HORSE SHOPPING 101: (Part 2) Conformation Faults and What You Need to Know About Them
Conformation refers to how a horse is built and how his parts fit together. It affects balance, movement, athletic ability and soundness, so it is an important consideration when buying a horse. You are much more likely to have a mount who takes to its job easily and remains sound if it has good conformation for the type of work it will be doing. Though there is some variation in what is considered desirable in different breeds, it is a simple fact that form follows function, and function follows form. This means that well-functioning bodies will necessarily have a certain form, and the form they actually have will determine how well they function. Please be aware that conformation is a huge topic which can only be touched upon in a class like this. It takes years of study to become a truly good judge of conformation, but you can learn to look for certain good points and weak points. However, it is important to realize that there is no such thing as a “perfect” horse, and so...