Long pasterns in yearling

[Judith]

Hmmm. I am faced with one of those "what do I do" situations. I pulled my yearling stud colt (soon to be gelding) up from the pasture to have a look see. Now I know yearlings go through the uglies etc but I am concerned about his pasterns. They are quite long, not hideous but long enough. I am used to Thoroughbred colts not AQHA sooo I have no clue as to growth stages etc. He is the smoothest moving kid on the planet as he has lots of cushion. To cull or not to cull that is the question. The words of a judge I know keep ringing in my head " Put a bag over em until they are 2 year old then cull" Opinions? Keep him or cut him loose? Quarter horse folk HELP!!!!! The sorrel colt (he is actually grey) on my webpage is him as a weanling. Pasterns look fine in that shot. HMMMMM

[Northern Rancher]

Pretty is as pretty does.

[Judith]

You are totally right about that. He is an amazingly level headed youngster. Out of Barrel Horse Otoes Zantastic. Amazing temperment but I just keep seeing those pasterns. Not sure if he could stand up to a days work. Don't want to get to attached if he is a breakdown waiting to happen. On the other hand if long pasterns are not a huge problem he sure will be a smooth ride. He is a glider, that is for sure. Let's put it this way if he was a race horse there is no way he would be staying in my barn. But as a cow pony he might just do the trick. He has the brains for the work that's for sure. I can't spook him for the life of me and for a colt that has had very little handling he let's you do anything to him. I even put a blue tarp on his head. Nothing....

[Northern Rancher]

OK bring him over I'll see what I can do with him lol. I'm getting to the age where smooth is where it's at baby lol. Megan hauled her Poco Bueno mare over to get bred tonight-her foal is out of ' A Classic Kit' look him up tell me what you think. It's a good looking foal -the Mom was cowy as heck but too slow-I think he goes back to Easy Jet which should speed her up some. That darned kid has 4 zebra dun mares and fillies-little brat.

[Judith]

Lots of race blood in there! Triple Chick, Jet Deck and last but not least good ole Moon Lark! Nice stuff but I can't find a pic of the boy anywhere. Maybe lookin in the wrong places...

[Judith]

Don't ya hate it when your spawn out does ya in something. Darn kids anyhow . LOL

[Heel Fly]

I would keep him around until 2. You never know what they are gonna be until they are done growing, but you get a quick glimps at 2 when they level out, then all heck breaks loose and they get ugly again. Like you said long pasturns make for a smooth ride and usualy unless you are jumping or running barrels everyday they will hold up. Is his shoulder long and sloping, is it's length in proportion to the pasturn??

[Northern Rancher]

You better hide that unsound-sorry son of a gun up in northern Saskatchewamn_I know just the place too!!!

[Judith]

Everything appears to be in proportion at this point but I am not kidding when I say long they are at least 3 inches in length at the moment. I know he is going to be tall as his bum is over his mommas back at the moment so when the front catches up with the back end I put him in the 16.2 range. He has a great shoulder on him nice long neck and he carries himself well. Hence the quandry. If he was out of balance and cranky I wouldnt be having this problem And of course he's a grey soooo....( I know ya don't ride color but....)

[Northern Rancher]

16.2-that's too close to heaven to be any good here on earth lol. I'd hide up[ in northern Saskabush before anybody sees him.

[L.E. Stevens]

16.2-that's along way to be gettin up & down if yur doctorin. Probably need a get-down rope about 30' long

[Judith]

I look mentally challenged or like I'm riding a pony on anything less than a 16 hander. I try really hard to stay off the ground. I seem to alway do a lip stand if I'm coming off. Good thing I have a hard head. Can't seem to land on my feet.
Zippy helped me put up electric fencing this morning. He kind of sucks as a helper when handing you tools though.Picks them up and drops them about 50 feet away from me. Maybe he won't be much help on the range..... What good is a horse that won't hand you the proper tools!