Conformation Evaulation

What are we evaluating in conformation

the physical appearance of the horse due to the arrangment of muscle, bone, and other body tissues to estimate usefulness and longevity

What is the ideal QH according to the rule book?

The horse should be a well balanced athlete that is muscled uniformly throughout

How do we rank horses?

Based in the most positive combination of balance, structural correctness, muscling, and breed sex characteristics respectively.

What are the breed standards?

1. Attractive head

2. Refined throat latch

3. Well proportionate trim neck

4. Long sloping shoulder

5. Deep hearth girth

6. Short back

7. Strong loin

8. Balanced muscled

9. Straight and structurally correct legs and feet

What body parts according for judging balance

Head

Neck

Shoulder

Chest

Back/underline

Loin

Croup

Hip

How should the head of the horse be judged

It accounts for the balance of the horse. It is used as a counterbalance of the hindquarters.

And helps adjust for speed and direction and maintain and regain balance.

It is a major factor in a horses agility and athelctis

Head length should be proprietary to the overall size of the horse- too large can led to a clumsy heavy front. Too small can lead to a lack of counterbalance and make the horse less agile

Should have big eyes not PIG eyes

A well define throat kick connecting to neck

How should a horses neck and neck Length be judged

The neck influxes how the horse will use its head for balance

It is measure poll to withers

Shoulder be proportional to the rest of the body being 1/3 the length of the body and the top being 2x as long and the bottom the neck

Too long of a neck throws the balance too far forward

Too short of a neck limits flex ion at the poll and limits the stride of the horse as it’s typically associated with an upright shoulder (which is okay in drafts horses)

Should be long and slender with a slightly arched top line

How should a horses neck tie be judged

Undesirable:

 Neck appears to be coming from between front legs

 No visible breast below neck

 Base of neck as thick as body

 Heavy in front (lean forward)

 Restricts shoulder action; limits flexibility

 Decreases speed and jumping ability

How should a horses shoulder be judged

Slope should be about 45- 50°.

Not too much or too little of a slope, or it will decrease stride length and lengthen the back

optimal femur and shoulder angle

Shoulder influences length of back & stride!

femur angle gives optimal reach & length of stride

How shoulder the back be judged

Undesirable:

 Roach back (convex)

 Upward arch in spine

 Hinders action b/c spine isn’t shaped correctly

How should a Loin be judged?

 Croup = Rump; behind loins

 Point of croup

 Where ilium (top of pelvis) meets sacrum

 Basically, highest point of rump

Desirable:

 Short, wide, strong

 “close coupled”

 No more than 3 fingers between last rib &

point of hip

 Well-muscled

 Rise gently from last rib to croup (never hollow

out)

 Rounded by muscle; point not too prominent

 Same height as peak of withers

 Rump neither too flat or too sloping

 Gives driving power to hind legs

How should the hip be judged?

 Needs to fill out a box!

 Big for halter horses

 Lots of muscle

 Nice slope to the croup

 Good tail set

How should the chest be judged

Width

 Measured from pt of shoulder to pt of

shoulder

 Actual width is defined by bone structure,

even if horse has thick muscling

Desirable:

 Well defined; distinct from neck

 Wide, but not too wide

 Front view wider at top than bottom

 “wedge-shaped”

What does structural correctness refer to

Related to skeletal structure of LEGS

 Legs and feet take a tremendous amount of stress….correct

structure means efficient movement with less concussion

 Properly aligned bones distribute the weight of the horse

evenly throughout the limb

Why is foreleg conformation important

Holds 60% of body weight

 Proper alignment & angles

reduce concussion

 Contributes to speed &

propulsion

Where can crooked legs originate from on the body?

Points of shoulders & elbow

joints

 Should be square

 If elbows close = toe out

 If elbows farther apart = toe in

Should gelding be judged on sex characteristics

No only stallion, filly, and mare classes

What should mares look like?

 Refined muzzle

 Brighter about the eye

 Wider from eye to eye

 Shorter, neater ear

 Finer-featured head, particularly a more delicate/refined muzzle

 Shorter down the bridge of her nose

What should stallions look like

 Sharper-chiseled features

 Larger brighter eye

 Deeper chiseled from eyes to

muzzle

 Wider from eye to eye

 More prominent, larger jaw

What is A

Calf knee back at knee

What is B

Buck knee over the knee