Conformation Comparison – 2013 to 2014
I’ve noticed something about my creature lately – he’s turning into kind of a hunk. Granted, I’m partial because I would love this horse if he was skinny and beat with an ugly stick (in fact, I did fall in love when he looked like that) but I seriously think he’s looking good this year.
The first thing I noticed was that his bum no longer fits as well in his blankets as it did last year. This is not exciting, because I’m not really trying to buy all new blankets… but it’s also exciting because it means a badunkadunk!
Then I was playing around on instagram, and did this little collage.
I thought “Ooo butt looks impressive!” so I decided to make it a plan in December to take some real conformation pictures, which I finally got around to this weekend.
Now I’ll be the first to admit that I am no conformation expert. I immediately like the pictures from last year better, because the exposure and lighting is much better. That has nothing to do with Simon’s muscling though, so I’m hoping by putting them side by side that I can see a difference.
In 2014, I see…
- A grown out clip job that needs to be redone
- A lot more neck muscle (look Ma, I have a crest now)
- More muscling around the top of his butt?
- Maybe more shoulder?
Here’s the other side:
On this side, I don’t see any difference at all. Bummer.
Overall, he’s still a lot less muscled on the right shoulder/wither area than the left. I’ve been told both that I should and not shim my saddle pad to fix this problem… so I don’t know what to do. At least there is a pretty damn noticeable difference in the past two years.
What about you, more knowledgeable than me readers – what do you see in the last year as far as any development changes?
23 thoughts on “Conformation Comparison – 2013 to 2014”
It could just be a trick of the light, but looking on the shadows on his butt, I think he looks bigger in the 2014 (right side) photo than in 2013!
He looks way hunkier this year!
His topline also looks much different!
I see a rounder, more muscular butt and a more muscular, crestier neck.
I agree with Carly ~ way hunkier 🙂
Ooh-la-la, Simon! He definitely looks way better. There’s a big difference in his neck.
Way more muscle over his hips in both directions. Look how much smoother his back ties into his butt. Very lovely! Plus, that definition in his haunch is looking much better this year! His neck doesn’t look so much muscled as a little fat, but that’s on par with hunters (and some dressage horses, too!), BUT the muscle in front of his withers is MUCH bigger this year, meaning he’s been picking himself up in front properly! Whee!
Ooo, that’s helpful. Neck could totally be fat. He has more of a crest now than he did last year (more noticeable in real life) but I didn’t think that it could be fat instead of muscle. We hunters do like them a bit chunky 😀
Whoa, that topline is out. of. control!! He looks AWESOME!
His top line has tons of improvement Especially from his back all the way to his croup. On both sides his shoulders are more trim and toned and less “quarter horsey” if that makes sense. And his crest is fabulous but I already told you that 🙂
I see noticeable differences! I think the most drastic difference is the muscling over his back/top line, especially over his loins. You should be proud, because that is a difficult area to build up! Also, his abdominal muscles are more tucked up/ developed.
If only I could say the same thing about my abdominal muscles 😀
Huzzah! All of your really hard work on the flat is paying HUGE dividends!! Congrats girl 😀
Defnitely improved! I see a better topline on both sides as well, in the lower back area. Much more lifting of his back = more fill.
Yay for improvements!
he looks so much more evenly muscled. You can tell you are getting him to use his butt because a) its bigger and b) his shoulders just don’t look as large in comparison to the rest of his body. That indicates to me that he was probably ridden on his forehand before, and you now have him using his whole body a lot better. Great progress!
Looking really good! Great work!
he looks really great – really pumping up those pushing muscles in the hind end!!
You can definitely see all the progress that you both have made over the last couple of years. He looks great. Honestly the first thing I noticed was how confident he looks in the 2014 photos. Keep it up girl!
He is looking even more stunning than last year. Neck, shoulders, butt and back have all changed.
Hubba hubba what hunk *swoon*
I really really really, really, like his topline. Not many horses flow from the withers, through the back, to croup to the dock well and he is just gorgeous. Beautiful lines. What a hunk!
He is looking really good through the back!
In my humble opinion….he looks happier and more confident!
I agree that his change is subtle, and I know hunters love them fat, but to me he looks like he lost a little fat and gained a little muscle- he looks much more athletic to me. Still a great weight, but less fat bulk and more muscle bulk, creating a much more athletic profile. And more muscle in the pecs and shoulder areas 😉 And over-all, a much stronger top-line- especially if you look at 2012! Such a hunk!