LOL- 3 of these butts are my kind of rear ends ( 1, 2, & 5) , and 4 is OK in my book. But number 3 (to me) is what I mean when I say it is OK for a rounder butt or lower tail set as long as the rear end is strong. But this one isn't; it is short in the hip and slopes down too much (ski slope rump) for my taste and I would consider this a fault.
Ok, lol. So really there are no differences then? as these are what I prefer as well. You're saying none of these hips are 'bad' yet the ones you like are reining QH's. 1&2 specifically are proven reiners, I know they get the job done..
The reason I chopped off the hocks was to try to disguise the breeds (I mean some things like feathers on the legs are obvious
). 1, 2 and 4 are all QH's.
3 is a grade draft mare of unknown origin (said to be Belgian/Clyde mix, dunno if that's true or not) and is a picture from when she was much younger, she's filled out an muscled up a bit since then, but who will pull the barn down if you ask her and is mostly valued for her personality (she's my ammy stepmom's steady cart horse)
1 & 2 were in my breeding program. 1 is the old mare I just lost, when she was in her late teens (probably 18) Shown extensively in performance events with multiple wins.
2 is the sire to my current gelding, the old mare's grandson, on the first day I brought him home (before he was halter broke, hence the muck!) He was shown lightly before I sold him and I don't think they went farther with him because of financial difficulties but he had an awesome slide, naturally took to it, the first time I stopped him from a trot, he sat and slide 4 feet.
4 was never a part of my breeding program and was a purchased gelding (I think he's a long yearling pictured here) but is a nice laid back fella, great personality which is mostly what I ask of a gelding. He's never been shown, and probably won't be but he is a nice ranch gelding.
5 is my unregistered mini mare that was given to me last month
I'm not sure what she can do yet, but obviously I'm never gonna ask her to slide