LARRY BAILEY HORSE WORLD

What makes "Good" conformation?

        This month we have added a feature called "What makes good conformation?". This is just a brief overview of some of the important conformational points that we should look for when assessing a horses conformation. As you have seen in the last three volumes of Form to Function, each one of the areas of a horses conformation has many aspects to consider.

        Since there are many breeds of horses that each possess their own style or look, many times questions arise to what or why is one piece of a horse better than another. But if we bring conformation down to its most basic form, it is simply the arrangement and congruity of the horses body parts. In other words, each horse only possesses one head, four legs, one poll, one back, two eyes etc. Then where do the differences come in? The differences between what makes one horse better "conformed" than another is how each one of those body parts allows the horse to function at their optimum level. For the animal, "the horse, motion and movement are the core of their existence. Without the ability to move this specie would not be here today. Therefore, then the quality, shape, angle, size, and strength all play a role in the ability of these body parts to create an equine athlete.

        The following brief statements on conformation will give you a starting point to begin to understand why one piece works better than another.

 

A SIMPLE AND BRILLIANT GENETIC RULE:

Do not select for speed alone, looks alone, ears alone or tails alone, select for what you want PLUS SOUNDNESS!

 

        Proportion and Balance: The parts of the horse should appear to be in proportion to each other, and the horse should appear balanced. A horse that appears heavy in the forequarters and light behind is likely to move on the forehand. A horse with short legs will not move with long, flowing strides. A horse built with hips higher than the withers will have difficulty in collection.

 

        Eye: A horse with a large, dark eyes, will be able to take in more of the world around him, therefore giving him more confidence and steadiness. A horse with a small eye sees the world from a limited view causing the horse to spend more of it's attention trying to figure out what is happening around him. A horse with an eye with too much scalara (white around the dark part of the eyeball) hinders a horses vision greatly since that part of the eye will not have the rod and cone cell that allow the horse to distinguish light from dark and color.

 

        Neck: A long neck favors a long stride because the long muscles of the neck help to draw the foreleg forward. A low set neck (one that comes out between the frong legs) goes with moving on the forehand. A higher set neck (which arises up from the shoulders) makes collection and higher action easier. The top of the neck and the attachment of the skull should allow for optimum flexion of the atlas and axis vertebras. The jowl should have an adequate fork to allow for clear passage of air in the larynx, pharyx tracheal area.

 

        Shoulder: The shoulder angle determines the range of motion and length of stride of the foreleg. The sloping shoulder rotates farther back and upward. A straight shoulder restricts the range of motion and the length of stride, but favors high knee action. The length of muscle of the shoulder sling provides the degree of elasticity of the forehand and the degree of concussion on the forelimbs. Of particular importance is the interior angle of the scapula and arm. Their angle helps determine the length of the forward stride.

 

        Foreleg: The relative length of the bones of the forelegs affects the length of stride and the type of movement. A long sloping shoulder with a tight angle/interior angle of the scapula to arm, proportion of arm to shoulder and forearms, or long forearm (at least 2 cannon lengths or 2/3rds forearm to 1/3rd cannon) with short flat, dense cannons. These proportions give a longer, freer stride with greater range of motion and less stress on tendons and structure of the lower leg.

 

        Pasterns: Pasterns absorb shock and should be proportion in length to size and weight of the horse above. The pasterns shouldn't be so steep that concussion is pushed up the leg, or so long that the pastern is so soft and breaks back and downward with the stride. Short, upright pasterns distribute concussion to joints and long, soft pasterns increase trauma to tendons, ligaments and joints.

 

        Hindquarters: If the pelvis is long and the hindquarters are deep and wide, the large hindquarter muscles will be long and well developed. From the point of hip to the point of buttock, and from the point of buttock to the point of stifle, the length is of the utmost importance. Also important as with the forequarters, is the interior angle of the union of point of buttock. The smaller/tighter the angle the greater the stride.

 

        Hindleg: An over straight hindleg, which is subjected to excessive concussion and strain, would be prone to bone spavine. Viewed from the rear the first and second thigh, gaskin and hamstring must be full and well balanced. Short and non-proportional segments will result in disportionate muscle groups.

 

        Proportion and angles of the hindleg: As with the forequarters, the length of th ebone between levers moves the horse the greatest distance. A long line from hip to hock permits a long stride with better engagement of the hidleg.

 

        Croup: Both extremes of croups, horizontal and tipped, can produce excessive problems. Horizontal results in too far back in the hindleg and tipped results in too far under in the hindleg.

 

        Hock: The hock must be long in length and wide.

 

        Cannons: The cannons should be short flat and dense (dense does not mean large bone, but rather refers to the quality of the bone, which reflected in the denseness or "hardness" of the bone).

 

        Hind Pasterns: The hind pastern is often steeper than the front, but must follow the same definition as the front.

 

        Balance and efficiency of hindquarters: There should be a balance and efficiency of joints in the hindquarters. Examples of lack of balance would be;

                - Swinging from the hip with little articulation = post leg

                - Exaggerated movement at stifle and hock = camped out

                - A strutting movement or almost a pole jolting action = sickle hocked

 

        Leg alignment from the rear: The ideal leg conformation is straight and symmetrical. A vertical line dropped from the point of shoulder, should fall down the center of the leg and hoof all the way to the ground. "Toeing out" causes the horse to wing in. "Toeing in" causes the horse to paddle. In hindlegs, the cannons should be parallel but the stifles and toes normally point somewhat outward. This allows for clearance of the barrel.

 

        Back: The back is the bridge that connects the two quarters. It is the "central intelligence of ability" of the ridden horse. The loin should be broad, strongly muscled and not too long. The coupling and croup should be well muscled and slightly rounded. A long back makes it more difficult for the horse to collect himself and shift his balance.