Eye of the Beholder: What Floats Your Boat?
Photo: Me with Tiffany, as she first shed from bay to gray last year.My previous post, with the photo of the Appaloosa, seems to have sparked a Comments discussion on likes and dislikes in equine appearance. We all have them, but they're deeply internalized most of the time.
So I just got to thinking, in a more deliberate way, about some of my own internalized likes when it comes to equine exteriors (conformation aside, talking only about the hide). Quickie list, off the top of my head:
MY EYE LOVES.....
* A pretty head, with short ears.
* Four matched socks or stockings.
* Flaxen sorrels with chrome.
* All the stages of black-based gray, from dark blue-gray to white.
* The blue-roan-with-hip-spots color that's particular to Appaloosas.
* The spotted-blanket pattern in Appaloosas, in bay--haloes around the spots.
* Dark bays and browns.
* The (rare) bay roan sabino.
* A luxurious mane and tail.
* Dark eyes, lined with dark skin.
Let it be said that I don't REQUIRE these externals, only that they're physical traits that draw and appeal to my eye.
Let's hear your list!
posted by Juli Thorson @ 12:42 PM
25 comments
25 Comments:
My eye is drawn to:
Concave heads with small ears
Ultra full tails
Steel grays
Seal Browns
Bright bays w/ tall white stockings
Big crooked blazes
Tri-color paints
Of course I truly believe that any good horse is a good color. But it's always fun to think about what catches your attention.
Great topic Julie!!
My eye:
Is drawn to horse that flows together
(form to function)
A head that fits the body
Favorite color is Palomino (Dates me to Trigger I know)
Appaloosas are my breed of choice so I tend to like all the combinations of correct body types with the varying colorations. Of coarse the the black/bay with a blanket is probably the most striking.
Minus the melanomas that often come along with them, I like grays that start out black or bay and take a long time to turn. It looks like you have a new horse every spring. I have one that turned out to be flea-bitten and another that is now dappled. The way in which they gray is like a prize in the bottom of a Cracker Jack box.
You always want what you don't have, which for me is a bay with black legs, black mane, and black tail. I also appreciate flaxen manes and tails on chestnuts.
Bays with no white are my favorite.
Blacks
Four socks or No Socks
Soft Eyes
I currently drive an economy car just because I commute and need the gas savings so I can afford to drive my truck to pull my horses. I am SOOO not an economy car person. I'm an SUV person. I don't feel good in an economy car. I've had an appy & I've had a paint. It was like driving the economy car -- not talking quality here AT ALL - so please don't take it that way -- but paints and appaloosas just didn't FIT me. I am a solid horse type of person...
Hmmm, let's see, conformation aside I like a horse that catches your eye...
*pretty head with small foxy ears
*not so common colours
*bays with NO white on legs (white on face is okay)
*matching socks/stockings (all 4 or both front or both back)
*full tails
*lots of white on a face
*blue eyes with black "liner"
*brindling (VERY rare in horses)
*"colour breeds" (paints: overos and toveros, and appies: with tails)
*flashy paints (50-50 colour and white is perfect)
*dun/palomino/buckskins that are gold not "buttermilk"
*greys, esp. when the body has gone light but tail, mane & legs are still dark
*I know we're not talking conformation but I like a horse with nice musculature (but I still love my skinny TB!)
*do NOT like too much pink skin, wimpy tails, or eyes that show too much white
Okay I should probably stop now!
It's hard, but I'll try. I too like:
a pretty head
Long manes and tails
Sorrels with full flaxen manes & tails
50/50 paints as well
True duns with black points
Greys as well, especially if they still have their black manes & tails and legs
Dark bays with lots of chrome
Sorrels with chrome as well
I don't like a bald face, but I do like an interesting blaze or a little snip or star
Appearance? I like FLASH!
Which is why I'm drawn to Appaloosas... and why I bought a half-Arab when I was 18!
He was chestnut- bright, shiny, RED with a star/strip and two front socks and two hind stockings. He stood out visually and had the attitude to match.
I have 2 Apps now but I'll always fall hard for a red horse with white hooves!
I love the looks of my Appaloosas. I love their freckles and white rimmed eyes and streaky manes.
My mare's mane and tail get thinner every year -she's 7 now so I hope it stops! She started off chestnut with white blanket and now she's mostly white with red legs and ears. She's petite and short. I like the way she's stocky but feminine.
My gelding is gorgeous. He's the big leggy version of the mare, with more colour. Big brown spots on his rump, long thick grey and white tail, very expressive and clever face.
I never went out specifically looking for another Appaloosa after my red gelding died, but when I found him I had to see him. He wasn't magnificent in his photo, just cute. When I drove into the lane that day, he lifted his head and looked at us, and I yelped- "He's so handsome!" Of course if he'd been a jerk I wouldn't have bought him but his looks are such a bonus. I'll never lose him in a crowd!
Juli:
I love
beautiful heads
little ears
big jaws
lush tails,
chestnut or liver chestnut with four white stockings and a blaze,
dark bays with the same amout of white on them,
dark grays with blue rather than brown in the background,
Palominos(of course, Trigger)
Really athletic...!
just my preferences
These days, seeing a load of skinny horses here in the southeast, my eye is happy seeing a CHUBBY horse. However, when looking at a horse for me- I fall in love with eyes. Big, soft dreamy eyes to be exact. Which is why there is a chestnut out here instead of a bay or an Appy right now..lol... Chestnut is not my color. But, chestnut he is... I just look at those eyes and well, all bets are off! ;)
OK OK- thats really not ALL I look at.... I promise! But if they dont have a good eye, then I dont look any farther. ;)
Great topic Juli!
Isn't interesting to note that almost everyone listed color traits before physical traits when listing their favorites?
I love buckskins- especially those that look like Cisco from the "Dances with Wolves" movie. And palominos... right now I have a silver dapple appaloosa/QH cross. I jokingly say she is half buckskin, half palomino even though I know its genetically impossible...
I love horses with strong hindquarters, a balanced body and a BRAIN. I like the stock horse types. Though when I was little I wanted a steel grey thoroughbred.
I've never been much for looks (I'd much rather have an ugly, go anywhere, do anything horse than a complete psycho-nutcase horse, oh he's beautiful, but I can't ride him...), but recently with the horse market down so much, I've been drawn to the "lookers". I was blessed to come across this beautiful dun weanling last year, and I grabber her up without a second glance. Turns out she has the brains AND the beauty, and my, what a pleasure! So, needless to say, now I'm stuck in love withthe dun/buckskin horses (my mom just got a buttermilk gelding) with the traditional Quarter Horse stockiness with the well-defined heads. Love the big, sturdy feet too! Of course, I'll never forget my huge, bombproof (and quite unattractive) appy Honey, Gypsy the hairy pony, and Hou the brown Quarter... :-)
Interesting topic. I look for a certain something in the eyes but I cannot define what it is. There is simply a connection that sparkles when 'my kind of horse' looks at me.
I'm partial to sorrels and line backed duns but not opposed to chestnuts and bays either. A little chrome is nice and a full flaxen mane and tail is a plus.
A white horse has never appealed to me at all, but I've never encountered a white with those special eyes that sparkle at me. Paints don't seem quite right, and I'm not an Ap fan either. For me the touches of white need to be on lower legs or the middle of the head.
But if the horse has a large head with a roman nose, it won't matter a bit what other positives exist, because I'll walk on by.
A unique, medium to dark color shade (I can't get into perlinos, cremellos, and champagnes). A dark buckskin, grulla, or a high-contrast roan is absolutely the bee's knees
A large, soft, dark, kind eye that says "I like being here with you. Let's go somewhere together!"
A level topline
Stock horse type. I can NOT get into gaited horses. I have no idea why, but some of them give me an unexplained case of the shivering willies.
The last is hard to describe, because it's more of a feeling than a physical trait, even though it manifests itself in the physical profile of the horse. I maybe inadequately label it effortless competence. A horse that does his intended job with an aura of innate graceful expertise, as if they're doing the one thing in the world that comes easier than anything else, and they'll do it for anyone on any given day for as long as you like. Vital Signs Are Good shows me that every time I watch her on the rail or in a western riding pattern. I've also seen kids horses at local shows exude that same aura for their job. Tank has this trait, too, as did Najah. I suppose it could also be called an honest work ethic, but it really is more than that.
April :-)
Hmmm...
Getting a late start on this one I see.
- I like a stock horse with well shaped ears (not completely arced like an arabs ear but with some arc to it).
- I love the "new" performance style stock horse body but with good bone - ya know? I don't like the bone too refined. And there needs to be a natural inclination toward some good muscling. Not too thoroughbredy - don't like that look on a supposed stock horse.
- I too love the natural eye liner.
- I also LOVE a large dark liquid eye.
- I like like large jaw (jawl?) too
- I LOVE a pretty dish face - again not too much just a little works perfectly!
COLORS:
Well I have a horse with the above traits that is talented with a good mind color really doesn't matter but if it did....
BLACK is my favorite color
GREY / ROAN runs a close second.
Regardless of popularity I have always liked PALOMINOS for their color and manes.
I have never been found of sorrel / brown / reds - yet I keep finding myself with those horses, because they fit the above criteria.
I love horses with white feet and faces!!!
Spots are okay too.
Had a Blood Bay for a short time, boy was he pretty! When the setting sun hit him he almost looked purple...and when you moved him the colors would shift.
"But if the horse has a large head with a roman nose, it won't matter a bit what other positives exist, because I'll walk on by."
Have to agree with you. A friend (or more acurately a frenemie)of mine recently spent more on a new mare than I spent on my fairly new (but used) F250 4X4. The horse looked absolutely gorgeous, until I walked around to the front end and saw the worst roman nose I've seen on a quarter horse ever. Roman nose is one thing on a draft breed (for some it's the standard) but on a riding horse... *shiver* just can't do it.
Of course this mare is an awesome barrel horse, when they're not knocking barrels that is.
I have a weak spot for horses/ponies that look like my first pony.
Brie was a a solid dark chesnut with no white lots of hair, a pretty dished head and perky ears.
I also love pink noses.
Mollie
Juli- Sorry this is WAY OT but I was wondering... didn't you once have a gorgeous bay, I believe his name was Hotroddin Along? The whole colour convo made me think of him, if he was yours do you mind me asking what happened with him?
Also, I've been playing "catch up". Now that I've found your blog I've been reading all the old entries, starting from the beginning (I am up to May '07) and I wanted to fill you in on my reading habits (re: April 12/07) I read several mags (Horse & Rider, Horse Illustrated, Equus, AQHA Journal, Paint Horse Journal (?? I think that's the name) I subscribe to the first 3 and usually renew the other 2 with my memberships. I also like to read horse books (training, grooming, riding, etc) The internet is mostly research and "fun stuff" (ie your blog) I know it's a bit late but being that you're in the biz I thought you might want to know.
Lisa
ps-I followed you to Western Horseman for awhile when I found out you were there too :)
Yikes...here goes my comments...don't hate me for not having a stock horse... ha ha ha.
I like the fine, refined features of arabs and many thoroughbreds (guess what I own..an arab and a TB). Especially the dished face, inwards pointing ears and that sleek elegant frame.
Now, while I like arabs...I'm more of the sporthorse build type rather than the dainty show horse...but that's because I ride endurance and dainty doesn't cut it!
I like the long lean barrel of a nice racing TB...of course if you were to see the rear view of my TB you'd think she was a quarter horse...but while NOT being a stock horse person, I do like the powerful hindquarters many QH have...even when they are on my thoroughbred!
Color wise, my arabs have all been grays so I'm kinda drawn to that color, but I LOVE a shiny coppery chestnut best.
And if I ever get the chance to own a quarter horse it MUST be a palomino as they just seem magical to me.
But what I like most about ANY HORSE, is the way they carry themselves. I've seen the ugliest equine in a pasture suddenly look like the most refined dressage horse when they move...and like someone else said a good horse is any color!
Tracey
cdncowgirl--
You have a good memory! I did indeed own a bay gelding named Hotroddin Along. After his undefeated western pleasure futurity season, I sold him for the benefit of my daughter's college fund.
"Rodney" eventually ended up with a young lady who happened to be the daughter of the then-publisher of Western Horseman. She qualified for and showed him at the AQHA World Show several times, in amateur. He is now retired and living at her parents' place near Colorado Springs.
He's the only horse I ever had without a single white hair on him. In fact, when I first got him, I couldn't recognize him at Bob Avila's training stable. I was too used to identifying horses by their markings instead of by some other element of their looks!
Juli- the reason my memory is so good with Rodney is that I fell in love with him from his photo in your H&R column and the tidbits you'd share with us. He was a plain little bay but he was bee-yoo-ti-ful in my eyes! (Really funny when you go up and read my post on what I like... flash flash flash lol)
Thanks for the update!
CDN--
Rodney had an eye and an expression that just drew you in.
The conformation of his lips also made him look like he was always kinda smiling at you. That was apparent in photos as well as in person.
Still fairly amazin that you remember him, though. He was a futurity champion in 1992.
I have always been kind of obsessed with Black & White horses. Breed really doesn't matter with me. It took me 12 years to find a B&W I could afford but when I did I didn't hesitate to buy him and I've been extremely impressed. He's a MFT/QH cross and he is beautiful. He's mostly black but has 4 matching stockings and some white just above his whithers a small stripe on his face and an oreo mane and tail. I really like the matching stockings. I'm not sure why but it just makes a horse look flashier and I always notice those first! I'm not picky about head shape just so long as it's not roman nosed I'm ok. And I love big brown sweet eyes that can almost talk you out of any sort of mischief they've gotten into!
anonymous said...
And I love big brown sweet eyes that can almost talk you out of any sort of mischief they've gotten into!
Our appy does that too well! I got a real good look at it when I fell off him this winter. (not good, I got hung up) when I kicked free he trotted off, then came back and peeked around my friend's horses rear end with a look that said "why on earth didn't you stay on?!" Have to admit I didn't quite know why myself! lol
I really like dun colors and hazel eyes. We have a leopard app stallion with red dun spots (the ones along his spine have a line through them!) and hazel eyes. I waited 30 years for him, and we bred him ourselves.
First off I always get drawn to the bulldog QH types, big butts and chests, big jowls, good bone and feet, and anything that has big, warm, friendly, expressive eyes. But, also:
Pretty heads
Palomino
Blood bay
Sorrel with or w/o flaxen mane & tail
Blacks, especially with a little chrome
Dapple grays
Duns, grullos, buckskins
(Do you think I maybe just have a thing for horses, no matter the color?)
That said, I bought my current horse based on color (grulla), with just about equal weight to bloodline (great grandson to Poco Bueno and bulldog to the max), and disposition. He's my dream horse, beautiful color, excellent disposition, wonderful bone and feet, and the biggest, most expressive eyes. No matter where I take him, he turns on the charm with perked ears and big, blinking eyes. Everyone comes up to pet him and exclaim how sweet he looks. If they fail to recognize the charm meter shooting off the charts, he will politely touch them as they go by and try the perk and blink again. His head is not all that pretty, kind of coarse, especially after he ran into a fence and broke his nose as a weanling, but the eyes draw you in on him over everything else.
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