Conformation and Selection for Performance

Copyright©2016

 

 

 

Lesson Two

 

 

Conformation: Form to Function

 

 

          A horse’s conformation determines his efficiency of movement, which in turn directly affects his soundness.  Therefore we determine how a horse's conformation may affect his way of movement by first viewing the horse standing, and then watching the horse in movement to see if our conclusions manifest themselves as the conformation suggests.

 

          You already know that "balance" is a key to athletic ability and certain "efficiency" deviations can be a positive to specific desired movement, such as slow short strides, high knee action, or a smooth walking "gait".  Watch the horse walk, trot, canter and gallop at liberty if possible.  What you see when a horse is unencumbered by a rider can change your entire opinion about his "natural" abilities.

 

          The angle of the horse's shoulder and hip determine the stride, not the horse's size, length of leg or height.  A horse with a long, well-sloped shoulder and hip will usually be fast and agile with good stride.  The horse with a short, steep shoulder and hip will have choppy action and a short stride.

 

          To evaluate the hip, draw a triangle starting at the point of the hip, going to the point of the buttock and then down to the stifle and from the stifle back up the hip.  This triangle should be equilateral—all sides being equal in length and all angles being the same.  The side of the triangle from stifle to point of hip will be longer in the sprinter than in the endurance horse.

 

          There are many breeds of horses, yet basically only four "types".  The term "type" refers to the horse's size, substance, balance, athletic ability and conformation.  Considered as a group these traits make a horse suited for particular kinds of activity, and this is what we are looking for when we seek a specific horse to do a specific job.

 

          The four basic types: Riding horses, which we break down farther into stock-horse type or gaited type; Draft horses, Carriage horses (lighter than draft horses and more suitable to pull vehicles than to be ridden; Race horses, which are broken down into sprinters and distance horses.   Many breed associations, such as Arabian, Quarter Horse, Paints, Appaloosa, Morgan, etc promote more than one type with the breed, claiming "versatility of breed."

 

          If a horse’s conformational traits are carefully noted, it is quite easy to recognize the events the horse is suited to perform.   In this lesson we will look at several common events, and for each we will list the conformational observations which indicate the horse’s natural inclination.

 

          Almost all horses today are bred with a specific performance in mind.  Without the inbred desire to do the work, the conformation may be perfect and still not be enough to make a champion.  Never determine on conformation alone that a horse will be an exceptional performer; always study the horse’s pedigree in relation to his conformation.

 

          We first want to look at the horse’s head.   As you will recall from lesson one, air flow is extremely important to the horse which will be asked to work with speed.  If you intend to train horses for speed events of any kind, eliminate horses with dished heads, small nostrils, narrow throatlatches and narrow jaws.   Horses with such conformation do not get maximum air supply and therefore cannot perform at exceptional levels.

 

 

 

SPRINT RACING

 

          Horses with a straight head, large nostrils and wide throatlatch are good candidates for sprint racing.  These same traits are desirable in a horse which will do flat racing over a distance, and horses which will be asked to steeplechase or event.

 

          A short neck is very acceptable for a sprint racer since the distance from the nostril to the lung shortens the time it takes to get oxygen into the bloodstream.

 

         Well sprung ribs indicate the horse will have a large lung capacity.

 

         A short arm, an upright shoulder and upright pasterns suggest the horse will gather quickly and get into his next stride without delay.  When this conformation is observed, the trainer should immediately see the potential for quickness in straight lines for short distances.

 

         Straight hind legs as also a great indicator of quickness in gathering and getting into the next stride.  A straight hind leg coupled with low hocks is a great indicator of short distance speed.

 

 

 

JUMPING

 

          A horse with a long neck, a swan neck or a horizontal neck is a good candidate for jumping events.

 

          The sloping shoulder puts the horse into this category, as does a long arm and a long forearm.

 

          Well sprung ribs are an asset to the jumper.

 

          A low stifle joint indicates power from behind and should immediately suggest the horse may be a jumper.

 

          When a horse has a sturdy frame, plus the above conformational assets, he will most likely jump well and stay sound.

 

 

 

 

DRIVING EVENTS

 

          The horse with a bull neck or a swan neck should immediately be recognized as a potential driving horse.   A sloping shoulder added to a heavy neck and wide chest is a distinct advantage for driving work.  (Remember, horses do not pull a vehicle, but instead push it by pushing into the collar of the harness.)

 

          The driving horse can be fine boned if he is to work with a light vehicle.

 

          A short, flat croup, which predisposes the horse to trot, is a positive as is the sloping shoulder and short forearm.

 

          Horses which are camped out behind and horses with narrow hips generally do well as driving horses.

 

 

 

REINING

 

          A horizontal neck when seen on a horse which also has a steep rump and low hocks, signals the potential reiner.  Such conformation usually means the horse will slide well when stopping hard, yet easily maintain his balance.  The horizontal neck also allows the horse to remain flat in front as he makes pivots or rollbacks.

 

          A short back and well sprung ribs in combination put the horse into the reining category.   A sturdy frame is a plus for the reiner.

 

 

 

TRAIL RIDING

 

          The conformational traits listed here suggest the horse would be best for easy trail riding, not for competitive events.  The suggestion that trail riding best suits this type of horse is made on the basis that “weak conformation” will not hold up to other activities.

 

          A roach backed horse or a horse with a long back can quickly be placed into the trail riding category.   Weak loin also says, “trail horse.”

 

          If the horse is fine boned, has narrow hips and a short croup, then trail riding may be the only activity at which he can be expected to perform well and remain sound.

 

 

 

DISTANCE RIDING

 

          The conformational weaknesses of a trail horse can often be seen in the distance riding horse---which needs to be conditioned and honed to a hardness not needed by the trail horse.

 

          The distance riding horse should have a flat croup as he will generally do a long of long trotting.

 

          A long forearm and a low stifle are of great advantage to the distance horse.

 

 

 

PARADE OR GAITED

 

          The gaited horse is most often a breed of horse which should have both the breed characteristics and conformational characteristics.  A parade horse may be of any breed, as long as he is animated in nature and tends to be a “high stepper.”

 

          Gaited and parade horses require an upright shoulder and a short forearm.   Generally the gaited horse and the parade horse tend toward weak hindquarter conformation.  By not powering well from behind, the have a natural tendency to be more animated in the forehand.

 

 

 

SPEED SPORTS

 

          The long neck and the horizontal neck immediately suggest speed sports.  Add the well-sprung ribs for exceptional lung capacity and you may have an excellent polo horse. 

 

          A long arm and a long forearm indicate reach so that the horse can easily catch himself when be propelled forward at speed by a powerful hindquarters.

 

          A short cannon adds to the quickness of the forehand.

 

          A high stifle indicates a straight hind leg which is always an indicator of a horse with quickness in straight lines.

 

 

 

ROPING

 

          A short back and an upright shoulder in combination should immediately suggest potential as a roping horse which must withstand the jerk of catching a steer or calf.

 

          A sturdy frame is a must for the roper.  He needs to be strong, but isn’t going to be working hard over long distance.

 

          The upright pastern with the upright shoulder indicates quickness in a straight line.  If low hocks are added to the upright pastern and shoulder, then you can be sure the horse will be lightning out of the box.

 

          A pigeon breasted horse has his front feet relatively close together which is more of an advantage to the roping horse than having them wide apart due to a wide chest.

 

 

 

DRESSAGE         

 

          When a horse has a high neck set, especially in combination with a sloping shoulder, dressage should be the trainer’s first thought.  The dressage horse’s work at the higher levels requires an elevated forehand.

 

          The dressage horse needs to work well from behind, so the low stifle joint signals hindquarter power.

 

          A horse with a long arm and long sloping pasterns is well suited to dressage performance.

 

 

EVENTERS

 

          Eventers must also be dressage horses, so the conformation desirable in the dressage horse must be seen in the eventer.   Add a sturdy frame so the horse can withstand the rigors of cross country and stadium jumping.

 

          A sloping shoulder allows the horse to be able to jump and travel the distances required of an eventer.  Low hocks aid the horse both in power from behind for the dressage exercises as well as stadium jumping.

 

          A straight hind leg helps the eventer to have the speed to excel at the roads and tracks portion of the competition.

 

 

 

BARREL RACING/POLE BENDING

 

          A pigeon breasted horse generally makes a good barrel or pole bending horse since he is compact in the front end and can made the exceptionally tight turns with speed.

 

          A short arm aids in the quickness needed during the tight turns and direction changes.

 

          Short cannon bones and upright pasterns signal a barrel or pole horse since you know the horse will have good quickness for a short distance.  His ability to gather quickly keeps him driving forward with speed.

 

 

 

CUTTING

 

          A short back with well sprung ribs is the first conformation needed by the cutting horse.  Add to those qualities a pigeon breast and you have a horse which is capable of quick lateral movement and quick changes of direction.

 

          A steep rump and low hocks allows the cutter to get his hindquarters well under his body so he can lift and move his forehand with exceptional speed.

 

 

 

 

Assignment - there is no quiz for this lesson

 

 

 

1.     Report on a horse’s breeding and what it indicates the horse may be best suited to perform.  (You can report on your horse or someone else’s horse, but you must be able to examine the horse and report the horse’s pedigree.) 

 

2.    Make a short video of the horse…first showing the horse standing, and then moving at liberty…and explain (in a text document) what you see in the horse's movement which makes you think the horse will perform a specific event. You can load the video to YouTube and send me the link.

 

3.     Report the conformational configurations which support the performance ability suggested by the horse’s breeding.

 

4.   Note conformational configurations which detract from the ability to perform as the breeding indicates.

 

Be sure you include your full name on every document sent - not just on the email.

 

 

Please e-mail all answers to Gord Wadds  gwadds1@aol.com

 

Include ‘Conformation Lesson Two Assignment’ in the subject line.