JessMannion
Well-Known Member
this may seem silly but how can i tell if a horse has good conformation?
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Conformation
- Thread starter JessMannion
- Start date
em1
Well-Known Member
Wow - where to start....
There's so much to say - e.g. is the horse in proportion, well-balanced, with straight movement, sloping shoulders, well set-on neck & head etc etc etc
Have a look at this link:
http://www.horseweb-uk.com/info.php?info_id=51
This Web site also recommends a book - A Photographic Guide to Conformation by Robert Oliver, which I have & which I think is very good.
There's so much to say - e.g. is the horse in proportion, well-balanced, with straight movement, sloping shoulders, well set-on neck & head etc etc etc
Have a look at this link:
http://www.horseweb-uk.com/info.php?info_id=51
This Web site also recommends a book - A Photographic Guide to Conformation by Robert Oliver, which I have & which I think is very good.
YorkshireLass
Well-Known Member
It is not a simple matter. It can depend upon breed/sort for example, a perfect hock set on a heavy horse or gypsy cob would be regarded as a defect on a light horse.
Breed societies issue their own descriptions of what is good conformation for their particular breed.
Some basic rules apply, straightness, symetry, proportion etc.
Breed societies issue their own descriptions of what is good conformation for their particular breed.
Some basic rules apply, straightness, symetry, proportion etc.
Guinness
Well-Known Member
There is a book called The Equine Athlete, think its a Sarah Pilliner one. She has an interesting way of assessing conformation. She measures certain points on the horse and they should all be equal. For example length of head, length of shoulder, point of hock to ground should all be the same length. Not my idea of what perfect conformation is, but its really interesting to do it on your own horse!