Rough Guide to Good Conformation

The first thing to assess when judging a horse's conformation is to establish what type or breed of horse you are looking at. Every breed has different characteristics that you should look for, and if you do not see them, there is some kind of conformational fault.

For example, Arabs have a high-set and carried tail because they have one less vertebra in the back than other breeds. Therefore, if you are looking at an Arab horse, and it has a low and poorly-set tail, then it is safe to assume that this is an area of poor conformation.

There are two other points to bear in mind before starting to assess conformation. Firstly, what sex is the horse? Mares invariably have a slightly longer back than geldings, and it is a good idea to keep this in mind. Secondly, how old is the horse?

A very old horse sags naturally in the back and will have lost muscle tone, so it is important to take this into account when discussing his conformation.