Conformation on my horse? PICTURE INCLUDED!?

Question

Okay, I was wondering what people think of my horse's conformation? Is it decent, great, okay, bad, or what? Also what breed do you think he is? He doesn't have papers but we are 99% sure he is a Quarter Horse lol xD Does he look like he would be able to comfortabley jump 3' or is that hard to tell from conformation? Thanks, and I am open to learn anything on conformation :) I am not so good with it lol

http://i35.tinypic.com/9vl2c2.jpg

Answer 1

beautiful horse looks like a quarter

Answer 2

He looks happy to be at a show. Good looking horse.

Answer 3

He is put together very nicely.

There are no faults on him that I can see based on that pic.

My personal thought and its not a fault is, I like horses with their necks tying in lower.  Again, your horse is stunning and nothing I can pinpoint at all.  I sure wouldn't pass him up myself.

Answer 4

I normally don't like to respond when people want their own horse's conformation evaluated, however I will on this one since your horse is very well conformed and I don't risk offending you by commenting. He is very well balanced, with a long beautiful sloping shoulder and his hindquarter is long and balanced well with his forequarter.  He has substantial muscle, but it is long and smooth, not bulky.  He has low stifles and long hip and ties well into his gaskins.  the gaskins are long, giving him lower hocks and shorter, stronger rear cannon bones.His hocks are deep and strong and should be no problem for jumping.

I like the way his neck ties into his chest, his neck is held high in this photo, but it emerges nicely and balances well with his attractive head...he looks well balanced overall.  His front legs

are sturdy, with short cannons and muscles tied in nicely.  If I were to find anything I didn't like about him, I'd say I prefer the neck a bit trimmer, and I'd go for a slightly shorter back, but he's perfect for a jumper.  he has better conformation than most.  His heels look a bit low...I can't be sure though.

ADD....just read comment that your horse's bones might snap...Arabs are fine boned, and their bones are among the densest and strongest of horse breeds.  The length of the bone, it's density, angles of it's joints, and the way the tendons tie into it are the determinants of it's sturdiness.  Bone diameter is not nearly important as compared to those factors...your horse is built to last, and nothing is going to snap.

Answer 5

Unfortunately a saddle and rider block much of the conformation and the legs are not square so there are a few things I can not see.

What I can see is an outstanding forequarters with long legs, sloping shoulder, and great definition.  I also see a very good hind quarters.

One  flaw I see are pasterns that seem a trifle long.  But that is getting nit picky.

The other flaw for me though it would depend on his use would be that the legs are too fine boned.  Looks great but on rough terrain or working cattle they could snap.  Keep in mind that is a personal flaw based on what I would use a horse for not on what others would.  He should be fine for jumping 3 feet barriers.

Answer 6

shure looks like a qh from the pic the conformation looks good great horse good luck

Answer 7

Looks good!

Answer 8

you're horse is a cutie! And looks like he is in great shape, health, weight, etc.

The only comment I have regarding fault in his conformation are his pasterns...they are a bit long and upright. However, if he hasn't ever shown any problem with lameness or anything it's no big deal.

He has a great trapezoidal confirmation. And definitely looks to be quarter horse, possibly appendix (QHxTB).

Here is a link if you want to learn more about evaluating horse conformation...

http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/an_sci/extensio...

Answer 9

he looks like a very good horse, he is more than likely Q.H., the jumping would depend more on his height.

Answer 10

Since everyone else gave good descriptions of his confirmation I wanted to address the question about him jumping 3'.  Confirmation doesn't have all that much to do with jumping ability.  Many horses that turn into jumpers or equitation horses are in those disciplines because they don't have a hunter confirmation but are fantastic jumpers.  My last pony was a quarter pony rescue, not even 13.3hh and less than par confirmation but we showed pony jumpers which are 3'6" at many rated shows.

Seeing your horse over fences would be a better indication on his maximum fence ability.

Answer 11

Beautiful horse! So Jealous!

Answer 12

he has no obvious conformation flaws but you can't tell how he can jump by conformation , start him over crossrail coarses and move up see how he takes it check for heat in his legs, this will tell you if they are under stress. Oh and he doesn't look Qh to me idk tho.

hope this helps...please best answer!

Answer 13

He is definately a Quarter Horse. As far as conformation goes, I'm an Arab person, so I don't know. Most Quarter Horse studs that I've seen (I think this conformation is really ugly) have very stocky bodies, and big, muscular hind ends. Their front legs are very short and rather unstable looking. And, as far as jumping goes, he's probably okay, but if he has a larger hindquarters, he will be a little hard on his front legs landing. I would ask my trainer or vet about this.

Answer 14

I think he's got nice confirmation. I like how his neck is set up higher. : ) Also, he should easily jump 3'. Most horses can easily. 3' is only 3'' more than what you're doing now, and I have an 11.3 hh pony that can jump higher than that. Doing about 3' 3'' currently. A horse of your size should have no problems.

Answer 15

Conformation of the head and neck

The Head

The standard of the ideal head varies dramatically from breed to breed based on a mixture of the role the horse is bred for and what breeders, owners and enthusiasts find appealing. Breed standards frequently cite large eyes, a broad forehead and a dry head-to-neck connection as important to correctness about the head. Presumably, the construction of the horse's head influences its breathing, though there are few studies to support this. Historically, a width of 4 fingers or 7.2 cm was associated with an unrestricted airflow and greater endurance. However, a study in 2000 which compared the intermandibular width-to-size ratio of Thoroughbreds with their racing success showed this to be untrue. [1] The relationship between head conformation and performance are not well-understood, and an appealing head may be more a matter of marketability than performance. Among mammals, morphology of the head often plays a role in temperature regulation and water balance. As one of the relatively few mammals that sweat, it is unlikely that a horse's head conformation plays a significant role in water balance. Many ungulates have a specialized network of blood vessels called the carotid rete, which keeps the brain cool while the body temperature rises during exercise. Horses lack a carotid rete and instead use their sinuses to cool blood around the brain.[2] These factors suggest that the conformation of a horse's head influences its ability to regulate temperature but not water balance.

Descriptive terms for head types:



Dished face on an Arabian.Dished face [1]

The horse has a concave or "dished" profile, often further emphasized by slight bulging of forehead (jibbah). Dished heads are associated with Arabians and Arabian-influenced breeds, which excel at Endurance riding and were originally bred in the arid Arabian desert. There are several theories regarding the adaptive role of the dished head. It may be an adaptation to reduce airflow resistance and increase aerobic endurance. It may also have a role in cooling inspired air, or cooling blood headed to the brain.



Shires often have a Roman nose.Roman Nose

The horse has a convex profile. Convex heads are associated with Draft horses, Baroque horse breeds and horses from cold regions. This trait likely plays a role in warming air as it is inhaled, but may also influence aerobic capacity.

Faults of the head include:



Pig-eyed horsePig eye: A small eye, primarily an aesthetic issue, but claimed by some to be linked to stubbornness or nervousness, and thought to decrease the horse's visual field

Small nostrils

Opening of the nostrils (the nares) is narrow and somewhat restricted, limiting ability to expand the nostrils for breathing while working hard

May occur in any breed

Especially affects horses in high-speed activities (polo, racing, eventing, steeplechase) or those that need to sustain effort over long duration (endurance, competitive trial, combined driving). These horses are therefore best for pleasure-riding or non-speed sports

Often seen in horses that also have narrow jaws and muzzle

Overshot jaw (parrot mouth) or undershot jaw ("monkey jaw" or "sow mouth")

The upper jaw extends further out than the lower jaw, with the horse having an overbite (parrot mouth), or the lower jaw extends farther out than the upper jaw, with the horse having an underbite (sow mouth).

Both defects can affect the chewing of the horse and the horse's ability to clip grass.

Both defects are fairly rare

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The Neck

The ideal neck is about 1/3 horse’s length, measured from poll to withers, with a length comparable to the length of the legs.



Short neckShort Neck [2]

A neck that is less than 1/3 the length of the horse

Short necks are common, and seen in any breed

A short neck is often quite flexible despite appearing thick and muscular, and the function and range is rarely altered. May be slightly less flexible at the poll, but the horse's maneuverability and agility is generally not affected. It does not shorten stride length, which has more to do with shoulder slope.

The horse may not excel at jumping high obstacles or galloping at high speeds, and may not be as handy at quick directional changes.

Long neck [3]

A long neck is a neck is one that is much more than 1/3 the length of the horse

Long necks are common, especially in Thoroughbreds, Saddlebreds, and Gaited Horses

It may make it hard to balance the horse, and the horse may fatigue more quickly as a result of carrying too much weight on front end.

Lengthy neck muscles are difficult to develop in size and strength

A long-necked horse needs broad withers to support weight of head and neck

It is easier for the horse to fall into bend of an S-curve than to come through the bridle, which causes horse to fall onto inside shoulder, and makes him difficult for the rider to straighten.

The horse is best for jumping and speed sports (without quick changes of direction), or for straight line riding like trail riding



Large crest.Excessively large/fallen crest [4]

The horse has an overly large crest that may fall to one side in extreme cases

Relatively uncommon, although any horse can develop an excessively large crest. It is usually seen in stallions, ponies, Morgans, and draft breeds

It is usually from fat deposits above the nuchal ligament.

An excessively large crest not only looks bad, but it puts more weight on the forehand

Obese horse needs a proper conditioning program



Bull neck: short and thick.Bull Neck [5]

The horse has a short, thick, and beefy neck with short upper curve. The attachment to its body is beneath the half-way point down the length of shoulder.

This trait is fairly common, especially in draft breeds, Quarter Horses, and Morgans.

It is generally more difficult to maintain balance if the rider is large and heavy or out of balance, which causes the horse to fall onto forehand. Without a rider, the horse is usually fine.

A bull neck is desirable for draft or carriage horses, so as to provide comfort for the neck collar. The muscles of the neck also generate pulling power.

The horse is best for non-speed sports.



Ewe-neck, with muscling on the underside.Ewe/ Upside-down Neck [6]

A neck with internal structure that causes it to bend upward instead of down in the normal arch.

This fault is common and seen in any breed, especially in long-necked horses but mainly in the Arabian Horse and Thoroughbred.

The fault may be caused by a horse who holds his neck high (stargazing). Stargazing makes it difficult for rider to control the horse, who then braces on the bit and is hard-mouthed.

A ewe neck is counter-productive to collection and proper transitions, as the horse only elevates head and doesn’t engage its hind end. The horse's loins and back may become sore.

The sunken crest often fills if horse ridden correctly into bridle. However, the horse's performance will be limited until the proper muscling is developed.

Swan neck [7] [8]

The horse has a neck set at a high upward angle, with the upper curve arched, yet a dip remains in front of the withers and the muscles bulge on underside.

This conformation type is common, especially in Saddlebreds, Gaited horses, and Thoroughbreds

A swan neck makes it easy for a horse to lean on the bit and curl behind without lifting its back.

Often cause by incorrect work or false collection.



A nicely turned-over neck.Arched/turned-over neck [9]

The crest is convex or arched with proportional development of all muscles. This is an ideal neck.

Common, seen in all breeds and in all sports.

The neck appears as if it is flowing into the back, so it looks good and creates an efficient lever for maneuvering.

The strength of the neck with proportional development of all muscles improves the swing of shoulder, elevates the shoulder and body, and aids the horse in engaging the hindquarters through activation of the back.

Good for any sport



Knife-necked horse.Knife-necked [10]

A long, skinny neck, with poor muscular development on both the top and bottom. Appearance of a straight crest without much substance below.

A knife-neck is relatively uncommon in older horses, although any breed can be affected. It is sometimes seen in young, green horses.

It is usually associated with poor development of back, neck, abdominal and haunch muscles, allowing horse to go in strung-out frame with no collection and on the forehand.

It is often rider-induced, and usually indicates lack of athletic ability.

It can be improved through skillful riding and the careful use of side reins to develop more muscle and stability.

The horse is best for light pleasure riding until its strength is developed

Horizontal neck

The neck is set on the chest neither too high nor too low, with its weight and balance aligned with the forward movement of the body

Although relatively uncommon, it is usually seen in Thoroughbreds, American Quarter Horses, and some Warmbloods

Advantageous to every sport, as the neck is flexible and works well for balancing

The neck is not too bulky, thin, long, or short. The horse is easy to supple, develop strength, and to control with hand and legs aids.

[edit] Conformation of the chest, shoulder, and forearm

The Shoulder



Upright shoulderStraight, upright, or vertical shoulder

The shoulder blade, measured from the top of the withers to the point of shoulder, lies in an upright position, particularly as it follows the scapular spine. Often accompanies low withers.

Upright shoulders are common, seen in any breed, particularly Quarter Horses. An upright shoulder affects all sports.

The horse has shorter muscular attachments that thu