ANSC 327 EXAM 1 Selection (Judging)

Horse Judging

Making a CAREFUL analysis of animals measuring them against a standard commonly accepted as the IDEAL.

Horse Type

The sun total of those characteristics included in the makeup of an animal that enable that animal to be used for a specific purpose. (Draft, Stock, Hunter)

METHODS OF SELECTION

1. Conformation

2. Performance

3. Pedigree

4. Progeny

Conformation

The physical appearance of an animal due to the arrangement of muscle, bone and other body tissue.

Conformation Factors

1. Quality

2. Balance

3. Structural Correctness

4. Muscling

5. Way of Going

Trapezoid

What shape should a horse's conformation resemble?

Skeleton

Structural correctness is determined by the horse's:

45 degrees

What angle should the shoulder and pasterns be ideally?

Benefits of long, sloping shoulder:

allow for longer stride

more muscle attachment

shorter back

etc

205 bones

How many bones in a horse's body?

Bench knees

worst type of structural defect in front legs

Toed out (splay footed)

Which is worse, toed out or toed in?

Horse divides into thirds (A=B=C); neck can be = or >, head should be = or <

The balance of a horse front to back:

Depth of heart = length of leg

The balance of a horse top to bottom:

Sickle hocked

Too much set

Post legged

Too little set

Longer, more defined muscle

What muscling is better?

3 Criteria for Tracking

1. Trueness (straightness)

2. Spring of Stride

3. Length of Stride (tracking up)