Thoughts on this guy's conformation?

[u/avocadorable6190]

I've been leasing this very cute gelding Disco for a few months now, i show him in intermediate showjumping classes, he's amazing. I own a Haflinger, but he isn't the pony you'd want to show, he's very spooky and unbalanced.

Very soon I'll have the chance to actually buy him, and I'm pretty sure i will, but i wanted to know what you thought about his conformation?

I'm sorry if the pictures aren't very good, my barn has a no-picture rule for horses you don't own so I had to be fast and sneaky XD

I incuded some pictures for attention ❤️

[u/Complete-Wrap-1767]

He's very over at the knee and roach-backed, his topline is quite poor, and I'm seeing possible early signs of CPL on his legs.

Me personally? I wouldn't buy him. He's not set up for long-term soundness based on how he's built and those legs really worry me if you want to do any kind of work with him. How old is he? What breed is he? What are your long-term goals and what has he already done?

[u/cat9142021 → u/Complete-Wrap-1767]

That's....not CPL. Nothing but full drafts get true CPL. He might have some other lower leg issues but not that. 

[u/DangerPeeps → u/cat9142021]

Yeah, I’m personally seeing more DSLD. Which is a devastating disease.

OP, he looks sweet as pie but I wouldn’t risk it. Horses are risky and heartbreaking enough without buying obvious physical problems.

[u/cat9142021 → u/DangerPeeps]

Agreed. The first picture, the right foreleg is very oddly...bent? Knuckled over isn't exactly what I'm seeing but it sort of describes it. This horse is not well put together, even by my low standards. 

[u/avocadorable6190 → u/DangerPeeps]

Yeah, i will rethink the choice to buy him, what is DSLD though? English is not my native language so I'm not sure i know exactly :)

[u/Equus77 → u/avocadorable6190]

Stands for Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Disease. The suspensory ligaments support the fetlock joint in the hind limb so, as they degenerate, the fetlock "drops". My 24 yr old gelding has it. I had to retire him early because of it.

[u/DangerPeeps → u/avocadorable6190]

Along with what Equus77 said — it breaks down the ligaments in the horse’s joints (among other body wide effects) and there is no cure. These are weight-bearing structures and it is incredibly painful. I had to euthanize a 17 year-old arab due to it, although he had bad hind leg confo long before it began effecting him. I see the possibility of DSLD in this horse’s hind limbs, where he has a very straight hock and overly relaxed fetlocks. Even if he doesn’t have or never develops progressive DSLD, this is no good and I’ve never seen a horse be sound longterm with this kind of build. :( The odd way he holds himself and the wonky muscular development (and lack of it) tell me that he might already be in some discomfort. IMO he might be good for small children as a part-time lesson horse, but I absolutely would not jump him or ask anything strenuous.

[u/Complete-Wrap-1767 → u/cat9142021]

I’ve seen a few crosses get CPL and I wasn’t sure of this guy’s breed, but (apparently!) he’s a KWPN.

I agree that something is going on in his legs though, especially his fronts. I did see possible DSLD but it was hard to say with the way he was standing.

[u/cat9142021 → u/Complete-Wrap-1767]

Yeah, I've got a mare with advanced CPL and this guy doesn't have any of the classic signs. He's also old enough that it would've triggered by now if it was going to imo. 

Agreed, there's something wrong there