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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 928
  
Location: Northern CA | After 2 year old shopping this weekend, I am leaning toward one. He is by far going the best, loping pretty circles, soft in the face, stopping on the hind end, started on cattle. I enjoyed his personality and willingness the most out of the 4 I looked at. But he is so homely! He isn't put together poorly, has a nice big hip, but plain headed, and on the short side. A couple of the others had much more eye appeal, but not near as broke or athletic. Do you let looks influence your decision?
Edited by halter_ego 2014-03-10 12:58 PM
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  Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
 
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | I could care less about eye appeal. Yes pretty sells, but when I'm looking for myself, I care more about attitude and conformation then anything else. Plain faces can win rodeos as well as pretty faces :) |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1100
Location: Southeastern Idaho | I have found its super important if you are selling but not important if its my own personal horse. |
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 Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | I'd take a good, ugly horse everytime over pretty. Maybe, ugly, isn't the word, but you get what I mean. |
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 That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
| Have you ever tried to sell an ugly horse? |
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 Balance Beam and more...
Posts: 11511
Location: 31 lengths farms | My now 13 year old was kind of goofy looking when I went to look at him as a coming 2 year old. Appendix bred, all backbone and feet, looked like a sawhorse with a head, not impressed at all till I saw him move and once I got a saddle on him and covered that backbone I could see what he could become I fell in love. So glad I did, he is a gem!!! I have his full sister and his half sister too now, for some reason neither of them went thru that ugly growth spurt thing....
BAsed on what you've said, I take the plain head and good mover, nicely started any day, just buy him a headstall that suites him wink wink wink.... |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | Pretty is like the icing on the cake for me. I want sound, well made, well bred, and a good disposition and athletic ability. I tend to correlate good conformation with eye appeal...but things like color, chrome, and all the fancy extras like a gorgeous mane as a bonus. If I don't get it, oh well! |
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Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | Whiteboy - 2014-03-10 12:45 PM Have you ever tried to sell an ugly horse?
Yes. That's why I said if it were for myself, i could care less about pretty. Now if I knew I would be selling the horse I would consider looks because not every horse can sell themselves. If I ever sell a horse it's because he/she wasn't running hard enough for me, so it needs to be pretty to sell :) |
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That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
| Do you mean ugly as in poor conformation? |
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | I don't want to say that it does, but I know that I always click on the prettier pictures when first looking at ads. I've never had one of those "turn your head" horses... but I also never feed suplements to those horses. Is it something that maybe if he had a little more elbow grease or better feeding plan that he would look better? I personally find more 2 year olds that look "homely" than not. I'd give him some more time to fill out and grow.
I would go for the better trained horse. That's the beauty of running barrels... the clock doesn't care what you look like. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 928
Location: Northern CA | Longneck - 2014-03-10 9:49 AM I don't want to say that it does, but I know that I always click on the prettier pictures when first looking at ads. I've never had one of those "turn your head" horses... but I also never feed suplements to those horses. Is it something that maybe if he had a little more elbow grease or better feeding plan that he would look better? I personally find more 2 year olds that look "homely" than not. I'd give him some more time to fill out and grow.
I would go for the better trained horse. That's the beauty of running barrels... the clock doesn't care what you look like.
Unfortunately he won't be a barrel horse. He will be a reined cow horse. I know that eye appeal means something in the arena, but if he can run down and stick it in the ground, I think the "homelyness" won't too much negative affect. |
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | halter_ego - 2014-03-10 11:53 AM Longneck - 2014-03-10 9:49 AM I don't want to say that it does, but I know that I always click on the prettier pictures when first looking at ads. I've never had one of those "turn your head" horses... but I also never feed suplements to those horses. Is it something that maybe if he had a little more elbow grease or better feeding plan that he would look better? I personally find more 2 year olds that look "homely" than not. I'd give him some more time to fill out and grow.
I would go for the better trained horse. That's the beauty of running barrels... the clock doesn't care what you look like. Unfortunately he won't be a barrel horse. He will be a reined cow horse. I know that eye appeal means something in the arena, but if he can run down and stick it in the ground, I think the "homelyness" won't too much negative affect.
Ahh, well I'm a loss for those events that are judged! Good luck! |
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | is he ugly? or plain? As I'm sure you know there is a big difference.
I agree on looks being important, but if you're already getting along with him well you're setting yourself up for success. You have no idea for the "pretty" horses what kind of attitude you're going to get. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1898
| I would take broke over pretty any day. If I think there is any chance I am going to re-sell the horse before it is proven, that does weigh heavily on my decision.
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| When I bought my, now 19 yr old gelding, as a 3 yr old, I about died when I saw his head and neck. OMG However, his body was and still is awesome. Rode great. Had all the right parts to be athletic. He has since grown into that head. Instead of being considered ugly, it is more of a strong head. LOL Anyway, it fits him much better now. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 928
Location: Northern CA | We will just say he isn't pretty. I think a lot of it is the fact that he is 2, so right now he is short and out of porportion, furry and kind of rough coated, kind of flat necked, with a larger, plain head, granted he has a face with a lot of expression. His most major "conformation" flaw is the fact that he is slightly toed out, otherwise, the rest is just not as eye appealing as I am used to. |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| You should post some pics so we can decide how ugly he is. A conformationally sound, boring, well behaved horse is better than a gorgeous rank horse any day.
Since you asked about it, my guess is you'll probably not buy him. If you can't get past it, keep searching. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 928
Location: Northern CA | I am not sure how to post pictures but will give it a try...
Can Somebody tell me what program to use to make the pictures smaller?
Edited by halter_ego 2014-03-10 12:39 PM
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That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 928
Location: Northern CA | Not the best of pictures, and on uneven ground, but you get the idea.
Edited by halter_ego 2014-03-10 12:53 PM
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Queen Bean of Ponyland
Posts: 24954
Location: WYOMING | I like pretty and usable. There are enough out there that ive never had a problem finding the whole package. |
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 The One
Posts: 7998
Location: South Georgia | Very....to me. |
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I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | halter_ego - 2014-03-10 12:44 PM
Not the best of pictures, and on uneven ground, but you get the idea.
I think he's pretty darn cute. Looks like an average young horse that will grow into himself!
why is part of his belly shaved though? |
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Queen Bean of Ponyland
Posts: 24954
Location: WYOMING | halter_ego - 2014-03-10 1:44 PM Not the best of pictures, and on uneven ground, but you get the idea.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 928
Location: Northern CA | Crowned Image - 2014-03-10 10:58 AM halter_ego - 2014-03-10 12:44 PM Not the best of pictures, and on uneven ground, but you get the idea. I think he's pretty darn cute. Looks like an average young horse that will grow into himself! why is part of his belly shaved though?
He was turned out with a big group of two year olds until they brought him in in January to start him, I assume they just shaved the mud balls off. |
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 Coyote Country Queen
Posts: 5666
| I would fault conformation flaws, but ultimately you want a horse that is willing and able to do the job. A plain head is no big deal to me, unless you're planning to show the horse in halter. And if a 2 year old is showing its athletic ability I'd be more interested in that over one that doesn't seem to have it. I understand that horses can develop some of that ability with training, but a natural is much easier. The willingness is also pretty important.
I think in these situations (if you've got the knowledge and experience to have that feel) you should just go with your gut. I've ridden some plain horses that could work, and some pretty horses that were only worth looking at! Obviously the whole package is the most desirable, but when it comes down to it pretty is as pretty does. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 993
Location: Northern California | I think he's pretty cute. He looks like a typical 2yo to me, butt high and growing!! He is going to change a lot with proper conditioning and feeding! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 928
Location: Northern CA | Keepkick'n - 2014-03-10 11:25 AM I think he's pretty cute. He looks like a typical 2yo to me, butt high and growing!! He is going to change a lot with proper conditioning and feeding!
So there is hope?!  |
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Balance Beam and more...
Posts: 11511
Location: 31 lengths farms | I think when you get him fit up his neck will change a bit by building a bit more topline to it and his head will make more sense on it. |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | I think he'll be pretty flashy when he grows up. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1857
| is that his name...cocky? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 928
Location: Northern CA | Yes, that's what they call him. And it fits him! He is pretty sure he is much prettier than he is :-) |
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Expert
Posts: 1857
| halter_ego - 2014-03-10 4:32 PM
Yes, that's what they call him. And it fits him! He is pretty sure he is much prettier than he is :-)
Love it!!! |
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 Expert
Posts: 1218
Location: Great NW | Pretty is, as pretty does.... |
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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | I think he'll grow up to be good looking.
When I bought Clifford, I thought he was just oh so plain and boring. A sorrel gelding with a big blaze face.....snooze. There are 8 million sorrel geldings so he'll just blend right in.
However, a year & a half later, I think he's beautiful. He is fit, toned and shiny, which makes a big difference.
1st pic is the day I brought him home and 2nd pic is from last November.
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2012 Clifford P1010065.jpg (87KB - 254 downloads)
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 Expert
Posts: 2276
Location: ohio-in my own little world with pretty ponies :) | I think he's actually pretty cute! Id give him a shot! |
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 Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12708
| I called Zan 'Jughead' for almost two years. He's now halter horse pretty. So if the horse you're looking at is young, there's always hope!
If it's a gelding that you aren't buying to resell, then conformation is 100x more important than a plain head.
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Meanest Teacher!!!
Posts: 8555
Location: sunny california | I don't think he is ugly at all
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | I also think he has a lot of potential. You will be able to pretty him up quite a bit if you put a little in to him. |
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