CONFORMATION
• SPORT HORSE
TYPE
• HUNTER TYPE
• STOCK TYPE
• SADDLE TYPE
• PLEASURE &
VERSATILITY
TYPE
What is Conformation?
• Physical appearance of an
animal due to the
arrangement of muscles,
bone, & other body tissue
• Improved conformation>
increased athleticism
• Each breed has ideal
characteristics
Anatomy
Components of Conformation
•
•
•
•
•
•
Neck
Balance
Shoulder
Topline
Hindquarters
Muscle (proportional)
Balance
• Single most important
characteristic in
equine selection
• Forms basis for
athletic performance
HEAD
• Lean, clean chisled
• Triangular
• Eyes large and set on
corners of face
• Profile – straight or
slightly dished
Neck
• Assists with balance
• Long,lean,high set
– Correlated to shoulder
slope
• Topline: Bottom line
– 2:1
CHEST, HEARTGIRTH & RIBS
• Chest deep & moderately
wide
• Rib cage well sprung
• Deep heart girth
Shoulder
• Slope critical to
balance
– impacts proportions of
neck
– Impacts proportions of
back
• 45 to 50 degree angle
• Pastern angle:shoulder
angle
Slope of Shoulder
TOPLINE COMPONENTS
• Withers –
Prominent, medium
height, clean
• Back – Short&
strong, muscled
• Loin –Short &
strong, blends
smoothly into croup
• Croup – Short &
Strong, muscled
MUSCLE
• Quality
– Muscled
throughout
– Long, clean,
defined
• Quantity
– QH vs Arabian
FRONT LEGS
FRONT LEGS
FRONT LEGS
FRONT LEGS
FRONT LEGS
FRONT LEGS
FRONT LEGS
FRONT LEGS
“pigeon-toed” = toes pointed in
"splay-footed“ = toes pointed out
HINDQUARTERS
Hindquarters- from Side
• Level of croup
• Length of hip
• Angle of hock
Hindquarters- from Rear
• Angle of hocks from behind
• Hindquarters should appear
square
– Widest from stifle to stifle
• Quantity of muscle will vary
by breed
HINDQUARTERS
Sickle - hocked
Post - legged
HINDQUARTERS
Cow-hocked
FOOT CONFORMATION
 FOOT AXIS = Angle of the dorsal
hoof wall
 ~55-60o forelimb
 ~55-60o hindlimb
 PASTERN AXIS
 Line drawn though the center of pastern
 FOOT/PASTERN AXIS
 Line through the center of the coffin and pastern
joint
 FOOT LEVEL
 Median & lateral wall of equal length
PASTERN
RELATIONSHIPS OF FORM TO
FUNCTION
• Long, sloping
shoulders correlated
w/ long, sloping
pasterns
• Long, trim necks &
clean throatlatches –
balance, agility &
ability to work off
hocks
• Depth of heart &
spring of rib – lung
capacity & endurance
• Long muscles moves a
limb further
STRUCTURAL FEATURES THAT
ENHANCE ACTION
• Long forearms – long strides
• Sloping shoulders & sloping pasterns of
front leg – graceful, elastic stride
• Toe straight ahead in front – truer action