Conformation is the way in which a horse is formed or put together. Bad conformation may not be an unsoundness in itself, but it may often lead to unsoundness. Here are some of the broad principles of conformation. It should be remembered first of all that the horse or pony, whatever its breed or job, should on first impressions look suitable in make and shape, with no obvious faults which would upset the overall makeup. Conformation also varies according to the purpose for which the horse was intended. At one extreme are the short, thick proportions and heavy musculature of the draught horse, which indicate strength and power. At the other end of the scale is the Thoroughbred, based on a light frame and the length of proportions and muscles giving a conformation condusive to speed. Inbetween are horses which incline more or less to one than to the other.
A correctly proportioned horse will be naturally well balanced, moving freely and economically. His performance level should, therefore, exceed that of less well-made animals. Because the better-made animal is more mechanically efficient, it will be less prone to unsoundness and strain, and will have a longer working life. Poor conformation will often impose physical limitations and may have an adverse effect upon the temperament if the horse is made to carry out movements that cause him discomfort as a result of faults that are not of his making.

The head reveals the animal's nature. It should be in proportion to the size of the horse itself. If it is too heavy for the neck it will overweigh the forehand and upset the balance. The forehead should be broad, full and flat, and the ears of medium size, finely pointed and carried alertly. The eyes should be prominent, clear and large and the nostrils should be big and wide to permit the maximum inhalation of air. The incisor teeth should be sound and regular. Any deformaty of the lower jaw such as parrot mouth or an undershot jaw, is an unsoundness depending entirely on a fault of conformation. Such horses can be bad doers and if used for breeding often pass this faulty conformation on to their offspring.
The angle at which the head meets the neck is one of the most important features of conformation. If the angle is too acute then the head and neck are not well set on. When too extreme it can result in the possibility of compression of the layrnx with consequent interference with respiration. At the opposite end of the scale, when the depth from ear to throat is very thick, it is often a suggestion of commonness or 'jowliness' and such a horse is not likely to bridle well or to carry its head kindly when being ridden or driven.
The neck should have good length and be well carried. Moderately lean in mares but inclined to be more cresty in stallions. Its muscular developement should be in proportion to the work the horse has to do. A longer neck is more desirable in a Thoroughbred or riding horse, whereas a shorter, well muscled neck is an essential part of a draught horse.

The ideal riding horse should have a well sloped shoulder, long in the scapula and short in the humerous, which is well forward. The ideal slope necessary to produce a long, low stride is about 43 degrees from the highest point of the wither to the point of the shoulder. Withers need to be well laid back and prominent if the shoulder is to be sufficiently oblique. Upright shoulders result in a shortened action and also to undue concussion of the whole of the foreleg.
Withers should be well defined but not 'knifey'. Withers that are too high are undesirable, while low, thick, heavy withers are undesirable in the light horse and can interfere with the free mobility of the shoulder. Low fleshy withers often result in the saddle not maintaining its correct position.

The chest should be deep and full, the ribs should be long, well sprung and spaced well back, so that the edge of the last rib is not too far away from the point of the hip. Flat, narrow ribs are undesirable and tend to reduce the capacity of the chest, and not only will the horse have no heart room, but the two forelegs will emerge from the body too close together, which can result in brushing.
If the chest is too wide the horse will be found to have a rolling gait and paddle with its forelegs, and will also waste a considerable amount of muscular action when endeavouring to walk freely. A Good deep girth is extremely important in order to give the heart and lungs room to function adequately when the horse is in hard work. In a horse of 16 hands the girth measurement should be at least 6 feet.

The back should be short and strong, but again it must be remembered that the relative shortness of the back must be governed by the work the horse has to do. The Thoroughbred and the riding horse must have some length of back if they are to travel quickly, while the draught horse must be short of back and close coupled. The term 'long back' is often used loosely. A horse for fast work must have some length of back and the confusion arises when the length of back and the length of loin are not defined. The loin should be as short as possible in all circumstances, as it is here that the porpulsive power of the quarters depend and for this reason they need to be short, thick and powerful, and it is the horse with the length of loin that gives the impression of slackness and too much length behind the saddle.
The croup in the mature horse should be in alignment with the wither if the horse is to be in balance. A pronouncedly sloping croup with a low-set tail indicates weak quarters. The quarters of a horse should give the impression of great strength. The tail should be well set-on.

Should be set square and true. Not tied in at the elbow. Long strong forearms with well developed knee, flat and free from any suggestion of roundness. Within reason, the larger the knee, the better - this way more articular surfaces are provided concussion is absorbed. Short flat cannon bone for strength and the measurement round the bone should be constant down its length. Pasterns of proportionate length and slope. Well shaped dense hooves.

Possibly in no other part of the body is conformation related to soundness more closely than in the feet. The old saying of 'No Foot - No Horse' is as true today as it ever has been. With defective feet the usefulness of the horse is diminished, and whatever the job it does its working life will be limited, or at worst finished. Feet must be of a similar size and odd feet are to be avoided. A good foot should be well shaped, not too large or to small, with a strong, deep, wide heel and a well developed frog.

The hind limbs are the essential elements of propulsion in the horse. The thigh should be long, well-muscled, deep and well let down. The second thigh should also be well developed and the stifle should be well forward in position. The hock should be big in proportion to the size of the horse, wide and deep, with a well marked point, and above all, well supported beneath and with no tie-in immediately below. The hock not to be set behind a line from the point of quarter to fetlock joint. No sickle or cow hocks. Pasterns to be of proportionate length and slope. Hooves well shaped and dense.

Good conformation is associated with correct movement. A horse must walk well, and if this movement is carried out correctly the horse will usually be satisfactory in his other paces. Action should be low, straight from the shoulder and free flowing, Hocks well flexed with straight action coming well under the body. The cob type may show more knee action.

REMEMBER

Finally '..a good horse is one with many good, few indifferent and no bad points'

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