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How To Pick A Prospect Horse
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If you are thinking about getting a prospect, there is more to think about than a pretty horse. Depending on which discipline you want to train your prospect to do, you have to think about conformation. If you want a halter horse, you don’t want to get that thinly build two year old. You want the more muscled one. If your prospect has bad conformation, he or she might not be physically able to do what you want to do. You want the horse’s conformation to be able to withstand the physical demands of what you want him to do. A lot of events can be stressful on a horse. Having good conformation can help stress on horse’s muscles and bones decrease. Bad conformation can also lead to issues later on in their life. It’s important that jumper prospects have powerful hindquarters, a strong top line and really sound front legs. This may not be the ideal balance, but to be able to clear tall fences, the power must be located in the hind end and the front legs must then have the strength to absorb the landing.
Champions tend to be naturals. They have a natural talent. Your job as a trainer or a coach is to find that horse. Even though you can’t ride a one or a two year old, you can learn a lot by just watching. An example would be a herd of one year olds running around in a pasture. There is that one horse that is always faster than the others and can just whip right around and be taking off in the other direction. That horse might be a good barrel racing prospect. Set up a small jump with a chute and have some of the young horses go over it. The horse that goes over it with its front legs tucked evenly would be my pick as a hunter jumper prospect. I wouldn’t pick the horse that jumps straight up like a deer to be my prospect. If you are looking for a pleasure prospect, look at how he or she moves. If he or she moves nicely at the walk, trot, and canter, you might have your pleasure prospect. Make sure that the horse flows and is not choppy in his or her stride. Attitude is another quality to look for in any prospect no matter what discipline you want to do. You want an attitude that is willing to learn. I wouldn’t want the one that always has his ears back and tries to kick his pasture buddy’s. Attitude can make or break a horse. A horse could have great potential, but have a horrible attitude.
A horse that doesn’t want to learn or be around you is definitely the horse I wouldn’t pick.
Having a prospect with good bloodlines is a plus. Don’t forget that just because that prospect has champion bloodlines, it doesn’t mean that he will be a champion too. A lot of people will pay a lot of money for a prospect that has good bloodlines. If you have two similar prospects and one has champion bloodlines and the other doesn’t, I would pick the one with the champion bloodlines. The one with champion bloodlines may have more potential to be a great horse, but it guarantees nothing. Look at what that prospect has to offer first, and then look at the bloodlines.
Overall when picking out a prospect, you want one with a good attitude, good conformation for the discipline you want to do and an overall sound healthy horse. Pick a horse that is in the right price range for you and one that you get along with. |
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Dark Star
Great article!! My horse had a slight sway back and one of his hooves turn out (no idea why), so he doesn't do good in halter, but he is a natural in pole bending and showmanship (yes not two things that go together..lol)
Great article!! My horse had a slight sway back and one of his hooves turn out (no idea why), so he doesn't do good in halter, but he is a natural in pole bending and showmanship (yes not two things that go together..lol)
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Sep 15, 2010
• 3,407 views
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Breegirly
Thank you for this info! I will defiantly be using this!
Thank you for this info! I will defiantly be using this!
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60 days ago
• 3,430 views
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T E M P E S T
Great article! It's a good thing not to look at bloodlines first. Ex: Secretatriat was not a very good sire!
Great article! It's a good thing not to look at bloodlines first. Ex: Secretatriat was not a very good sire!
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7 days ago
• 3,454 views
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