Welcome to Horse Conformation Click here to learn

Welcome to: Horse Conformation Click here to learn about the Navigation Tools. Click here to skip Navigation Tools. Created by Melissa Voigt

Navigation Tools Home Before we begin, lets become familiar with the navigation tools. Click here to continue. Quick Review! Tertiary Level Secondary Level Continue… Primary Level Secondary or Tertiary Level Back

Navigation Tools Home Before we begin, lets become familiar with the navigation tools. This is the Continue button. It allows you to progress to the next page. Click it to continue. Quick Review! Tertiary Level Secondary Level Continue… Primary Level Secondary or Tertiary Level Back

Navigation Tools Home Before we begin, lets become familiar with the navigation tools. This is the Back button. It will take you to the last page you viewed. Remember to click here to continue… Quick Review! Tertiary Level Secondary Level Continue… Primary Level Secondary or Tertiary Level Back

Navigation Tools Home Before we begin, lets become familiar with the navigation tools. This is the Home button. It will take you to the home page. Remember to click here to continue… Quick Review! Tertiary Level Secondary Level Continue… Primary Level Secondary or Tertiary Level Back

Navigation Tools Home Before we begin, lets become familiar with the navigation tools. This is the Primary Level button. It will take you to the course topic that you are currently in. Quick Review! Tertiary Level Secondary Level Continue… Primary Level Secondary or Tertiary Level Back

Navigation Tools Home Before we begin, lets become familiar with the navigation tools. This is the Secondary Level button. It will take you back to the sub-topic that you are currently in. Quick Review! Tertiary Level Secondary Level Continue… Primary Level Secondary or Tertiary Level Back

Navigation Tools Home Before we begin, lets become familiar with the navigation tools. This is the Tertiary Level button. It will take you back to the beginning of the topic you are currently in (within the sub-topic). Quick Review! Tertiary Level Secondary Level Continue… Primary Level Secondary or Tertiary Level Back

Navigation Tools Home Before we begin, lets become familiar with the navigation tools. This is a Secondary or Tertiary Level button. It works the same as the secondary and tertiary buttons described earlier. Quick Review! Tertiary Level Secondary Level Continue… Primary Level Secondary or Tertiary Level Back

Navigation Tools Home Before we begin, lets become familiar with the navigation tools. This is a Quick Review button. It will bring you to an end of topic knowledge question. Quick Review! Tertiary Level Secondary Level Continue… Primary Level Secondary or Tertiary Level Back

Home Now you know how to navigate through the program, so… Let’s Begin! Continue… Back

Horse Conformation and Judges Perspective Click on the topic you would like to learn about. Introduction Conformation: Form to Function Practice Class References

Home References Loch, W. (2002). Horses - - Conformation: Form to function. Retrieved from: http: //extension. missouri. edu/publications/Display. Pub. aspx? P=G 2837 Heird, J. C. , & Anderson, T. M. (2001). Judging halter: A standard of reference for AQHA judges. Retrieved from: www. aqha. com/~/media/FA 71659 B 161048 F 1 B 85 C 635362 E 3 EFB 5. ashx Heird, J. C. (1994). Competitive horse judging. Retrieved from: www. aqha. com/~/media/99 CC 10097 D 56497 EBDE 93 F 18 F 672 A 0 CD. ashx Horsemanship score sheet. Retrieved from: www. aqha. com/en/~/. . . /F 49711799 A 1 F 4 D 0594 F 5 EA 3 B 6 AF 96743. ashx Back

Introduction Home This instructional guide, Conformation: Form to Function, covers the desirable characteristics we seek in the conformation of horses. Throughout this guide you will find a Quick Review! Use these to test your knowledge on the topics covered. LET’S GET STARTED! Continue to Conformation: Form to Function Back Ultimatehorsesite. com

Conformation: Form to Function Home Click on the section you would like to learn about. Review the Basics Evaluating Conformation Summary Back Ultimatehorsesite. com

Home Review the Basics There are four general areas of the horse to consider when evaluating conformation: 1. 2. 3. 4. Balance Structural Correctness Muscling Breed and Sex Characteristics Before we dive in, lets refresh on a few basics. Continue… Return to Conformation: Form to Function Back Animals. nationalgeographic. com

Home Conformation is the physical appearance of an animal due to the arrangement of muscle, bone and other body tissue. Form to Function There is NO perfectly conformed horse. However, the conformation of a horse depicts its athletic ability to perform. Continue… Return to Conformation: Form to Function 4 theloveofhorses. com Back

Home Body Parts Lets familiarize ourselves with relevant body parts of the horse. Click on an area of the horse’s body to reveal its relevant body parts. Ansci. okstate. edu Return to Conformation: Form to Function Continue to Quick Review! Back

Home Poll Neck Throatlatch Ansci. okstate. edu Continue… Return to Conformation: Form to Function Return to Body Parts Back

Home Withers Shoulder Point of Shoulder Ansci. okstate. edu Continue… Return to Conformation: Form to Function Return to Body Parts Back

Home Elbow Forearm Knee Fetlock Cannon Bone Ansci. okstate. edu Continue… Return to Conformation: Form to Function Return to Body Parts Back

Home Back Loin Ansci. okstate. edu Continue… Return to Conformation: Form to Function Return to Body Parts Back

Home Point of Hip Croup Point of Buttock Continue… Return to Conformation: Form to Function Return to Body Parts Back

Home Thigh Gaskin Hock Cannon Bone Fetlock Ansci. okstate. edu Continue… Return to Conformation: Form to Function Return to Body Parts Back

Quick Review! Home Which of the following is NOT a general area for evaluating conformation? Balance Structural Correctness Temperament Breed & Sex Characteristics Muscling Return to Conformation: Form to Function Back

Home icanhascheezburger. com Sorry… Try Again! Return to Conformation: Form to Function Back

Home Correct! Great job! Although the temperament of a horse is a quality you should look for, it does not affect the conformation. wine-ophelia. blogspot. com Return to Conformation: Form to Function Continue to Evaluating Conformation Back

Home Evaluating Conformation Click the general area of evaluation you would like to begin with. Balance Extension. missouri. edu Structural Correctness Muscling Breed & Sex Characteristics Return to Conformation: Form to Function Back

Balance Home Balance is the most important characteristic to consider when evaluating a horse. It is determined by the skeletal framework of the horse. Since we cannot see the horse’s skeleton, lets identify reference points we can use to evaluate balance. Click on an area to learn more. Return to Evaluating Conformation Return to Conformation: Form to Function Continue to Aqha. com Quick Review! Back

Slope of Shoulder Home Slope of the shoulder is the most important aspect of balance and indicates the angle of the shoulder blade. This angle is related to the top to bottom line ratios of the neck and back. The slope will also affect the length of stride. The ideal horse has a long sloping shoulder which contributes to a short topline to underline ratio and long, reaching stride. Aqha. com A horse with a steep, upright shoulder will tend to have a short neck, long back, and short, choppy stride. Return to Evaluating Conformation Continue to Back Top to Bottom Line Ratio Return to Conformation: Form to Function Return to Balance Back

Back Top to Bottom Line Ratio Home Ideally, the topline should be short and strong with a long bottom line or underline. The topline includes the withers, back, and loin. Aqha. com A horse with a long back and loin may develop weaknesses and strain over the topline. Return to Evaluating Conformation Continue to Neck Return to Conformation: Form to Function Return to Balance Back

Neck Home Some people give much preference to a horse that has a long thin neck. However, when considering balance, attention should be given to the top to bottom line ratio of the neck. Ideally this will be a 2 to 1 ratio. The topline is from poll to withers and the bottom line is from throatlatch to where the neck ties into the shoulder. Aqha. com The placement of the neck on the horse’s shoulder is important when considering head and neck carriage. A low placed neck will result in a horse that possibly has a lower head carriage and is heavy on the forehand when traveling. Return to Evaluating Conformation Continue to Withers Return to Conformation: Form to Function Return to Balance Back

Withers Home Ideally, the withers should be sharp, prominent, and slightly higher than the hindquarters. Aqha. com A mutton withered horse will produce difficulties with holding a saddle on. Return to Evaluating Conformation Continue to Hindquarters Return to Conformation: Form to Function Return to Balance Back

Home Hindquarters From the side, the hindquarters should have a square appearance and length through the croup and hip. A long croup and hip will allow for more volume in the hindquarter region. Aqha. com Return to Evaluating Conformation Continue to Slope of Shoulder Return to Conformation: Form to Function Return to Balance Back

Quick Review! Home What is the most important aspect of balance? Top to Bottom Line Ratio of Back Length of Croup Slope of Shoulder Prominence of Withers Return to Balance Return to Evaluating Conformation Return to Conformation: Form to Function Back

Correct! Home Great job! The shoulder is the most important aspect of balance as it is directly related to the conformation of other important components of balance. Pichars. org Return to Evaluating Conformation Continue to Structural Correctness Return to Conformation: Form to Function Return to Balance Back

Home Horsewallpapers. in Sorry… Try Again! Return to Balance Return to Evaluating Conformation Return to Conformation: Form to Function Back

Structural Correctness Home Structural Correctness refers to the conformation of the legs and feet. Considerable attention should be given to structural correctness as it is the foundation of the horse. Click on an area to learn more. Hind Limb Fore Limb Aqha. com Return to Evaluating Conformation Return to Conformation: Form to Function Continue to Quick Review! Back

Home Hind Limb Ideally from the side view, you should be able to drop an imaginary line from the point of buttock to the ground and have it touch the hocks, run parallel to the cannon bone, and slightly behind the heel. Ag. auburn. edu From the rear view, ideally a line can be dropped from the point of buttock and bisect the gaskins, hocks, and fetlocks. Naturally horses toe out slightly behind to allow for clearance of the ribcage. This results in a longer, freer stride. Furthermore, the horse should be widest from stifle to stifle when viewed from the rear. Return to Structural Correctness Return to Evaluating Conformation Return to Conformation: Form to Function Ag. auburn. edu Continue… Back

Hind Limb Deviations Home The following are common deviations found in the hind limb. Remember, No deviation is desirable. Ag. auburn. edu Return to Evaluating Conformation Continue to Fore Limb Return to Conformation: Form to Function Return to Structural Correctness Back

Home Fore Limb As with the hind limb, the horse should stand on a straight column of bone in the fore limb with no deviations. Ag. auburn. edu From the front view, an imaginary line should drop from the point of shoulder and bisect the knee, cannon bone, and hoof. The foot should be facing straight on. Return to Structural Correctness Return to Evaluating Conformation Return to Conformation: Form to Function Ag. auburn. edu Continue… Back

Fore Limb Deviations Home The following are common deviations found in the fore limb. Remember, No deviation is desirable. Ag. auburn. edu Return to Structural Correctness Return to Evaluating Conformation Return to Conformation: Form to Function Continue… Back

Fore Limb Deviations Home Calf-kneed is one of the most undesirable deviations as it causes a lack of support and strength in the leg. Splay footed (toe-out) in a horse will disrupt the flight pattern of the leg, causing it to wing-in. With this, it is common for the horse to hit its front leg together when traveling. Ag. auburn. edu Pigeon toed (toe-in) in a horse will disrupt the flight pattern of the leg, causing it to wing-in. Return to Evaluating Conformation Continue to Hind Limb Return to Conformation: Form to Function Return to Structural Correctness Back

Home Quick Review! Which of these deviations is least desirable? Ag. auburn. edu Return to Structural Correctness Return to Evaluating Conformation Return to Conformation: Form to Function Back

Correct! Home Great job! Calf-kneed is very undesirable because of the lack of support it causes in the forehand. Return to Evaluating Conformation Continue to Muscling Return to Conformation: Form to Function Return to Structural Correctness Back

Home Horsewallpapers. in Sorry… Try Again! Return to Structural Correctness Return to Evaluating Conformation Return to Conformation: Form to Function Back

Home Muscling It is not important for a horse to have a very high volume of muscling, but to have adequate muscling to perform its job. It is important that muscling be balanced and proportionate to the horse. This can be determined by comparing muscle groups and their uniformity. Return to Evaluating Conformation Return to Conformation: Form to Function Continue to Aqha. com Quick Review! Back

Home Quick Review! Which horse has more desirable muscling? Animalscience. tamu. edu Return to Muscling Return to Evaluating Conformation Return to Conformation: Form to Function Back

Home Vichorse. com Sorry… Try Again! Return to Muscling Return to Evaluating Conformation Return to Conformation: Form to Function Back

Home Correct! Great job! This horse does show a better balance of muscling from the forehand to the hindquarters. Partyponies. wordpress. com Return to Muscling Return to Evaluating Conformation Return to Conformation: Form to Function Continue to Breed & Sex Characteristics Back

Home Breed & Sex Characteristics Paint Stallion Breed or type characteristics are the style and conformational attributes that are specific to a breed. Sex characteristics are the expression of femininity or masculinity in the horse, usually expressed through the head and neck area. Stallionsnow. com Horses should especially exhibit these characteristics when being considered for breeding. glenlomond. com. au Quarter Horse Mare Return to Evaluating Conformation Return to Conformation: Form to Function Continue to Quick Review! Back

Home Quick Review! Which horse shows more masculinity? Gulsbyquarterhorses. com Equine-world. org Return to Breed & Sex Characteristics Return to Evaluating Conformation Return to Conformation: Form to Function Back

Home Lolhorses. com Sorry… Try Again! Return to Breed & Sex Characteristics Return to Evaluating Conformation Return to Conformation: Form to Function Back

Correct! Home Great job! You can see his masculinity especially through his jowls (cheeks). Latimesblog. latimes. com Return to Breed & Sex Characteristics Return to Evaluating Conformation Return to Conformation: Form to Function Continue to Summary Back

Summary Discoverhorses. com Home A horse’s functionality is directly related and attributed to their conformation. Fads in the horse industry will come and go. In the long run, sacrificing quality conformation for a trend will only result in limited performance abilities. A horse with near ideal conformation will always be in demand. There is no substitute. Regardinghorses. com Return to Conformation: Form to Function Continue to Practice Class Back

Home Practice Class Stock Type Mares Continue to Practice Class Return to Evaluating Conformation Return to Conformation: Form to Function Back

Home Return to Evaluating Conformation Return to Conformation: Form to Function Continue to Placings Back

Home Mark Your Card Return to Evaluating Conformation Return to Conformation: Form to Function Continue to Placings Back

Home 2 3 4 2 1 2 3 Return to Practice Class Return to Evaluating Conformation Return to Conformation: Form to Function Continue to Reasons Back

2 3 Home 4 Reasons for 2 over 4: • 2 is a more well balanced individual, as she is more equally divided into thirds when viewed from front to back. Additionally, 2 has a shorter, stronger back with a comparatively longer underline. • Regarding muscling, 2 has greater depth and balance of muscling throughout her body. • Moreover, 2 is more refined and feminine, and is a smoother blending individual. Return to Practice Class Return to Evaluating Conformation Return to Conformation: Form to Function Continue Reasons… Back

4 2 Home 1 Reasons for 4 over 1: • Overall, 4 is a larger bodied mare who more closely follows the substance of 2. Additionally she has a squarer, more proportionate hip with a rounder turn to the croup. • Adding to her size, 4 is a more heavily muscled individual, who shows greater definition throughout her body. • However, 1 does show more feminine characteristics, as she is more refined about her head and neck, as she is shorter from eye to muzzle Return to Practice Class and ties cleaner through her throatlatch. Return to Evaluating Conformation Return to Conformation: Form to Function Continue Reasons… Back

1 2 Home 3 Reasons for 1 over 3: • 1 is overall a more balanced individual, as she is more evenly distributed in her body across each third from front to back. • She is also more correctly assembled down her legs and hooves, which is most noted when drawing a line from hip to hock to heel. • 1 is simply a prettier profiling individual, with superior quality and blending. Return to Practice Class Return to Evaluating Conformation Return to Conformation: Form to Function Continue… Back

Home Congratulations! Now you have an understanding of the foundations of judging horses! HAPPY TRAILS! Return to Practice Class Return to Evaluating Conformation Return to Conformation: Form to Function Back