Can someone explain this about horses?

Question

from what i understand about the topic, good depth of the back is something you look for, but you shouldnt confuse it with an obese horse in "show" condition. . . what is the difference between the two and is good depth of the back a good thing like i'm thinking it is?

Answer 1

do you mean like a swaying back?  If so, then no one wants that.  here is a picture:

http://www.equestmagazine.com/v2s2/image...

That is bad.

Here is a picture of a horse with a great back!

http://www.bluehavenfarms.com/images/sir...

If you are talking about a horse with a long back then some people like them to be long. but some like them short.

Answer 2

I just googled the term you used...this is what I got...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_(horse...

Answer 3

It's the opposite of slab sided...the ribs are well-sprung and the back has more to it...it is wider, but for some reason it is refered to as depth instead of width, which makes it confusing.  A fat horse can be mistaken for a horse with good depth because the fat can mask the flaw.

Answer 4

i agree with the first answer

Answer 5

i heard somewhere that a good proportioned back is measured from the  end point of the wither to the top point of the croup/hip joint

and that a perfectly proportioned back is the same length as the horses belly

i don't know if that's true or not it's just what i read somewhere

and if your horses has a short back he may be faster and able to move in tighter areas and do faster circles, but if it's too short he will have weak hindquarters and may not be able to be ridable.. and what not if the back is too long the hind quarters are weaker and they have higher chances of sway back

but most jumpers have a little longer backs..