nootka
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I think refinement is a bit of an elusive term, and it can be a bad thing also a good thing, depending on how it is interpreted.
It seems that too many people use it as a blanket description without really giving thought to its definition, or they use it without really understanding it, or just plain being deceptive (though usually when posting photos with their "off base" description, it is plain to see right or wrong). That may be wrong for me to say when it IS such an intangible quality. (I'm NOT criticizing the other thread, matter of fact I'm still trying to decide which horse I'd nominate!)
To myself, refinement means an overall proportion of size being on the slender or lighter side. I am not really wording this properly:
In other words, the bone density as well as the length of leg/neck/shortness of back and a small, nicely shaped head, small, tippy ears and a well placed tail altogether would be a "refined" Miniature Horse.
There are a lot of horses that have some refined features, but others about them are not so refined.
For example, my mare, Lailah, is quite refined as far as bone density, and her head is not overly large. Her back is nice and short and her tail is placed well (nice topline). That being said, her neck is not as long as I'd like, nor are her legs, for me to say that she is very refined.
Pics of the mare I'm referring to here:
Lailah
My gelding, Mouse, however, has much heavier bone for his overall proportions, slightly better leg length and a better length of neck, though maybe not as nice a tailset, and a slightly bigger head. I would say he is more of a "medium" build, IMHO. Mouse pictures here:
Mouse
I guess what I'm trying to say is that refinement is a subjective term, and as such is prone to a wide range of interpretation.
I know there are those among us that spurn "refinement" for whatever reason, but to me, a refined Miniature Horse is one that has overall the best proportions so as to approach what one might find in a full size horse of similar type....
Would love to hear others' thoughts on this subject.
Liz M.
It seems that too many people use it as a blanket description without really giving thought to its definition, or they use it without really understanding it, or just plain being deceptive (though usually when posting photos with their "off base" description, it is plain to see right or wrong). That may be wrong for me to say when it IS such an intangible quality. (I'm NOT criticizing the other thread, matter of fact I'm still trying to decide which horse I'd nominate!)
To myself, refinement means an overall proportion of size being on the slender or lighter side. I am not really wording this properly:
In other words, the bone density as well as the length of leg/neck/shortness of back and a small, nicely shaped head, small, tippy ears and a well placed tail altogether would be a "refined" Miniature Horse.
There are a lot of horses that have some refined features, but others about them are not so refined.
For example, my mare, Lailah, is quite refined as far as bone density, and her head is not overly large. Her back is nice and short and her tail is placed well (nice topline). That being said, her neck is not as long as I'd like, nor are her legs, for me to say that she is very refined.
Pics of the mare I'm referring to here:
Lailah
My gelding, Mouse, however, has much heavier bone for his overall proportions, slightly better leg length and a better length of neck, though maybe not as nice a tailset, and a slightly bigger head. I would say he is more of a "medium" build, IMHO. Mouse pictures here:
Mouse
I guess what I'm trying to say is that refinement is a subjective term, and as such is prone to a wide range of interpretation.
I know there are those among us that spurn "refinement" for whatever reason, but to me, a refined Miniature Horse is one that has overall the best proportions so as to approach what one might find in a full size horse of similar type....
Would love to hear others' thoughts on this subject.
Liz M.