2007 picture) that is a red roan sabino Thoroughbred. A friend of mine likes to say that a true stallion prospect screams at you that he’s a stallion when you look at him. All I get from this colt is the high-pitched nicker of the wimpy gelding who gets his ass kicked by the mares in the pasture. You know the one I mean!
Here we have a scrawny upside-down neck (he’s scrawny in general, again, I hope this is a yearling picture), hocks that are camped waaaay out there, possibly in a different zip code, and what exactly is going on below the hock on this side? This isn’t an awful colt. I like his shoulder and that he’s compact. But when I look at him, the only thing he is screaming is GELD ME! at the top of his lungs.
Ah, here we go. Here is colored AND drop-dead gorgeous for you. This is also a 2004, a buckskin sabino Thoroughbred filly. I love this filly. What is not to love? Beautifully balanced, exemplary shoulder, gorgeous neck, defined throatlatch, compact build, pretty head, cute ears, good legs with good pasterns. The feet are somewhat obscured by being in sandy footing – they do look smallish but I suspect they look fine on solid ground.
I can see this filly excelling at a variety of disciplines. If she can do that and be a cool color, I am all for the cool color! It is just the icing on the cake with this filly, who is absolutely broodmare quality when her show career is finished.
I’ll do more of these. I have some great examples coming up of palominos, paints, grullas, and more! Again, thanks for all the e-mail, yes, I’m behind reading it. Lots to do in the real world lately!
71 comments to “A good horse is never a bad color, but a bad horse can be a good color – Part I, Sabino Thoroughbreds”
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not so fancy color, but what do you think of this one? http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=1528995&cat=106&lpid=13
(BTW this site has lots of fodder for you ;~)
oh, here, grulla? georgeous? hmmmmm http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=1528593&cat=106&lpid=13
ok, I’m done after this, but I can see how you can get addicted, and there is so much of this out there, does this one seem to be screaming ouch, ouch, my feet hurt?
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=1527776&cat=106&lpid=14
that first thing should be shot
love the dapples on the mare, though
That buckskin filly is truly lovely. I am crazy about both her sire and her dam… I own a half-sister of hers so maybe I’m biased though.
I disagree with the comment that “that first thing should be shot”. How is that constructive?? Geld him, train him, and sell him as a low-level jumper or eventer maybe… but I certainly don’t agree with killing horses just because they aren’t perfect and I don’t think the blogger is either.
oof, wngsofeagls… that third horse actually makes me ask “what feet?” in response to your comment…
woop! Guaranteed Gold baby. (the filly)
he’s been throwing some nice color and quality around, plus he’s an eventer!
This is totally off topic but needs immediate attention:
animal control seizes healthy horses
very long message board thread about case
Thanks for the daily dose of Fugly!
EXCELLENT examples! The black and white Overo Thoroughbred named Racey Remarque would have been another good example of a poorly-conformed colored horse remaining intact because of color. Even as a double-registered TB/APHA, he’s totally lacking in quality and class to be a breeding stallion. Stallions need to have CLASS if they’re to be used for breeding.
in response to ridessobright, I personally believe that there are enough quality horses in the world that we really don’t need ugly ones. Some people say, “But his personality!…” I can think of 10478587598752 horses off the top of my head who are quality AND have a nice personality.
Like the blogger, I don’t LIKE that horses are sent to slaughter because of some ignorant breeder, just like I don’t like puppies at the pound. But there are enough nice animals that I don’t have use for the bad ones.
My opinion is that #1 should be gelded and trained to be a nice riding horse for someone. You don’t have to shoot horses to take them out of the gene pool. The more selective we are about breeidng, the less slaughter becomes an issue – whether or not it is legal.
That gorgeous filly is what little girls’ dreams are made of. OMG she is picture perfect. Hopefully she’s got a great mind and temperament to go with that body.
Now, for that colt…. hmm. I sure hope that’s a “baby picture.” I’m not very good at judging how babies will mature, so I’d love to see a “before” and “after” shot – something that shows him as a 3 y.o.? If (e-gads!) that’s a current photo, quick get out your scalpel!
Racey Remarque, really? He may not be everyone’s cup of tea but he is leaps and bounds better than the first example horse in today’s blog. I have seen foals by one of his sons and one in particular is absolute perfection (not frame though).
ok, I’m done after this, but I can see how you can get addicted, and there is so much of this out there, does this one seem to be screaming ouch, ouch, my feet hurt?
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=1527776&cat=106&lpid=14
Holy crap! That horse doesn’t need Bute – he needs a decent farrier who wont hack his poor little feet to bits.
huh, just looked at that Remarque guy and he doesn’t look too bad. Could be better.. but of course none are perfect! (and personal preference plays a BIGGG part in everything!)
Like, say, Lesley wanting to shoot the first horse… hahahaha. Just messing with you.
ridesobright – That may be, but Racey Remarque is not a picture of perfection, in my opinion. If you took away that black and white coat, he wouldn’t even be as nice as most solid-colored Thoroughbreds I’ve seen. He lacks class, substance, and the elegance that I require in a stallion.
wngsogeagls12 -
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=1527776&cat=106&lpid=14
that poor pally, Sambo. Yes, he is saying oooowwweee!
You have to stop and wonder if he could be helped by a decent farrier. His toes are chopped to nothing, but can a farrier help those upright pasterns? I think not. Maybe his hooves are worn to a nub because he has to stomp away the flies. Look at that tail! Why’d they lop it off like that?
Poor dear, and he looks like a sweet guy.
Ok, now I am on a roll with these colorful TB’s – check this mare out
http://www.angelfire.com/on3/TrueColoursFarm/Frame_Overos.html
scroll down to “Quit Staring” -
I am trying not to be blinded by the brillance of this mare’s coloring. I am trying to look beyond the spots here – she appears to me to be of remarkable conformation, except maybe they might have been a bit generous on the ears. Other than that… how am I doing? Have I learned anything here? Critique my critique!
xpbuttercup, I have to say I am skeptical of the owners’ defense of themselves. This is a quote from the owner: “I provided care to those horses. I feel bad the old mares lost weight. I feel bad the Grulla mare got ill and lost a lot of weight. I feel bad that the horse cut itself. However, it wasn’t a FAULT issue. **** happens on a farm with this many animals.”
What happens in MANY cases when you have 69 animals is that vet care falls by the way side. Extras like supplements and tooth floating fall by the wayside. And it is likely that an old skinny mare will be just assumed to be an old skinny mare. Did they run a blood panel to see why? And a filly had WIRE embedded in her leg? That does NOT happen when you are paying attention. If you have too many horses to inspect for injuries every day, you have too many horses. Period.
Yes, most horses were fat and it is far from being an extreme case of abuse, but I think AC was well within their rights to take some action, given the admissions made by even the supporters on that thread. It seems to me that AC overreacted BUT the care wasn’t okay and the facility WAS a pig sty.
Whenever someone starts screaming “owner’s rights!” I am immediately suspicious. Those of us who take proper care of our animals don’t run around worrying about a possible seizure. It’s those who provide borderline care who fear these actions.
The first horse IS the definition of this blog!
Um, I wouldn’t jump anything with hocks like that… He looks like he as Bog Spavins. That neck is something to be desired. Again, it has color! Let’s BREED IT! Ugh!
On a different note, that filly is nice!!!!
hey! i’m going to cali this weekend and won’t be back until september…here is the website i was talking about where i made extra summer cash. Later! the website is here
Hey, that’s Faux Finish!!!! I know that filly’s owner!
that first horse you posted has the war emblem neck!
http://www.barntowire.com/War_Emblem_at_Shadai.jpg
That colt (I hope that picture is of a COLT) needs to be gelded a couple of years ago.
That filly is stunning. Me want.
Kyani, you know who the filly is, don’t you? Her owner sometimes posts on the forum we both frequent…
Yup, I do! All the better to steal her…MWHAHAHA!
FHD ~ I understand your skepticism ~ I have tried to withhold judgement on the case but the media has been completely out of control, ie. “no food or water for six months” was reported in the news, no creature could survive that, it was completely false, yet reported as fact. If they are found guilty of animal abuse in a fair trial, so be it. However, due process wasn’t followed, there was no warning, just an overzealous AC that confiscated dozens of valuable, healthy animals (including a stallion not even on the premises) and property such as the manager’s truck and computer after ‘allowing’ him onto the property (trapped him basically) … regardless of the defendant’s guilt or innocence, the AC was completely out of control here.
I love this site! I read it everyday! I ‘ve learned so much, and will look at my next horse objectively instead of emotioanly.
I paid 3 grand for my mare, and my friend paid 6 times that for a horse is isnt nearly as pretty but in my opinion built better.
Ce La Vie, I love her anyway.
I think you need to do the grullo color good & bad next, since everyone who gets a grullo colored horse feels that it needs to re-produce!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I found myself perusing the sale ads on ksl, a site posted by one of the other bloggers and I have to say, I think this particular ad is the most confusing I’ve ever read. Is the horse a male or female? Can you tell from the description? http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=1541008&cat=106&lpid=
Wow, the first horse certainly does need to be a gelding..I don’t think he’s the ugliest horse we’ve seen on the blog, but he’s not stallion material. The filly is just GORGEOUS! I looked at the pics before I read, and I was thinking.. wow, I wonder what she has to say about that one.. I was happy to read the compliments on the filly. Quality animal, she’s lovely.
That poor Sambo horse dang, somebody doesn’t know how to trim, his angles are HORRID.
Hmm… this who story sounds fishy. Were these people breeding? If so, I think Fugly would have to agree that some of these horses should NOT have been bred. Sorry, but it sounds pretty fishy. Horses don’t just get wires embedded in them. Maybe the way the case was handled wasn’t great, but the place was a mess and horses were ill. Something needed to be done about it.
Kilverstone – Confusing is an understatement, not only is the horse both a colt and a “phillie,” the poster is illiterate! Me thinks me smells a rat…scammers though, don’t usually publish a phone number, but they are getting bolder. It doesn’t work in “reverse telephone look up,” so it’s probably a cell phone. Either that or some kid is trying to trade in his phillycolt for a phourwheeler -
kilverstone:
If I had to hazard a guess I’d say it’s a female (because of the “phillie”) and the people are the type that call any young horse a colt regardless. Drives me up the wall when people do that, especially when they’re the big trainers who know better but still perpetuate the error. Not saying that fine specimen of the human race is one of those trainers. *end sarcasm*
I actually bought my mare (15 years ago) from the owner of the mare you posted. Donna is one of the great examples of breeding for colour AND conformation. Colour is truly just a pleasant bonus with her horses, she really does focus on the total package.
That filly is just fabulous, and she’s been like that since day one. I have to admit I wasn’t fond of the sire when I was looking to breed, but he’s certainly produced some amazing foals in the past few years!
I love Faux Finish. Her owner was terribly gracious when I was in a horrific situation with a hunter jumper barn as a groom, 1200km from home and being terrified by my employers. Found me a great place to go and then stopped by to visit me and bring snacks.
Lovely woman, lovely horses!
Sorry, couldn’t help myself, this ones a beauty!!!! If he had better legs, he should have been pulling a plow.
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=1529304&cat=106&lpid=15
Love the added touch of the gate lying on the ground next to him, I suppose that is to show everyone how sensible he is that he hasn’t cut his leg off in it.
petersdr said, “Holy crap! That horse doesn’t need Bute – he needs a decent farrier who wont hack his poor little feet to bits. “
I don’t think he had enough to begin with. There for a while all the QH halter breeder’s were producing huge animals with tiny feet. Wasn’t unusual to see a 1300 pound horse wearing an oo shoe. Needless to say, ambling in the ring and standing and looking pretty was all they were capable of, oh, besides “breading”. ;~)
What exactly is going on with the bump on the back of the cannon, just beneath the hock on that gelding? I once looked at a CANTER horse with the exact same thing and although it looks bad, I could never figure out just what it was.
“I don’t think he had enough to begin with. There for a while all the QH halter breeder’s were producing huge animals with tiny feet”
I don’t who his momma was, but I personally knew this horse’s sire– bred a mare to him many years back in my previous life when I had Paints— The horse for sale is a solid Paint,not a QH, although his sire came from 100% QH breeding– none of it recent. His sire was also an APHA Champion with points in several riding events, and he stayed sound into his old age, tragically being put down due to a rupture colic in his 20′s. His 40-some showing get have earned over 1500 performance points, and I know of several of the solids who went on to be used as ranch and rope horses. Were they all perfect? Nope–certainly some might have ended up with smaller feet or whatever imperfection– but I know that the owners of this stallion were not breeding “just” for halter, and plenty of this solid gelding’s 1/2 siblings went on to ride– this guy may just have been unfortunate victim of how the genetic dice fell, and/or maybe he had a momma who blessed him with smaller than ideal feet.
Your Fugly horse of the day is so incredibly funny. It cracks me up!
I have to agree that Donna is one of the nicest, nicest people involved with horses on the whole continent. When we were stallion shopping it came down to Guaranteed Gold and a nice warmblood stallion I won’t name here. Not only was Guaranteed Gold the better stallion (determined from watching videos of both stallions and their offspring) but Donna was so incredibly nice and helpful we had to go with her guy. We could not possibly be more thrilled with our filly.
I’ve got to say, I want that filly. I agree with LadyBrinx about the first horse. While he’s not the worst that I’ve seen on your blog, he definitely screams “Geld me, and then my owners!”
I also wanted to thank you for this blog. I was the owner of four fugly horses, and while they all had lovely personalities, and great trail mounts, they were *gasp* gelded. Even the two that were registered. I appreciate what you’re doing.
Now if only someone did this for dogs.
xpbuttercup, you mentioned that “due process was not followed, there was no warning.” The County of Jackson, Michigan’s Animal Control & Protection Ordinance does not require warning. Article 3, Sec. 3.5 allows for seizure of animals in cases of neglect. No warning required. Neglect is defined as well, and this situation seems to meet the definition very well. For example, failure to provide adequate veterinary care, failure to provide adequate food, failure to provide adequate water. How can that be defended? Even the owner admits to two forms of neglect – inadequate feed and inadequate vet care. As far as seizing the entire herd- it is not good practice to wait until every last horse is so far debilitated that they either require extensive vet care or euthanasia. With 69 horses going downhill and up to 30 more on the way (foals), it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that it will only get worse. If ANY food is provided, it is common for a few dominant horses to fight the others away and consequently maintain a higher body condition score (BCS). In my experience, the owner typically points to the few horses with a decent BCS and says, “don’t look at the rest of the herd, just look at what a great job I did with the dominant 25% of the herd.” As for seizing additional evidence, such as computer hard drives, that is good evidence gathering. Wish all animal control agencies were so diligent. I have no tolerance for animal abuse as you have, no doubt, gathered. Animal abuse is not justified by “I need to make a living” claims either. Illegal actions that victimize others, even if they provide your sole form of support, should not be condoned. For the record, I have no links to this seizure, but thought enough about your comments to look into it myself and reach this conclusion.
Kilverstone,That is also one of my pet peeves (PHILLY COLT)first it is Filly and second which is it a filly or a colt I also hate it when I hear stud colt.
http://www.equinehits.com/horses-for-sale/horse-154481
Check this guy out! Tell me what you think! Look uphill to you? Bred for color only? Or is he an OK gelding?
faux finish… *drools into keyboard* oh yeah. i been lovin’ her long time for years now.. and her full siblings have been of equal quality, sold in utero they are so damn good. shes a sterling example of not just quality and colour together, but quality and THOROUGHBRED together – how often do we get to see that?? (here in australia – basically never LOL)
im really glad you got to see her, because the colour-over-quality breeding can get so damn depressing! her breeder shows that a small operation CAN be heaven-sent miles from what we think of as ‘backyard’.
Absolutely! There is nothing wrong with a small “backyard” operation if it’s done right. In fact, it can be better. Let’s face it, look at the case we’re debating – who really has got the money for 69 head of horses? I would say the absolute minimum for acceptable care is hooves done 4x/year (obviously I’d prefer 6x+ but 4x on pastured animals will avoid any incidents of curling “elf feet”), deworming every 8 weeks (you can’t really skimp on that), tooth floating yearly on the mature horses (shall we assume 30 of these?) and of course the cost of hay for 69 horses (You can get $3/bale hay where that guy is located, so I will say you can get by on about $60 hay per day). I’ll even assume you can get feet done for $20 because the Midwest truly is cheaper on these things. OK, with that very minimal standard of care, not including any vet care, I am up past $36,000 per year to care for that herd. This doesn’t include fixing fence, fixing equipment, paying help (they sure could have used some), registration fees, horse show costs, trailer and truck maintenance, etc. Bottom line, you have to be pretty damn wealthy to keep 69 horses in the style EVERY horse should be accustomed to. If you’re not, 69 is TOO MANY. Try having 20, maybe you’d get everything done – what a concept!
LOL too, too true. and a hideous, ugly, useless horse costs just as much to feed as one of quality – it just cant produce you anything that will make that money back!
its always been my habit to say, no matter who i say it to, you CANNOT make money from horses. they are simply the most appalling investment, worse than cars. for every TB that lucked out on the track, there were 100,000 who ended up in a can of dogmeat. for every milton the millionaire (and there arent many) were a million paddy the paddock ornaments.
i follow the results of those terribly posh german warmblood auctions and you know what? you can get a horse of exemplary breeding and high quality for under 10k from the same people who produce million dollar horses. do those polluting the world with their crap + crap = crap REALLY think they can compete, and somehow profit??
That filly is absolutely stunning – just my kind of horse!
Wow, I found FF in 2005..and have loved her since..I’m glad She “passed” or rather “failed” your Fugly Test….She has been under the microscope for some time now, with people “just waiting” for her to stumble and MESS UP…You wouldn’t believe it how bad it gets..
I’m glad you approve of her..I would LOVE to get one of her babies!!!!
horses4me — from my very underexperienced eye, he’s a reasonable gelding who hasn’t been terribly well photographed. I don’t remember the term, but note if you make a line up the back of his rear cannon bones, it doesn’t hit his body — it’s too far back. Lots of people would not have gelded him, but I think it’s better that he has been. (I will let the pros comment further!)
On the horse neglect case — I also think 69 horses is too many. It sounds like the owners got caught by personal (and personnel) issues and let things slide. This *does* happen, but the appropriate response is to *stop breeding* and sell off part of one’s herd.
At the same time, there appear to be some issues with the quality of the rescue group that has taken on these horses. Going from overwhelmed owners to an overwhelmed volunteer organization isn’t much of an improvement.
Hopefully the horses will find good homes and maybe the former owners, if they start up again, will be more reasonable about the numbers.
That filly is one of the nicest horses posted on here. At first I thought there was something funky going on with her topline, but I think it’s just interference from the fence or something in the background.
“I don’t remember the term, but note if you make a line up the back of his rear cannon bones, it doesn’t hit his body — it’s too far back.”
He’s camped out. He might make a reasonable pleasure or low level performance horse but you’re right, he should be gelded for this flaw alone. (He has others)
As for the pintabin… he is arab, or at least part arab. he’s not “camped out” that is how the breed is set up to be shown, so that is how they photographed him. Also, he looks like he’s standing on a slight hill, and that, combined with him being stood up, means that of course he’s going to look uphill. I couldn’t see anything majorly wrong with him at all.
Her topline is funky. She has an obvious arch over her loin. It’s even more clear in this picture that was posted on the LJ version of this blog. http://www.angelfire.com/on3/TrueColoursFarm/images/Chamois-RWF-LC-05.jpg
That’s a wheelback a racing sleddog would be proud of.
“”"”Her topline is funky. She has an obvious arch over her loin. It’s even more clear in this picture that was posted on the LJ version of this blog. “”"”
Sweety, a convex loin is a GOOD thing. A concave loin is a BAD thing.
Her topline is funky because she’s still growing.. just in one of those butt-high phases.
Branik, that sounds familiar.. is that a common name? o.0
Hunter’s bump! Not so much a conformational fault, and may eventually disappear.
Yes, I’ve been reading up on this hunter’s bump thing since this was posted. Sacroiliac Subluxation. Strain to the ligamentous attachments of the lumbar and sacral vertebrae. I’d say hunter’s bump = not a terribly desirable thing. Several sources I read about it, including the Merck Manual state that some/many horses that suffer it are never able to compete at the level they could before.
BTW, a hunter’s bump is NOT an “arch over the loin.” It’s a bony prominence on the top of the pelvis.
The pelvis is not on the loin….the loin is mucle.
OK well, I actually forwarded the website the colt is on to the blogger… I am considering breeding my mare again, after she produced a wonderful colt(that is everything I wanted and more), and decided to take a look locally this time. I browsed the “Uncle Henry’s” to see what was close by, so I could see the stallion in person this time, rather than video and going by others oppinions. There are no photos in Uncle Henry’s, but the ad sounded professional, so I spoke with the colt’s owner and she descibed all of her stallions as wonderful sport horses, with excellent conformation and movement, that would complement most any sport horse mare. She answered my questions and refered me to her website (http://fairplayfarm.net/)for photos. The red flag on the phone was she said something along the lines of all her boys being so great, she does not have the heart to geld any of them. I saw the photos on the website and said, forget the Maine “Uncle Henry’s breeders”, I’ll look into stallions out of state.
Looking out of state for Sport Horse stallions, mostly Warmbloods and Thoroughbreds that would compliment my mare and improve upon her weaknesses (I don’t really care about color), I came across Guaranteed Gold and requested his video. Wonderful looking stallion with foals of equal or greater quality! I’m holding on to his video and considering him for the future!
Oh, I forgot to mention Guaranteed Gold is the sire of the filly pictured as a good example of a sport horse.
I have to say that its time for APHA to own up to its horses. As a good horse is never a bad color Ive seen so many horrible looking “colored” horses advertised for stud/broodmare. I have three paints, 2 being solids. I bought them for what they CAN do, and their conformation, brains, and attitude. Color was never a factor. If it was I probably would never have bought my Regular Registry Paint filly. Im not a fan of the Red colors. She’s a red dun. My other two are bay and black. Those two have/will go on as dressage horses. The red dun screams western pleasure but I refuse to have a peanut roller or a 4 gaited canter.
I just found this site and love it.
The filly is just stunning! I wish I knew what her name was.
Faux Finish. She belongs to True Colours farm – google it, you’ll find it.
Oh, wait. I found the link.
Thank you