A Few Pictures

Took some new ones of Copper today because I wanted to make a new add, I got him all cleaned up The halter he's wearing doesn't fit him real well, just as an FYI. It's actually a large horse size, so go figure, but, ya work with what's there LOL. Anyways, hope our sunny weather can warm some of you up!

(He's 15.1hh right now and growing up up up, still has a lot of growing out to do. Will be two sometime in April)

Also, I kinda want some input if anyone can. I know he needs some weight, I've been working on that but his body is just putting it all into height right now. He's also about an inch higher in the butt right now, but that changes from week to week But that aside and the fact that I'm working on buying the halter/s that fit him, what do you guys think?

I think his neck looks pretty good right now, thoughts?

He needs some weight and tightening - up, but I only started fitting on him last week, because I'm a lazy bum lol. But, it really is time to start working on him. He never poped any more splints, just had the one he came with. Feet and teeth are in great shape right now, I noticed he's starting to get a little ribby, so I'm going to add a little more filler in his diet, jeeze, this boy is eating me out of a checking account lol.

Really though, I've got two breed shows coming up in March and April, they're small and I obviously won't be able to make any major improvements by the March show, but I should be able to get some weight and extra muscle on by the April one. We're also going to the PtHA world show this summer... I'm sooooo looking forward to the humidity... not.

If it were me I would save my money on the breed show in March he isn't ready. He needs more weight. Don't spend that kind of money on a schooling show. JMHO. He is a pretty boy and don't do him the disservice of showing him at less than his best. School him at schooling shows since you have them available to you. Otherwise nice horse

He needs a lot of weight for halter. If he is just going up and not out you can really mess their legs up if you try to force the weight on him. Good idea to just school him and let him go at his own pase.

Remember if you are going to start advertising him that first impressions are lasting ones. I would also wait on that until he is ready. Just my opinion which doesn't mean a lot. He looks more pleasure type to me. But, you could do both by bulking him up and riding him. Most people like to have a horse that will do both.

Feed in higher fat and less protein Will help do the job. I agree with blue jay, Dont take him until he is at his best. These judges remember them.
Have your farrier LEAVE THAT HEEL! Dont let him take off heel. They want to do that. Dont kiss his face someday, he will reach out and touch someone! Its the nature of a stallion. I love that TAIL! Love the flaxen! And Mim. White. That is my kind of paint.

Corn oil works great. Just add a cup over some oats. Will put some weight on him and make his coat shine. Helpa keep every thing moving along the digestive system as well.

You really need to decide if you are going to halter. If you are then you need to really pump up your horse. This means at least 10+bls of oats a day and all the alfalfa he can eat. Along with the a cup or better of the corn oil twice a day. People who are really serious about this are feeding 15 to 20lbs of grain and that includes some sweet feed.. At his age he should be getting worked 20 to 30 minutes at a long trot every other day. And, you do this before you feed him.

Halter fitting is not cheap and it's hard on the horse if they do not already have it hangin.. Watch the neck. The fat always likes to go there first..

JJJ is right about kissing that horse. We know you love him. But, a good boy and a pat are much much more of a reward for good behavior. All the other stuff will just make him not respect you and he will get you one day.

I know you think we are just blowing smoke and he is so sweet this would never happen. Tommy is just about as sweet as they come. I give him a good pat and tell him how wonderful he is and he loves that. I do not put my face in his and do not let him put his face in mine. I think he would never hurt me.. And, that he loves me so much. This is just good horse sense. He does respect me and I respect him.

Number one rule with a stud horse is "do not put your face on me on

UGH! I DO NOT THINK YOU GUYS ARE BLOWING SMOKE!!!

Lol, seriously, I asked. I'm not easily offended anymore, I know there was a time. At the end of the day, we ALL know the only opinion that really matters is the opinion of the judge and what the owner thinks of the horse. I respect your opinions, that's why I asked in the first place. Now, I want to offer just a little info:

The kissing: That was literally JUST for a picture. I don't play kissy face with any of my horses, I just don't like it. If I want to show love, I let them quit working or I give them a good scratch. A horse is a horse, they have teeth and strong jaws. I don't let my dogs put their face in mine either, same concept. I've seen a bad-mood mare bite someone's face, so it's something I try to avoid. But, my mom wanted a specific picture for her scrap book. Notice my hand holding down his upper lip? lol. I know it's not an excuse, but it's over and done, I just wanted to let you know it's not something I do every day, or ever really lol.

The weight, etc.: I know he needs a lot of weight, I upped his feed last week, so I'm hoping to see results from that. This is his main thing. He is stripped down right now, you can see the hint of ribs. He's always had a beautiful neck, even with weight on and he's always been clean in the throatlatch. I will keep a sweat on him to keep the neck down though as I feed him up. I haven't really been consistently working him, but I started last week on a regular basis. I'm keeping up on it.

As far as his heel goes, the farrier doesn't touch his heel. He's an ortho specialist that was reccomended by the two best sport vets in AZ. He's the only one who keeps Larry, my rodeo horse, walking and winning. Copper naturally has no heel, that is just him. Has super good hard feet, they don't crack and they're a good size too. He just doesn't grow heel.

I am doing halter with him, that's what I got him for. I will never ride this horse. He is 100% bred for halter, with the greats in his pedigree. It is all there, he is just not fed for it. The people who I purchased him from have multiple world championships in APHA and the PtHA, etc. They are the ones who showed his dam to a world championship. Now, from what I've heard and seen, his dam didn't really come into her own until she was in the middle of her three year old year, then she won her world championship as a four year old. They (and we) knew from the start that Copper wasn't going to be really competitive until he was older, but, we would still show him for experience, etc. Our APHA shows down here are SUPER cheap, I can show for a weekend for under $45.00, to go show at most of the open shows would cost me almost the same thing. I do get what you guys mean about not taking him out until he's more ready, and I agree, I'm not going to take him out until he's looking a whole lot better.

I am serious about halter with him though, we're going to promote him to the best of our ability. The way he looks is really my fault for not feeding him right. But, a few months ago, feeding the extras was just not possible because of finances. It is now, and it will be, it's a priority.

I will also try the corn oil with him Thank you guys!

also, I'm not sure if I ever posted his pedigree, but here it is:

http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/political+party2

Glad to hear you do not get your panties in a wad when you don't like what we say. When writing things back and forth there is no way to see the expressions we use when communicating. And, it can be received in a way it was not intended..

You can get a sweet shot of you and the horse without putting your faces together.. Like, you standing beside him with a big happy smile on your face. This would also show the front end of the horse. You will never get us in agreement that this is OK.. Not meant to put you down. Just a reminder that you do not do things like this with a horse you plan to use as a stud. I had to learn this one myself many years ago. I like to kiss my horses and I love the smell of their noses.. My yearling colt puts his face out there all the time to be cuddled. I just pat him on the forehead and tell him what a good boy he is. I do not touch his mouth at all.

Looks like he has a nice pedigree. I also have horses who do not grow heal. Need to keep toes backed up on those. Mine will never grow a heal no matter how good a ferrier thinks he is..

When you start fitting for halter you need to stay at it. You cannot do it now and then stop. You loose too much. Put together a program that you can handle even when money it tight. It's not good for the horse to go back and forth either. You do not have to buy the expensive feed to do this. I know I can't afford it.

We would like to see photo's of him in a month now that you have started your program.. Keep in mind that not all horses bred for halter can halter.. No matter what you do.. The slow growing horse is really hard to fit. I have had some that did not come in to themselves until they were 4 or 5 years old..

Well you can always put wedges on the front. No Biggy. I love before and after photos!

If you wedge them you may end up with quarter cracks.. Just ask me.. HE HE HE.. Been there done that at the advise of the ferrier.. Never again.

One of the mares I have has no heal. Will never grow one either. I have her trimmed and toes kept back and shoes on her front feet and she looks just fine.

A ferrier I used decided to put bar shoes on her and my stud. Now, the stallion does not have low heals.. I had the vet come out and yank them off when the stallion ended up with a bad crack and the mare was cracking. Got her's off in time. I spent two years getting rid of the one on my stallion. That was my fault for not re setting like clock work every month. I started that and the crack is gone. I would never mess with that again.. URGH..

My navicular horse wears wedges, they are religously reset every 8 weeks and we never use them over again. He doesn't have any cracks. Shelby, the show mare, she wears a wedge on the one hoof that grows no heel and a normal shoe on her good foot. No cracks with her either

The cracks that they had, was it close to a nail hole? I know sometimes that can do them in... Good farriers are VERY hard to come by, I'm so glad we found one that finally knows what he's doing... I've had three soundness issues with three different horses, after the first time he came out they were all sound by the next day! All of their problems were people created... If only people would START with a good farrier, they would never have any problems to fix


Those pictures were actually meant to be the "before" pictures I'll take some more in 30 days, and some more in 60 as we get him ready for the PtHA thing... I think four months will give me a good opportunity to put the weight on and get him fitted.

Quote :

If you wedge them you may end up with quarter cracks.. Just ask me.. HE HE HE.. Been there done that at the advise of the ferrier..

Havent had that problem. Roy as he now called wears them, Ge Ge did, and the mare We put sooo many preformance points on. She wore them to help level her, But they all had good feet except ROY! The lady did not take care of him and we are still trying to get good feet on him any Ideas?????????

Who the heck is Roy??

Reagan, Everyone didnt like that name, Me I didnt care. But Now he is ROY! At least for the time being. Who the heck knows...

TJ, on top of Larry's navicular, he had poor quality feed that good nutrition wasn't really helping with. I got a tip from a friend who used to be big time in the walking horse industry and you know those horses always have issues with their feet because of what is done, etc. He recomeded we start putting gelatin on the top of his feed, about a 1 oz. scoop at each feeding. His feet were super hard and strong within a month! I still to this day put gelatin on all of my horses meals and that with good farrier work, which I'm sure you have, has corrected any issues within a few months

You can buy gelatin at those whole sale supply places, if it's too expensive, then I just buy jello (yep, jello, good ole sugary jello.) and the horses LOVE the taste. Just my experience and I can say it has worked for me and the others I've recomended it too Good luck with the feet!

Oh, I know about that one. My Grandpa did that. Smart old man my grandpa, I just wish I had listened more.

I think we all wish that sometimes, I know I sure do. That's just the most reliable way I can suggest to get the job done, good luck with him though, I'm sure he'll eventually have great feet