I understand that in many disciplines such as Western Pleasure, pencil necks are desirable. Why?It looks disproportionate, unbalanced, and ugly, particularly on bulldog-like quarter horses. Stock breeds are generally muscle on top of muscle. Just massive. And then they have a skinny little neck. I don't see the appeal.
Where do you draw the line between a pencil neck and a knife neck? They both look scrawny and shapeless to me.
I will say, one thing I absolutely love about Victor is his big ol' muscley neck. Not thin, but not too cresty, and very curvy and solid. Thoroughbreds are notorious for having knife necks. I think we owe a big thanks to the racing industry for that one. Them and their careless breeding.
I can't stand it when a horse doesn't have a nice substantial neck. Horses I buy must have a nice neck and a nice ass. Those are my biggest peeves.
Does this not look a bit ridiculous? This big, massively muscled QH with that little bitty neck?
How does having no neck affect a horse's performance?
This sad little bay horse has a knife neck.
The only difference I see is that he has no muscle whereas the other two have sufficient muscle and still have skinny necks.Neither are pretty.
Now compare this one. Yes it's an Andalusian and crestiness is what they're famous for, but still. It looks a lot better and in proportion. Baroque horses are usually pretty bulky too, and their necks actually match the rest of their bodies.I'm not saying horses should be bull necked or too cresty, but pencil/knife necks are a bit ridiculous.
yes some of the horses my have a somewhat thin neck looks out of porportion but its all about getting that great confirmation, and trimmed muscular appearance and it is a desired trait in the halter industry. and this horse in the link below has a perfectly perportioned and muscular neck to go with his body. if you had actually bought/shown/bred horses you would appreciate the beauty of them. granit some horses are overly muscular which makes them a little out of porportion but if you put that beefy muscular horse in a show with a well proportioned and muscularly trimmed horse the judge will never choose the beefiest horse bc thats not what its all about.
ReplyDeleteHalter horse judging is a positive evaluation of balance, structural correctness, breed and sex characteristics and balanced, proportional muscling.
•The horse should possess eye appeal that is the result of a harmonious blending of an attractive head.
•Refined throatlatch.
•Well-proportioned, trim neck.
•Long sloping shoulder.
•Deep heart girth.
•Short back.
•Strong loin and coupling.
•Long hip and croup.
•Well-defined and muscular stifle, gaskin, forearm and chest.
•The horse should be a balanced athlete that is muscled uniformly throughout.
•These characteristics should be combined with straight and structurally correct legs and feet that are free of defects.
Its not all about who has the beefiest horse with the thinnest neck. its about who has the best confirmation and trimmed muscular appearance. Thses horses if are well porportioned and do very well in shows are highly valued and can be sold for a lot of money. Mr. Yella Fella sold for over 1 Million dollars, and Kid's Classic Style was close to that marker too. I know the people who raised him.
but for me its not about the money, its about the bonding and love for my horses, the joy and experience of going to shows, and seeing the little babies born every winter.
http://www.parkerfarms.com/oldsitefiles/tecoolest.htm.