CONFORMATION SPORT HORSE TYPE HUNTER TYPE STOCK TYPE SADDLE TYPE PLEASURE & VERSATILITY TYPE

What is Conformation? Physical appearance of an animal due to the arrangement of muscles, bone, & other body tissue Improved conformation> increased athleticism Each breed has ideal characteristics

Anatomy

Components of Conformation Neck Balance Shoulder Topline Hindquarters Muscle (proportional)

Balance Single most important characteristic in equine selection Forms basis for athletic performance

HEAD Lean, clean chisled Triangular Eyes large and set on corners of face Profile – straight or slightly dished

Neck Assists with balance Long,lean,high set Topline: Bottom line Correlated to shoulder slope Topline: Bottom line 2:1

CHEST, HEARTGIRTH & RIBS Chest deep & moderately wide Rib cage well sprung Deep heart girth

Shoulder Slope critical to balance 45 to 50 degree angle impacts proportions of neck Impacts proportions of back 45 to 50 degree angle Pastern angle:shoulder angle

Slope of Shoulder

TOPLINE COMPONENTS Withers – Prominent, medium height, clean Back – Short& strong, muscled Loin –Short & strong, blends smoothly into croup Croup – Short & Strong, muscled

MUSCLE Quality Muscled throughout Long, clean, defined Quantity QH vs Arabian

FRONT LEGS

FRONT LEGS

FRONT LEGS

FRONT LEGS

FRONT LEGS

FRONT LEGS

FRONT LEGS

FRONT LEGS “pigeon-toed” = toes pointed in "splay-footed“ = toes pointed out

HINDQUARTERS

Hindquarters- from Side Level of croup Length of hip Angle of hock

Hindquarters- from Rear Angle of hocks from behind Hindquarters should appear square Widest from stifle to stifle Quantity of muscle will vary by breed

HINDQUARTERS Sickle - hocked Post - legged Post-legged: too straight in back Predisposed to stifled: upward fixation of patella Predisposed to spavins: Sickle - hocked Post - legged

HINDQUARTERS Cow-hocked Sickle-hocked: too much of an angle in the hock joint Predisposed to curbs: Enlargement below point of hock (ligaments, tendon sheath, skin) Cow-hocked

FOOT CONFORMATION FOOT AXIS = Angle of the dorsal hoof wall ~55-60o forelimb ~55-60o hindlimb PASTERN AXIS Line drawn though the center of pastern FOOT/PASTERN AXIS Line through the center of the coffin and pastern joint FOOT LEVEL Median & lateral wall of equal length Foot Axis Foot axis - line through the coffin joint parallel to the dorsal surface of the hoof wall. Line passes through the center of the coffin joint & the toe of the hoof. Must = & form a continuous line with the pastern joint Angle of hoof between the dorsal surface of hoof & ground should parallel the heel, parallel the foot axis. Pastern axis Divides the middle & distal phalanx equally Should be parallel to the foot axis/hoof angle Foot/pastern axis Must be straight & equal the hoof wall angle Foot & pastern axis being equal & continuous is more impt. Than an ideal angle of the hoof wall

PASTERN

RELATIONSHIPS OF FORM TO FUNCTION Long, sloping shoulders correlated w/ long, sloping pasterns Long, trim necks & clean throatlatches –balance, agility & ability to work off hocks Depth of heart & spring of rib – lung capacity & endurance Long muscles moves a limb further

STRUCTURAL FEATURES THAT ENHANCE ACTION Long forearms – long strides Sloping shoulders & sloping pasterns of front leg – graceful, elastic stride Toe straight ahead in front – truer action