CONFORMATION OF HORSES

1. CONFORMATION OF HORSES Agriscience 334 Equine Science #8893-B TEKS: 119.66 (c)(2)(B)

2. Introduction Conformation plays an important role in the ability of a horse to perform. Conformation refers to the structure or outline of an animal as determined by the arrangement of its parts.

3. Horses differ in conformation, which affects how well they can perform in different events.

4. When choosing a horse, one should be able to recognize standard conformation and conformation faults and match the purpose of the horse with the conformation that is best suited for that purpose.

5. Mechanics of Evaluation • When evaluating a horse, one should follow a few simple procedures: • Observe the horse from a distance; • Check out how the horse moves and its action;

6. Move in close and inspect for blemishes and abnormalities; • View the horse from different directions (front, rear, and sides). • Develop a logical systematic procedure that is consistent and effective.

7. General Information In order to discuss conformation standards, one should be familiar with the nomenclature used in describing horses. Identifying the external anatomy, skeleton, and muscles is important to the evaluation of horses.

11. General Appearance or Quality Quality refers to the attractiveness of a horse and is based on several factors. Photo by Bill Tarpenning courtesy of USDA Photography Center.

12. Head The exact shape of a horse’s head varies depending upon the breed. The shape of the head affects vision and balance. Photo by Bill Tarpenning courtesy of USDA Photography Center.

13. The head should be triangular in shape, when viewed from the front and sides. From the side, the jaws should be deep and the head should taper to a smaller-sized muzzle.

14. A head that is too large restricts the horse’s field of vision. The head should not be too long or too short; instead, the head should be in proportion with the neck and the body.

15. It is important that sufficient length exists between the eyes and muzzle of the horse. This is the location of the turbinates, which heat and cool the inhaled air before it enters the lungs.

16. A head that is too big can shift the horse’s center of gravity forward. A horse with an extremely long or narrow head has a large blind spot on the ground in front of it; the longer head blocks the view.

17. The shape of the face from the side varies among breeds. Arabian horses have the famous dish-shaped face, which actually improves vision to the front. The Roman nose or convex shape impairs frontal vision. Most people prefer a straight profile face.

19. The upper and lower teeth must meet evenly, otherwise the horse will have problems eating. An upper jaw that is too long is called a parrot mouth. A short upper jaw is an undershot jaw. These faults with the upper jaw are heritable and should be avoided.

20. The eyes of the horse should be large, clear, and set on the sides of the head with good width between the eyes. If eyes are wide set on the side of the head, the horse should have almost 360° field of vision with a few blind spots.

21. A “pig-eyed” horse has small eyes set too far back in the head.

22. The ears of the horse should be neat and alert. The ears should curve around and taper to a fine point. The ears should not be set too far apart, set too close together, or be too droopy.

23. Neck The head and neck are mechanisms for balance in a horse. An ideal neck is long and trim, with a clean throatlatch.

24. A clean throatlatch means that enough space occurs between the jaw, throat, and neck, allowing the horse to move its head and neck without difficulty. A horse with a wasty (thick and fat) throatlatch may have difficulty breathing.

25. The neck of a horse should blend smoothly into the shoulders and tie high into the throatlatch. Judges do not like a neck that is too low or inserts too deep into the chest.

27. Balance A well-balanced horse is one whose body parts all blend together to form a pleasing picture. When evaluating balance, the horse is divided into three equal regions as it is viewed from the side.

29. Starting at the front of the horse, the first region is the shoulder (A). We define the length of the shoulder as the length from the point of the shoulder to an imaginary line that is perpendicular to the withers.

30. The second region is the back (B). The length of the back is the distance from the base of the withers to the start of the croup.

31. The third area is the hip (C). The length of the hip extends from the flank to the point of the hip.

32. In a well-balanced horse, these three areas equal each other in length. Additionally, the horse should have a long, sloping shoulder (D); a short, strong back in relation to the underline of the body; and a long, comparatively level croup (E).

34. Judges also look at balance from the withers to the ground, going from top to bottom. The measures dividing this line are called “depth of heart girth” and “length of leg.”

35. Ideally, the distance from the withers to the girth (F), called heart girth, is approximately equal to the distance from the girth to the ground (G).

36. A judge would like the horse to be level from the withers to the croup (known as the topline). Horses that are higher at the withers than at the croup are “uphill” horses, while those horses higher at the croup than at the withers are “downhill” horses.

37. Shoulder A long, sloping shoulder is ideal. Look at the scapula to evaluate the shoulder.

38. Steep shoulders are shoulders that are too far forward on the horse’s body. Steep shoulders give the appearance of long shoulders, but the shoulders are actually short and have a steep angle.

39. One of the main areas that absorbs concussion in the horse’s body is the juncture between the shoulder and the arm. With a steep angle, increased wear and tear on the leg occurs due to trauma.

40. Horses with a steep arm angle are prone to the types of lameness caused by poor concussion absorption. A horse with steep shoulders is rough to ride because the concussion travels all the way up the horse and ends up in the rider.

41. A horse with good shoulder angulation and an adequately long shoulder have a longer, smoother stride (“good mover”).

42. Back Horses should have short, strong backs as compared to long, tapering underlines. Horses with long backs are not well-balanced; the long back breaks up the smooth line of the top line.

43. The back of a horse should have adequate muscling to be able to support the rider. The loin is only supported by the vertebral column; it should be short from front to rear, wide across, smooth, and convex, with a firm, elastic consistency.

44. Without adequate muscling, a horse is inclined to become swayback (a back that sags). Too much length in the back can affect the gait, giving the hindquarters a rolling motion.

45. A horse with a convex back, or “roach back,” may cause the lower legs to interfere. A roach back is often a sign of spinal misalignment and it lacks flexibility. A roach backed horse exhibits a short stride and tends to overreach.

47. Hip Horses should have long hips in relation to other areas of their bodies. The hindquarters contain the driving force of the horse’s locomotion.

48. Muscling is evaluated by looking at the length and definition of the muscle that passes over the croup. The horse should also have well- developed stifle muscles that extend down toward the hock.

49. The croup angle influences the motion of the hind legs. A relatively flat croup encourages a long, flowing stride. A horse with a steep croup may have short strides.