A horse that has good conformation will be able to perform his job more easily, will be better balanced and will be far less prone to injury. This becomes extremely important for horses that are involved in the world of equestrian sports. Jumping and racing are very tough on a horse's body, the better put together a horse is the safer they are in any sport.
Conformation and the Horse’s Job
Each breed has a different kind of conformation, depending on the work that the horse was bred for. For example draft horses are thick and powerful but stocky, built for hard work around the farm. Racehorses on the other hand are longer, leaner and much more streamlined than draft horses, bred instead for their speed and endurance. The horse’s conformation has a huge impact on how well he moves and jumps. The musculature varies a lot depending on which muscles he uses while he is working. While very few horses have perfect conformation it is important to make sure horses have good enough conformation that they will be able to do the job that is expected of them.
Horse Limbs
The way that a horse’s limbs are attached and shape is extremely important to the functioning of the horse. They should be well balanced, well aligned and proportionate. Although many people have different ideas about what the correct conformation is for legs there are several rules of thumbs to follow. The legs should be well proportioned from the shoulder to the hoof. The pastern on the horse leg should be too long or they will put excess strain on the tendons and ligaments.
Horse Heads
A well built head should have a wide forehead and should be placed on a well proportioned and muscular neck. The horse’s neck should attach the shoulders in a way that allows the horse to move naturally. Necks that are attached to the shoulders too low make it much harder for horses to elevate their forehand. In general the shoulders should be angled at 45 degrees.
Horse Chests
The chest is another important aspect of the horse’s conformation. A broader chest allows for plenty of heart room and also allows the horse to move his front legs more freely. The horse’s back should be straight and well proportioned with the rest of the horse’s body. On a perfectly built horse the length from wither to croup would be the same as the length from the poll to the wither.
