Shiggins: I would imagine she is that bad off because of a combination of poor care, and the amount of snow that N. VA has had. If she's been in a field without hay supplementation (somewhat common because of the lack of really severe weather this area gets), the 3' plus snow probably didn't help. I really didn't ask a whole lot since she said she was working on it, and I didn't realize she was this thin. She is getting me a current video so I will know what she looks like. If she really is this thin still, we will be passing since I'm not driving 4 1/2 hours to look at a horse in this poor of condition. I know my horses dropped some weight and we didn't get near the same amount of snow they did (Of course, my "dropped weight" was that the pony doesn't look pregnant anymore and I can see ribs when faith flexes. not look like a rescue case).

IDKA-exactly what issues do you see that would affect her being a lower level jumper? I see the sickle hocks, straight shoulder and lack of butt, but nothing that screams to me unable to eventually do 2'6".

HP-she knows that she is at least a year from being able to show her new horse over fences. Until that time she is looking at maybe doing some pleasure or Eq walk trot classes. The horse will be sent to a trainer, either myself or another, and will be jumped and shown over fences before she gets to start jumping on her. If a horse is already solid on the flat, but needs help with jumping, then I'm not sure what the big deal is? She isn't looking at 3 year olds, but older (this connie is the youngest at 9) horses that have experience in some way, just maybe not over fences. This mare has supposedly done some x country, and fox hunting, as well as extensive trail riding. As you probably know, "made" hunters here in VA aren't cheap, even for just a local show prospect, and she would rather something that she couldn't show over fences right away, to having to deal with arthritis and injections and only being able to ride her new horse for a couple of years before needing to retire it.

Also, I have worked to make my jumps at home fairly imposing so in all my "greenies" have never had an issue at a show since they have seen most of it at home. I also never said she would be doing 2' jumpers. She might start showing beginner hunter after the horse has gained experience. Anyway I don't understand what the issue is with the beginner jumpers. Only one local show offers it, and only during the winter (last show is in March) and its mostly people that eventually want to show the hunters, but are getting miles on greenies. Most of the courses are trotted with brief cantering. Its actually way less scary then the novice jumpers since by the time they get to that level they have enough confidence to fly around.