My assumptions on a persons riding are usually formed around a few things.
The horses quality.
The horses frame.
The tack. (a big one)
Age/training of the horse. (if known)

A person starting a 2 year old is going to have different posture than say someone out trail riding a 20+ year old horse coming down a hill. In order to really critique posture, position or the rider you should know or look at all the circumstances first. I also tend to form strong opinions of people with crappy tack. Crappy tack to me says novice, it says I don't have enough experience yet to know what good tack is and be able to afford it. Tack to me is really what I look at first. I know I shouldn't because there are princesses out there that get all the great gear too and some don't ride well. But if I see someone riding in a synthetic western saddle or a cheap ass aussie saddle, I tend to form an opinion real quick.

I tend to smile and nod at people with OTTB and OTSB. To me, that's a used retired sometimes broken down horse that couldn't cut it at their profession or be good enough to remain to be a breeder. This is a lower quality horse in my eyes. And when the owners brag up pedigree or winnings, it sometimes makes it even more funnier to me. (insert bigger smile and nod here) A person that flaps thier jaw about accomplishments that aren't really accomplishments or has to talk up thier horses, usually isn't all that and a bag of chips. The professionals I know are quiet and pretty focused and you can see the results in their horses and what their horses can do.

Also, Big Dreams - my hubby thinks it's neat one of my mares has War Admiral way the hell back in her pedigree. It's neat sure, but like you said most horses have all the legends way back.



EagleViewArabian wrote:

What IS it with everyone freaking out about foals sliding back into the canal?!!!!  THAT IS NORMAL!  I promise you they will NOT get sucked into some big black vortex to never be seen again.