Conformation, Selection for Performance
and
Soundness Exam Procedures
HOW TO
TAKE THE COURSE
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Some courses do not require you to
work with a horse, but after reading some of the lesson, it is a good idea to go
out and observe a horse or horses and practice the techniques you are
learning—if that is possible. Try to see
the things being discussed, and how they work.
Observation is one of the greatest keys to success whether training,
trading, feeding, or examining for general health. Look and work with your horse and look at
other horses—but when watching them perform, see more than the surface—see the movements,
see the personality, see the strengths and weaknesses of each individual. And then try to apply some of the things you
have just been reading to the horse with which you are working. This is the best way to reinforce your
understanding and assure your success.
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When you receive your
Conformation and Selection
For Performance
By Don Blazer
Copyright © 2003
What
a horse does best is move.
His
efficiency of movement is the foundation of his survival, his evolution, his
beauty and his grace.
By all accepted standards, what we say
is "good conformation" is said specifically as it relates to the
horse’s efficiency of movement.
If
our desire is efficient movement, then the ideal conformation is the form which
best achieves efficient movement. And by its very nature, it is also the form
which most assures continuing soundness.
But efficiency of movement is not
always what we want.
Various breeds accentuate certain
conformational traits which affect movement, and particular performance
disciplines demand distinctive variations of movement. So the desire for
efficiency of movement is replaced by another desire. The new movement desired
always subjugates efficiency. And over a period of time the various desired
movements result in conformational changes. The changes in themselves are not
necessarily right or wrong; they are simply choices. But all choices which
limit natural efficiency of movement come with consequences.
Understanding a horse’s conformation,
and the deviations from the established standard, allows you to recognize how
and why a particular horse moves as he does. And with that understanding you
can choose the performance work most suitable for that individual.
There are two ways to judge a horse’s
conformation.
One: determine the correctness of the
form as it relates to efficiency of movement. (This is supposedly how halter
horses are judged--form as it meets the breed standards. Halter horses of any
breed seldom reflect efficiency of movement, instead portraying the
"beauty" of the current fad, which is correct if meeting the
standards of a new desire.)
Two: determine the strengths and
weaknesses of a particular conformation as it relates to the performance
desired. (Selective breeding has been successful in producing horses with both
conformation and talent for specific exercises. Knowing what performance you
want from a horse allows you the opportunity to select by breeding, the natural
desire to work, and by conformation, the natural ability to work.)
Always keep in mind that a horse’s
action is initiated in the hindquarters. The hindquarters is
the power plant of the horse, the driving force. The forehand catches,
rebalances and stabilizes the horse. The conformation you are seeing (forehand,
hindquarters, overall) should be evaluated either in relationship to how well
it can function in performing the desired movement, or for its contribution to
efficiency of movement.
View a horse’s conformation from three
positions "directly in front of the horse, at the side of the horse and
directly behind the horse. Looking at the horse head-on allows you to see the
width of the forehead, the chest and the alignment of the front legs. Looking
at the horse from the side allows you to view the set of the head and neck, the
top line, the underline and the positioning and angle of the legs. Standing
directly behind the horse you can see alignment of the hind legs, the level of
the hips and the straightness of the spine. (To fully see the spine, it may be
necessary to stand on a platform to elevate your view.)
FEET
If I am looking at a horse for
possible purchase, I will stand in front of the horse and look at the coronet
bands of both his front and hind feet. I want to see an even coronet band,
symmetrical with the opposite one. The coronet band should flow across the
front of the foot and should not have dips or upward variations. The hair line
should move evenly around toward the heel and should not sink down toward the
ground. Any deviation in the hair line at the coronet band tells you there is
something going on of concern.
Keeping
the coronet band as the main focus, I can view the entire hoof. I look for
flares, differences in the angle of the medial and lateral hoof wall, pulled in
heels and hoof wall damage.
Moving
to the side of the horse I look for dorsal/palmar
(front to rear) balance. Determine if the horse has a broken forward or broken
backward hoof/pastern axis. Carefully analyze the angle of the hoof wall horn,
noting any tendency toward under-run heels.
I
then pick up each foot and look at the medial/lateral balance, the condition of
the frog, the medial/lateral heel lengths, the position of the bulbs of the
heel, and the width of the heel.
A
horse with small feet can do just about anything, but his soundness will be
questionable, especially if he is asked to work in high impact events.
Flat
footed horses should be worked only on soft footing.
Mule
feet are narrow with steep walls. A horse with mule feet should be worked only
on soft footing.
Coon
footed means the horse has a very upright foot, while the pastern slopes
radically toward the hindquarters.
Club
feet are defined as a foot with high heels and a front face which exceeds 60
degrees. Club feet can be genetic, caused by the horse having one leg shorter
than the other, or faulty nutritional practices with young horses.
Contracted
heels and small frog are common results of poor shoeing practices. Horse with
such problems should be used only in non-concussion events.
Narrow
hoof walls predispose the horse to sore feet and are often associated with flat
feet.
Without
a foot, the rest of the horse’s conformation matters little. If the horse has
too many obvious foot problems, I don’t have an interest in purchasing him.
While most foot problems are the result of poor care and/or poor shoeing, many
will be associated with conformational faults.
If
I have been asked to evaluate the horse, I simply note my observations of the
hoofs and move on.
HEAD
Return
to a position in front of the horse and study the horse’s nostrils. I want to
see a large nostril, capable of opening wide to allow maximum air flow. A great
air supply is extremely important to any horse which will be used in activities
requiring speed and stamina. (Racing, cutting, jumping, eventing.)
The
more air a horse gets into his lungs, the more oxygen the blood carries to the
muscles, having a direct effect on the horse’s ability to perform.
A
horse with small nostrils should be considered for pleasure riding or trail.
It is best if the horse’s face is
neither dished nor bulged out. A smooth, straight line from a point between the
ears down the nose to the nostril allows air flow. A dished face is a major
restriction to air flow and severely limits the horse’s ability to perform with
speed or stamina. A bulging face line (Roman nose) interferes with the horse’s
ability to see clearly and is usually associated with horses of poor
temperament, willfulness or spookiness.
A
large, soft eye set to the side of the head generally allows the horse to see
well, and is associated with a horse of kind temperament. Small eyes, often
called pig eyes, restrict a horse’s vision. The horse has both monocular and
binocular vision. He can look at two different things at the same time, or he
can use both eyes to concentrate on a single point, so what he sees can be
quite distracting to him. In addition, the retina of the eye doesn’t form a
perfect arc, so the horse must frequently shift his head position to bring
particular observations into focus.
It
is not advisable to have the eyes set too far to the side of the head, as this
causes the horse even more trouble bringing things into focus. It is also much
more difficult for the horse with wide-set eyes to focus both eyes on a single
object, which in turn limits his ability to concentrate.
A
horse with a well defined jaw line usually has a relatively wide jaw, which is
an asset. Make a fist and place it between the horse’s jaw bones at the
throatlatch. A horse of one year or older will have what is considered a wide
jaw if you can slide four knuckles of your fist between the jaw bones. This
width allows for good air flow.
With
width between the jaw bones, the throatlatch will be clean and well defined. A
well defined throatlatch is important since everything essential to the horse’s
performance--blood, nerve impulses from the brain, air--travels through this
area.
Horses
which are narrow between the jaw bones should be directed toward performances
not associated with speed or endurance.
NECK
The
neck is measured from the poll to the withers and should be about one-third the
length of the horse’s body measuring from the tip of the nose to the buttock.
The neck should be set on the horse’s chest neither too high, nor too low, but
aligned for forward movement.
A
short neck does not affect the length of the horse’s stride, does allow for
quick air flow to the lungs, and does aid in the horse’s ability to make quick
changes of direction. A short neck is not considered advantageous for a jumper
or for a horse expected to work with speed for long distances. However, a horse
with a short neck gets plenty of air to sprint and will usually have the
lateral agility needed to cut cattle.
A
long neck causes the horse to be heavy on the forehand, but is acceptable in
jumpers and horses working in straight lines.
An
upside down, or ewe neck relates to high head carriage and compromises all
performances. A horse with the upside down neck is often called a
"stargazer", and is often under-conditioned because it is difficult
for him to engage his hindquarters. Ewe necked horses are frequently underweight
and many have a bulging underline.
The
horse with a large crest or "crest fallen" neck is usually the
product of obesity, which, of course, can be corrected.
A
bull neck is a heavy neck with a short upper curve. Horses with this
conformation generally work best in harness.
Horses
with a swan neck--almost an "S" like curve--never work well on the
bit and often tuck their chins to their chest. This neck generally has a long
dip just in front of the withers.
A
naturally arched, well-defined neck is suitable for any type of work.
THE
BODY/WITHERS
When
examining the horse’s body, begin with the withers. The withers are formed by
the coming together of the left and right scapula, which don’t actually touch,
but are held in place by muscles.
If
the withers are rounded, flat and with little definition, they are called
"mutton withers." Mutton withers affect all physical action and allow
no free flow of movement. Saddles slip easily on mutton withered horses.
High
withered horses are hard to fit with a saddle, but can generally perform any
kind of work.
THE
BACK
The
horse’s back lies behind the withers and to the loin, which is defined as the
last rib to the point of the hip. The loin is considered to be long if it is
more than a hand’s length.
A
hollow back looks concave and can be rider induced due to a lack of drive from
the hindquarters. Riding with incorrect contact, a pull instead of a push,
creates the low back and a strung out horse. This condition is often seen in
horses used for distance trail riding.
Short
backed horses have limits to their lateral flexion, and therefore generally
lack suppleness.
A
roach back--the spine raises in the loin area--is often associated with
stiffness in the back. Roach backed horses cannot use their loin properly and
so they are limited in quick lateral movements.
Long
backed horses generally have a weak loin area. The weakness here precludes them
from "folding" (drawing their hind legs forward under them) quickly,
so these horses lack both speed and power.
A
horse is said to have "rough coupling" if he has any kind of a
depression in his back just in front of the croup. Rough coupling can be
compensated for by being sure the horse is very well conditioned.
THE
CHEST
A
horse with a wide chest can do just about anything, but the width will often
adversely affect the horse’s length of stride and speed. Look for a horse with
a chest proportional to his overall look. If you immediately notice the horse
has a wide chest, he probably has a little too wide a chest.
RIBS
Standing
in front and just a little to one side of the horse, you should see
"well-sprung" ribs, meaning the ribs are prominent at the heart girth
area. Well sprung ribs taper in as they approach the horse’s flank.
Barrel
ribs are prominent all the way to the flank. The horse has a body "like a
barrel." This width all the way to the flank generally accounts for an
uncomfortable ride, because the horse cannot easily bring his hind feet well
forward and under his body.
Pear
shaped ribs are narrow at the heart girth and widen toward the flank. A horse
with pear shaped ribs should be used on level terrain and cannot be expected to
do a lot of work. As the barrel ribbed horse, he cannot easily bring his hind
legs forward.
FRONT
LEGS
Looking
at the front legs from the front, you should see the form of the bone entering
the joints in the center.
A
horse with a base narrow stance cannot be expected to perform well in speed
events or events which require athletic agility.
Base
wide horses are best suited for easy pleasure riding.
Horses
which toe-out can be used for high impact events, while horses which toe-in
should be used only in low impact activities.
Move
to the horse’s side to evaluate the horse’s shoulder. An upright shoulder
indicates the horse can work in sprint activities. The horse’s speed lies in
his ability to gather and get into the next stride, not on the length of the
stride. In other words, the more strides within a particular distance, the more
speed. A horse increases speed by driving off the ground. His speed slows as he
travels through the air.
If
the horse has a sloping shoulder, his withers will be well behind his elbow.
Horses with this conformation are well suited for jumping, dressage and
driving.
A
long arm produces speed, but is also excellent for the dressage horse.
A
short arm "from the point of the shoulder to the elbow" will create
an angle of less than 90 degrees.
A
long forearm favors speed and jumping ability. The horse with
a short cannon will generally have speed, agility and foreleg soundness.
From
the side you can determine whether or not the horse is over at the knee or back
at the knee. Back at the knee conformation is frequently associated with
unsoundness, but is also the desired conformation for the modern western
pleasure horse as he will move slowly with flat knees and little reach.
Over
at the knee horses are not pleasing to look at, but many have speed and seem to
remain sound.
Look
at the horse from the front to see if the horse has bench or offset knees. A
horse is said to be bench kneed when the forearm enters the knee to the left or
right of where the cannon bone exits the knee, making the forearm the back of
the bench, the knee the bench seat and the cannon the bench legs.
An
offset knee has both the forearm and the cannon entering and exiting the knee
either on the medial or lateral side.
The
fetlock joint should be clean and well defined.
A
horse with long pastern provides a smooth ride and makes a nice pleasure horse
or dressage horse.
Short
pasterns contribute to a harder ride, but also aid a horse’s speed.
HINDQUARTERS
Stand
at the side of the horse to begin your evaluation of his hindquarters.
The
perfect length of the hindquarters is 30 per cent of the total body length and
is measured from the point of the hip to the point of the buttocks.
A
short hindquarters"less
than 30 per cent of body length"is associated
with a horse which lacks speed and power. Remember, all action initiates in the
hindquarters.
CROUP
A
flat or horizontal croup is associated with a flat pelvis. The topline of the horse continues all the way to the dock of
the tail. Horses with flat croups"which are
quite common"have a flowing stride at the trot.
They are especially good at distance trail riding, and driving in harness.
A
steep rump is called a "goose" rump and is not particularly common.
Horses with a goose rump are best suited for slower types of work, such as
pleasure or trail riding. The steep slant of the pelvis shortens the backward
swing of the leg.
Narrow
hips limit the amount of muscle the horse can carry, thereby limiting the
amount of muscle power possible.
A
"knocked down" his is when one hip bone is lower than the other. The
condition is fairly common. When examining the horse from the rear, be sure to
watch carefully as he is walked away from you.
A
long hip is easily recognized when the stifle joint sits at or below the sheath
line on a male horse. Low stifles are particular good for horses which are
intended for eventing or show jumping.
A
short hip creates a high stifle joint. Horses with high stifles are best suited
to draft work.
A
short gaskin is associated with high hocks, which generally means the horse
will have inefficient movement, taking an extra long stride.
High
hocks make a horse suitable for trail, pleasure riding, or driving.
A
long gaskin is associated with low hocks which often puts the horse is a
camped-out position. Horses which are camped-out behind lack power and
smoothness. He can best be used as a trail horse or pleasure horse.
The
gaskin length is best when it sets the hocks at the same level as the horse’s
knees, for the horse will usually have both power and speed. When evaluating
the potential of a horse which will be asked to work with speed and agility,
look for hocks which are at the same level as the knees.
Sickle-hocked
horses should not be considered for speed events, while post-legged
horses--very straight hind legs--are particularly good at speed events, but
little else.
A
horse is said to be cow-hocked if when viewed from behind the cannon bone and
the fetlock joint are well to the outside of the hocks.
If
conformation is demanded in relationship to efficiency of movement, a horse
will tend toward a natural, but moderate, cow-hocked stance. The horse’s toes
should point outward, and he should NOT stand square behind as virtually all
conformational standards require.
When
a horse increases his speed, the hips and the hocks rotate outward, and the
hoof rotates inward. A horse which stands square behind naturally--and they are
very, very rare--will strike his front legs with his rear feet when he moves
with speed.
Never
allow a farrier to trim a horse’s hind feet high on
the inside to make the horse stand square behind.
Do
not endorse breed association rules of showing which allow a handler to
"pull" the horse’s hocks out, twisting the foot into a straight
forward position. That is not the horse’s conformation and it is ignoring the
truth if it judged that way.
BALANCE
A
horse is said to be balanced when his withers and croup are level. A balanced
horse is generally capable of working any type of event.
Light
boned horses should work low impact and low speed events, while course boned
horses are more suitable to high impact events such as eventing.
LEG
JOINTS
The
joints of both the hind and fore legs should be clean and dry in appearance.
Any puffiness or signs of fluid indicate joint damage and eventual problems.
The
pasterns, hind and fore, should be tight and dry.
FINAL
ANALYSIS
View
the horse from the front, the side and from behind, looking at the entire horse
as a single object. Do you like what you see? Is he smooth in overall
appearance, or does some angle or roughness jump out at you?
As
you decide on the importance of each conformation point you have viewed,
evaluate you observations in relationship to efficiency of movement, or to the
work you want the horse to do.
Every
horse can do everything and anything to some degree. But mediocrity in
performance seldom pleases the horseman. So it is the responsibility of the
horseman to understand how the form affects function, and to select the correct
conformation for the work to be done.
It
is a bad horseman who demands a horse work at an event for which he is not
properly conformed.
Conformation
is visible, but the thing which makes performance champions cannot be seen. A
horse’s heart to compete and win can carry him super efforts, but he moves to
the victory stand on his correctness of form.
Quiz
Answer as True or False:
1. Breed associations establish
conformational standards.
2. Conformation standards assure the horse’s
soundness.
3. If the horse has good conformation, he’ll
be a great performer.
4. Judge conformation only as it relates to
efficiency of movement.
5. View a horse’s conformation from front,
side and rear.
6. A pretty head assures correct
conformation.
7. An upside-down neck is associated with a
high head.
8. High withers make saddle fit difficult.
9. A big, wide chest is very desirable.
10. A
long arm produces speed.
11. A
horse “over” at the knee is unsound.
12.
Short pasterns are bad.
13. The
perfect length of the hindquarters is 30% of the total body length.
14. A
short hip creates a high stifle.
15.
Horses are naturally slightly cow-hocked.
Write
a conformational report on a horse, and include an evaluation of what he might
be best suited to perform. Explain why.
Please e-mail all quiz answers to donblazer@donblazer.com.
Include ‘Conformation Lesson One Quiz’ in the subject
line.