Calling All Horsey People!

[amby]

and
Casper and I need your Opinion . We are (eventually) having him registered as a Pinto . You have to designate a horse type. This wouldn't normally matter, but as I LOVE showing in Halter and in Pinto you show halter by TYPE, it is important that I chose the right type so that we do decent. That is where you come in. You can see a good picture of Casper set up in my Signature (THANKS SADDLEBREDLOVER) I need your opinion about which type you would register him as. Here are the 4 choices:
1) Stock: mainly quarter horses-shown squared up
2) Hunter: mainly Thoroughbred/Warmblood horses-shown front square back feet offset
3)Pleasure: Morgan/Arabian Breeding-Shown Stretched in their normal fashion
4) Saddle: Gaited Breeding, Shown Stretched out; Tennessee Walker/Saddlebred-Should display Breed Character

Casper-though he is supposed to be gaited will be shown in English Classes: He prefers to trot. I have had my trainer evaluate him and she said hunter; our show judge said he looks like a well balanced sport horse, and another trainer said once gaited always gaited (even though he won't gait) LOL.
But to me he doesn't look gaited, I may be prejudiced though, so EVERY opinion is appreciated.

[tinypony]

i say hunter - although he is a gaited horse his build lends more to that of a thoroughbred or a warmblood.

[bndranch]

Just remember what you are going to be showing against. With that in mind remember he will never place well against a qh, tb, or a WB. He isn't build like they are no matter which way you show him. They base this purely on the way he is built. He does NOT have to be gaited to be put into the Saddle division. There are MANY saddlebreds that are not gaited but for the registery he needs to be put in the saddle division.
JMHO

[amby]

My trainer and the girl across the hall thought he was a TB LOL!!! I understand what you mean, but he doesn't have the high stepping action of those breeds. That was my fear with the saddle division.

[tinypony]

i was going by the middle picture in your signature.... because in my opinion the two end pictures look like a completely different horse but from the pics i saw of you at a show i'd say his build more resembles that of a TB/WB - i just wish i could see how he moved.......

[Marybeth]

Amby could you get a video of you riding him and one of just him moving on his own?? It might help others here to see him in action. Just a thought.

[amby]

If I can find my video camera I can get a video of him lunging and a pic at liberty. He isn't back under saddle quite yet.....(though we are getting close) !! I'll see what I can do. Thanks, Yall are so appreciated.