Title: Explain horse conformation.
Course: Equine Science, Advanced (18104-II) > Section: Judging the Horse

Explanation should include defining conformation and could include

- the physical appearance of the horse due to the arrangement of muscle, bone, and other body tissue
- combination of balance, muscle, structural correctness, quality, and movement, breed type and its purpose
- confirmation as a reliable predictor of athletic ability and soundness.

Evaluation should also include an explanation of how the proportions of and relationships among the horse’s upper body and its parts can affect the horse’s health, success in a given discipline, and how conformation is influenced by

- the skeletal system
- structural correctness of the legs
- breed-specific differences
- faults and defects.

Process/Skill Questions:

- What is conformation?
- Why is skeletal structure important to understand when evaluating a horse’s conformation?
- What are breed-specific conformation differences?
- What conformation traits can affect performance?
- What does it mean when a horse is sickle-hocked, post-legged, cow-hocked, or bow-legged? How might any of these affect the performance of the horse?
- Why is it important to have a thorough understanding of all parts of the horse, the function of each, and an evaluation system that allows for consistent, repetitious evaluation of horse conformation?