How a horse is put together, in terms of his skeleton and musculature, is referred to as conformation. A horse with good conformation, i.e. one that is well assembled, is more likely to find his work easy, be well balanced, and be less prone to injury.
Built for the Job
Conformation varies between different breeds depending on what purpose the horse was being bred for. Work or draught horses will be thick set, powerful but stocky, whereas a racehorse is going to be longer, leaner, and more streamlined. The horse's conformation has an effect on how well he moves and jumps. His musculature will vary depending on how he is being worked, i.e. which muscles he is being asked to make most use of. Very few horses have perfect conformation but it is important to be sure that they do have enough good points relevant to the job you want the horse to do.
Good Legs
The horse's limbs should be well aligned, well balanced, and well proportioned. A picture of perfection is hard to find: many highly successful performance horses have conformational faults and different horsepeople develop their own ideas of exactly what they are looking for in a horse. The legs should be well proportioned from shoulder to hoof, with a pastern and hoof angle of 45 degrees. Pasterns in particular should be well proportioned: too long and they put excessive strain on the tendons and ligaments; too short and they produce too much concussion. Viewed from the side, the legs should not appear to tilt forwards (over at the knee) or backwards (back at the knee).
A Good Head
The horse's head should have a wide forehead. It should be well placed on a powerful, well-proportioned neck. The head should join the neck in a way that doesn't restrict the windpipe and therefore the horse;s ability to breathe efficiently. The neck should be set on the shoulders in a way that will make it natural and comfortable for the horse to carry himself well. A low-set neck makes it harder for the horse to lighten and elevate his forehand. The shoulders should be at an angle of about 45 degrees. Too steep an angle limits the horse's ability to open out his stride.
Good Chest
A broad chest indicates plenty of heart room and gives the horse more powerful movement of his front legs. The back should be straight and not too long or too short. Ideally, the measurement from wither to croup should be the same as the length of neck from poll to wither.
The Framework
The horse's skeleton provides the framework which his muscles will develop around. On a well conditioned horse it takes an experienced horseman to see 'under the skin' to assess the actual framework that he has to work with. The proportions and positioning of the horse's bones will dictate his athletic ability.
Good Proportions
A well made, well proportioned horse will fill the eye. You don't need to e an equine expert to see that everything looks well balanced and well proportioned.
Hindquarters
The quarters should be well rounded and powerful and allow the hind legs
to be well positioned, showing a balanced line from the point of the
buttock to the hock and the floor.
Good Feet
The hooves should have the strength, size, and shape to carry the weight of the horse and rider.
