" An outstanding horse will exhibit superior conformation and a quality horse has more attractiveness and eye appeal. So, if we are talking about a phenotypically outstanding horse, then it is going to tend to be "pretty". "
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I dont know about that. I have seen some outstanding athletes who are anything but "pretty". Some pretty phenominal sire's also who most would not call "pretty". They do however have what it takes conformationally to excell to the level their mind and heart tells them to.
I have also seen some awfully pretty horses who were not such great athletes and actually never really won much or did anything to be termed "outstanding".
A great performer,can become "pretty" not because of what he looks like, but because of what he's done and can do. Thats where "Pretty is as pretty does" comes to be.