Conformation?

[Petra]

I was reading Crazy Manda's post and didn't want to hijack it, so I'm starting this one.
Since I am new to the horse world I have no clue about a good or bad confirmation. I'd like to know what to look for, waht is good and what is not.
I'm not planning to buy any more horses now or later. But I would like to know this stuff just because I'm interested.
So if anyone has the spare time to go to details I'll appreciate it very much.
Also I'm adding pictures of my two girls. (Not that it will make any difference since they are already mine).
But I would like to know their positive and negative features. Not sure if these pictures are good enough to tell. I can take more...I just need to know at what angles.
Thanks in advance!

[shewasmyshadow]

Set up your horses like this:

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v140/172/78/514475951/n514475951_358086_6318.jpg

You can't tell when they're not square.

[Petra]

OK, will do. Thanks :)

[WashingtonBay]

There are whole books written on conformation, the use and function of each part of the body either helps or hinders the horse in any athletic endeavor.

To best evaluate conformation from photographs, you'd want to take their picture standing relatively squared up and with their head up, from the side, front, and rear... and from a point of view that is centered on the horse... meaning you don't want to be looking up or down at them, as this will cause some distortion in perspective.

Something like this... as an example.

http://www.horsehats.com/Images/Horses/Conformation.gif

While the horse is not posed perfectly square, I actually think this is better than a contrived pose, we can see each limb and assess the horse's angles and proportions. We are seeing the horse straight on, he's not angled toward or away.... and the 'camera' point of view is level with the barrel, we're not looking down or up at him.

[Palogal]

Just a caution about asking for a confo critique....

There's something wrong with every horse, and I'm sure we're all okay with it. However, some folks are pretty insensitive about another person's baby. "How's his conformation" is a loaded question that sometimes leads to you being featured on the Fugly Horse of the Day blog.

I prefer to PM pics to people whose opinion I respect rather than post on a public forum.

Also Wikipedia is pretty good if you enter " horse conformation" it will give you some good pics.

[Petra]

WB, thanks, but I cannot see the picture you have posted. Can you maybe attach it as the little thumbnail? I can see them that way. My access to the Internet is very limited; I cannot see most of the pictures and none of the videos on this forum. I am surprised I can see the picture shewasmyshadow posted.
I'll look for a book about conformation. I live in a middle of nowhere, not sure I'll find one. I have already checked all the horse books in the store...I keep buying and reading all I can. I do not believe I have seen anything about conformation. Maybe I have overlooked it though - I was looking specifically for books on the basic training - that's what I needed the most.

[carla]

Just a caution about asking for a confo critique....

There's something wrong with every horse, and I'm sure we're all okay with it. However, some folks are pretty insensitive about another person's baby. "How's his conformation" is a loaded question that sometimes leads to you being featured on the Fugly Horse of the Day blog.

I prefer to PM pics to people whose opinion I respect rather than post on a public forum.

Also Wikipedia is pretty good if you enter " horse conformation" it will give you some good pics.


Yep. I'm not sure I'd ever be "brave" enough to ask that question on here, lol! I know my boy has faults- probably more than I notice- but that's okay.

Maybe one day I'll work up enough nerve to ask "the big question." ;) For now, we're just putting around the pasture/woods, so we're good.

[Petra]

Just a caution about asking for a confo critique....

There's something wrong with every horse, and I'm sure we're all okay with it. However, some folks are pretty insensitive about another person's baby. "How's his conformation" is a loaded question that sometimes leads to you being featured on the Fugly Horse of the Day blog.

I prefer to PM pics to people whose opinion I respect rather than post on a public forum.

Also Wikipedia is pretty good if you enter " horse conformation" it will give you some good pics.

Thanks for the warning Palogal. Do not worry though - I can take it all. I do not expect them to be all that. I do realize "you get what you pay for". I wanted them to be my friend more than anything else. I would like to use them for a light trail riding once they are old enough. I paid $150 for both of them. However they do have a wonderfull attitude and learn pretty easy, even with someone like me, with no training experience. So I already got more than what I bargained for. :)

WB - I can see the picture! Thanks! :) I think I'll just take a bunch of pictures and see if any of them work. I appreciate it!

[WashingtonBay]

WB, thanks, but I cannot see the picture you have posted. Can you maybe attach it as the little thumbnail? I can see them that way. My access to the Internet is very limited; I cannot see most of the pictures and none of the videos on this forum. I am surprised I can see the picture shewasmyshadow posted.

The picture I posted is equivalent enough to the example shewas posted, for purposes of showing you how to take pictures of your own. :)

[Petra]

Well I took a bunch of pictures. Did the best I could. I would have groomed them first if the weather wasn't so nasty. They were taken in freezing drizzle and way too cold temps for me. So sorry they are so dirty.

I hope someone will be able to tell me at least something about their conformation. Honestly feel free to say what's on your mind...it really doesn't bother me to read negative posts. ;) It's more for an educational purpose than anything else.
I'd appreciate any input.
Thanks!
This one is Bullet. She is 14 months old. I'll post Crystal's pics in a minute.

[Petra]

This is Crystal - 17 months old.

[Palogal]

Good try on the pics.
The only things I can pick out from these are that she toes out in back a little bit and has a pretty short neck. She's also thin.

She has a decently short back which is good and a good length to her hip. I can't tell much about her shoulder but it looks like it has a good angle to it.

Those pics are hard to take without help huh?

As for a 17 month old - not really fare to judge that young. She will change a lot in the next year but she's cute now!

[Petra]

Thanks Palogal, I'm assuming you are talking about Bullet in the first part. Sorry to sound so stupid, lol. I have to ask though, what disadvantages does a short neck has and also I have no idea what "toes out" means.
I am aware that she is thin, she is putting on weight nicely though. She came in a very terrible state. Also she needs a trim, she has never been worked with before - we couldn't even catch her when the farrier came, so her hooves haven't been trimmed in a very, very long time (if ever). She holds feet very nicely now; she'll be trimmed next week.

I'm aware they will both change, not sure in what areas though. From reading other posts I figure some things change some don't. What should I expect? Will something like short neck change since she is only 14 months? Or is that permanent?

[WashingtonBay]

I think both horses will be fine pleasure and family horses for you, when they get some better condition and good regular foot care, they'll be even better.

As for any faults, minor features and faults are aesthetic, more pronounced ones might be issues that would limit horses who are competing at high levels and taking on difficult challenges, but I don't see anything at a glance that would tell me your horses couldn't be kept sound and feeling good for most anything you want to do.

[Palogal]

OH! I didn't realize they were both babies!

Yes, it's possible they will grow into their legs. Most horses toe out in back a little all it means is that there is a turn in the cannon or the pastern that turns the toes out. A short neck is not desireable for jumping or dressage and I don't really know about the Western side but probably not great for WP.

If they're pleasure horses, I'd say they're fine too like WB said.
As for their age, expect lots of change.

[Petra]

Thanks WB! :D I was expecting "fugly hors of the day bulletin" after Palogal's warning yesterday, LOL!
Well, I'm glad that I don't have to expect any major medical issues related to their confirmation. After reading the post about post legs I got a little worried. Especially knowing how little I paid for them and how little I know about horses.

[Palogal]

Thanks WB! :D I was expecting "fugly hors of the day bulletin" after Palogal's warning yesterday, LOL!
Well, I'm glad that I don't have to expect any major medical issues related to their confirmation. After reading the post about post legs I got a little worried. Especially knowing how little I paid for them and how little I know about horses.




That's why I warned you. Post legs are not a death sentence either especially when compensated with hip angles for example.

Your two will look nice when they have some weight and are all sleeked up this summer. I would not give their conformation another thought unless you want them in a specific dicipline when they are older, they're yours, you love them, end of story.

[Petra]

OH! I didn't realize they were both babies!

Yes, it's possible they will grow into their legs. Most horses toe out in back a little all it means is that there is a turn in the cannon or the pastern that turns the toes out. A short neck is not desireable for jumping or dressage and I don't really know about the Western side but probably not great for pleasure.

If they're pleasure horses, I'd say they're fine too like WB said.
As for their age, expect lots of change.

Thanks Palogal!
Yes, they are just pleasure horses. I want them just to be my friends and when they will be old enough they will be used only for light trail riding. They will never do any jumping or serious work (I'm not that good of a rider, lol).

They are both rescues.

[cloedoll]

Yep. I'm not sure I'd ever be "brave" enough to ask that question on here, lol! I know my boy has faults- probably more than I notice- but that's okay.


Heh, I just don't care anymore. Cloe never has problems doing what I want of her (as far as jumping, riding, and what not goes), I love her, oh well if her conformation sucks. Haha. xD I asked on the old forum I think just to make sure I shouldn't be worried about anything...anyways, back to topic. =D

I would critique your horseys confo, but I know nothing. =P

[Petra]

Cloedoll, yes, that's why I asked too. And than just out of curiosity. It wouldn't bother me to hear anything negative...I'm already too attached to them, as Palogal said, they are mine and I love them...that's all that matters to me.
I have never been on the old forum, so I have no clue what was that like. :) I like this one though.
I used to visit reptile and tarantula forums...I have to admit, horse people are just so much nicer!

[carla]

I used to visit reptile and tarantula forums...I have to admit, horse people are just so much nicer!

:hysterical: Umm.. thanks?