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Horse Conformation
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Horse Conformation and
Judges Perspective
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Introduction
Conformation: Form to Function
Practice Class
References
References
Loch, W. (2002). Horses - - Conformation: Form to function. Retrieved from:
http://extension.missouri.edu/publications/DisplayPub.aspx?P=G2837
Heird, J. C., & Anderson, T. M. (2001). Judging halter: A standard of reference for
AQHA judges. Retrieved from:
www.aqha.com/~/media/FA71659B161048F1B85C635362E3EFB5.ashx
Heird, J. C. (1994). Competitive horse judging. Retrieved from:
www.aqha.com/~/media/99CC10097D56497EBDE93F18F672A0CD.ashx
Horsemanship score sheet. Retrieved from:
www.aqha.com/en/~/.../F49711799A1F4D0594F5EA3B6AF96743.ashx
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Introduction
This instructional guide, Conformation: Form to Function,
covers the desirable characteristics we seek in the
conformation of horses.
Throughout this guide you will find a
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Form to Function
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Ultimatehorsesite.com
Conformation:
Form to Function
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Review the Basics
Evaluating Conformation
Summary
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Ultimatehorsesite.com
Review the Basics
There are four general areas of the horse to consider
when evaluating conformation:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Balance
Structural Correctness
Muscling
Breed and Sex Characteristics
Before we dive in, lets refresh on a few basics.
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Form to Function
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Animals.nationalgeographic.com
Conformation
Conformation is the physical appearance of an
animal due to the arrangement of muscle, bone and
other body tissue.
Form to Function
There is NO perfectly conformed horse.
However, the conformation of a horse depicts its
athletic ability to perform.
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Form to Function
4theloveofhorses.com
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Body Parts
Lets familiarize ourselves with relevant body parts of
the horse.
Click on an area of the horse’s body to reveal its relevant body parts.
Ansci.okstate.edu
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Form to Function
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Poll
Neck
Throatlatch
Ansci.okstate.edu
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Form to Function
Return to Body Parts
Back
Withers
Shoulder
Point of Shoulder
Ansci.okstate.edu
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Form to Function
Return to Body Parts
Back
Elbow
Forearm
Knee
Fetlock
Cannon Bone
Ansci.okstate.edu
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Form to Function
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Back
Back
Loin
Ansci.okstate.edu
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Form to Function
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Back
Point of Hip
Croup
Point of Buttock
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Form to Function
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Back
Thigh
Gaskin
Hock
Cannon Bone
Fetlock
Ansci.okstate.edu
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Form to Function
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Quick
Review!
Which of the following is NOT a general area for
evaluating conformation?
Balance
Structural Correctness
Temperament
Breed & Sex Characteristics
Muscling
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Form to Function
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icanhascheezburger.com
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Form to Function
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Correct!
Great job! Although the temperament of a horse is a
quality you should look for, it does not affect the
conformation.
wine-ophelia.blogspot.com
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Form to Function
Continue to Evaluating
Conformation
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Evaluating Conformation
Click the general area of evaluation you would like to begin with.
Balance
Extension.missouri.edu
Structural Correctness
Muscling
Breed & Sex Characteristics
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Form to Function
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Balance
Balance is the most important characteristic to
consider when evaluating a horse. It is determined by
the skeletal framework of the horse. Since we cannot
see the horse’s skeleton, lets identify reference points
we can use to evaluate balance.
Click on an area to learn more.
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Conformation
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Form to Function
Continue to
Aqha.com
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Slope of Shoulder
Slope of the shoulder is the most important aspect of balance
and indicates the angle of the shoulder blade. This angle is
related to the top to bottom line ratios of the neck and back. The
slope will also affect the length of stride. The ideal horse has a
long sloping shoulder which contributes to a short topline to
underline ratio and long, reaching stride.
Aqha.com
A horse with a steep, upright shoulder will tend to have a short
neck, long back, and short, choppy stride.
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Conformation
Continue to Back Top to
Bottom Line Ratio
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Form to Function
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Back Top to Bottom Line
Ratio
Ideally, the topline should be short and strong with a long bottom
line or underline. The topline includes the withers, back, and loin.
Aqha.com
A horse with a long back and loin may develop weaknesses and
strain over the topline.
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Conformation
Continue to Neck
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Form to Function
Return to Balance
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Neck
Some people give much preference to a horse that has a long thin
neck. However, when considering balance, attention should be given to
the top to bottom line ratio of the neck. Ideally this will be a 2 to 1 ratio.
The topline is from poll to withers and the bottom line is from throatlatch
to where the neck ties into the shoulder.
Aqha.com
The placement of the neck on the horse’s shoulder is important when
considering head and neck carriage. A low placed neck will result in a
horse that possibly has a lower head carriage and is heavy on the
forehand when traveling.
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Conformation
Continue to Withers
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Form to Function
Return to Balance
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Withers
Ideally, the withers should be sharp, prominent, and
slightly higher than the hindquarters.
Aqha.com
A mutton withered horse will produce difficulties with
holding a saddle on.
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Conformation
Continue to Hindquarters
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Form to Function
Return to Balance
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Hindquarters
From the side, the hindquarters should have a square
appearance and length through the croup and hip. A
long croup and hip will allow for more volume in the
hindquarter region.
Aqha.com
Aqha.com
Return to Evaluating
Conformation
Continue to Slope of
Shoulder
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Form to Function
Return to Balance
Back
Quick
Review!
What is the most important aspect of balance?
Top to Bottom Line Ratio of Back
Length of Croup
Slope of Shoulder
Prominence of Withers
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Conformation
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Form to Function
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Correct!
Great job! The shoulder is the most important aspect
of balance as it is directly related to the conformation
of other important components of balance.
Pichars.org
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Conformation
Continue to Structural
Correctness
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Form to Function
Return to Balance
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Horsewallpapers.in
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Return to Balance
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Conformation
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Form to Function
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Structural Correctness
Structural Correctness refers to the conformation of
the legs and feet. Considerable attention should be
given to structural correctness as it is the foundation of
the horse.
Click on an area to learn more.
Hind Limb
Fore Limb
Aqha.com
Aqha.com
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Conformation
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Form to Function
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Review!
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Hind Limb
Ideally from the side view, you should
be able to drop an imaginary line from
the point of buttock to the ground and
have it touch the hocks, run parallel to
the cannon bone, and slightly behind
the heel.
Ag.auburn.edu
From the rear view, ideally a line can
be dropped from the point of buttock
and bisect the gaskins, hocks, and
fetlocks. Naturally horses toe out slightly
behind to allow for clearance of the
ribcage. This results in a longer, freer
stride. Furthermore, the horse should be
widest from stifle to stifle when viewed
from the rear.
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Correctness
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Conformation
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Form to Function
Ag.auburn.edu
Continue…
Back
Hind Limb Deviations
The following are common deviations found in the hind limb.
Remember, No deviation is desirable.
Ag.auburn.edu
Ag.auburn.edu
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Conformation
Continue to Fore Limb
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Form to Function
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Correctness
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Fore Limb
As with the hind limb, the horse
should stand on a straight
column of bone in the fore limb
with no deviations.
Ag.auburn.edu
From the front view, an imaginary
line should drop from the point of
shoulder and bisect the knee,
cannon bone, and hoof. The foot
should be facing straight on.
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Correctness
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Conformation
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Form to Function
Ag.auburn.edu
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Fore Limb Deviations
The following are common deviations found in the fore limb.
Remember, No deviation is desirable.
Ag.auburn.edu
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Correctness
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Conformation
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Form to Function
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Fore Limb Deviations
Calf-kneed is one of the most undesirable
deviations as it causes a lack of support and
strength in the leg.
Splay footed (toe-out) in a horse will
disrupt the flight pattern of the leg, causing
it to wing-in. With this, it is common for the
horse to hit its front leg together when
traveling.
Ag.auburn.edu
Pigeon toed (toe-in) in a horse will disrupt
the flight pattern of the leg, causing it to
wing-in.
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Conformation
Continue to Hind Limb
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Form to Function
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Correctness
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Quick
Review!
Which of these deviations is least desirable?
Ag.auburn.edu
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Correctness
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Conformation
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Form to Function
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Correct!
Great job! Calf-kneed is very undesirable because of
the lack of support it causes in the forehand.
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Conformation
Continue to Muscling
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Form to Function
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Correctness
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Horsewallpapers.in
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Correctness
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Conformation
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Form to Function
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Muscling
It is not important for a
horse to have a very high
volume of muscling, but to
have adequate muscling
to perform its job. It is
important that muscling be
balanced and
proportionate to the horse.
This can be determined by
comparing muscle groups
and their uniformity.
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Conformation
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Form to Function
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Aqha.com
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Review!
Back
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Review!
Which horse has more desirable muscling?
Animalscience.tamu.edu
Animalscience.tamu.edu
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Conformation
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Form to Function
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Vichorse.com
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Conformation
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Form to Function
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Correct!
Great job! This horse does
show a better balance of
muscling from the
forehand to the
hindquarters.
Partyponies.wordpress.com
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Conformation
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Form to Function
Continue to Breed & Sex
Characteristics
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Breed & Sex Characteristics
Paint Stallion
Breed or type characteristics
are the style and
conformational attributes that
are specific to a breed. Sex
characteristics are the
expression of femininity or
masculinity in the horse,
usually expressed through the
head and neck area.
Stallionsnow.com
Horses should especially
exhibit these characteristics
when being considered for
breeding.
glenlomond.com.au
Quarter Horse Mare
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Conformation
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Form to Function
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Quick
Review!
Which horse shows more masculinity?
Gulsbyquarterhorses.com
Equine-world.org
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Characteristics
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Conformation
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Form to Function
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Lolhorses.com
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Characteristics
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Conformation
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Form to Function
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Correct!
Great job! You can see his masculinity especially
through his jowls (cheeks).
Latimesblog.latimes.com
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Characteristics
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Conformation
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Form to Function
Continue to Summary
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Summary
Discoverhorses.com
A horse’s functionality is directly
related and attributed to their
conformation.
Fads in the horse industry will
come and go. In the long run,
sacrificing quality conformation
for a trend will only result in
limited performance abilities.
A horse with near ideal
conformation will always be in
demand. There is no substitute.
Regardinghorses.com
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Form to Function
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Practice Class
Stock Type Mares
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Conformation
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Form to Function
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Conformation
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Form to Function
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Mark Your Card
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Conformation
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Form to Function
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Conformation
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Form to Function
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Reasons for 2 over 4:
• 2 is a more well balanced individual, as she is more equally divided into thirds when
viewed from front to back. Additionally, 2 has a shorter, stronger back with a
comparatively longer underline.
• Regarding muscling, 2 has greater depth and balance of muscling throughout her body.
• Moreover, 2 is more refined and feminine, and is a smoother blending individual.
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Conformation
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Form to Function
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Reasons for 4 over 1:
• Overall, 4 is a larger bodied mare who more closely follows the substance of 2.
Additionally she has a squarer, more proportionate hip with a rounder turn to the
croup.
• Adding to her size, 4 is a more heavily muscled individual, who shows greater
definition throughout her body.
• However, 1 does show more feminine characteristics, as she is more
refined about her head and neck, as she is shorter from eye to muzzle
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and ties cleaner through her throatlatch.
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Conformation
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Form to Function
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Reasons for 1 over 3:
• 1 is overall a more balanced individual, as she is more evenly distributed in her body
across each third from front to back.
• She is also more correctly assembled down her legs and hooves, which is most noted
when drawing a line from hip to hock to heel.
• 1 is simply a prettier profiling individual, with superior quality and blending.
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Conformation
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Form to Function
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Congratulations!
Now you have an understanding
of the foundations of judging
horses!
HAPPY TRAILS!
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Conformation
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Form to Function
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