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

Post - leggedSickle - hocked

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