Evaluate and place these 3yearold thoroughbred mares in your order of preference, then see how your choices compare with an expert judges. Stride length is largely determined by the conformation. He has a smooth topline and looks good over his croup and back, which tells me most of his angles should be correct. May 01, 2005 she discussed a conformation study that she is planning to submit for publication. This book explains the key body parts, and how they apply to distancegearing, ability, athleticism, etc. Conformation is defined as the form or outline of an animal. Aug 07, 2010 equine conformation evaluates the degree of correctness of a horses bone structure, musculature, and its body proportions in relation to each other. There was also no significant relationship between conformation defects and racing distance category. Feet a horses hooves must be able to withstand a great deal of pressure. The thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. This is a book that belongs in the library of every serious horse person.
An introduction to functional conformation horse council bc. Veterinarians can best manage, and even potentially correct, this abnormality in foals. To measure conformation in 3yearold thoroughbreds and objectively. The late federico tesio, a worldrenowned owner, breeder and trainer of thoroughbred racehorses, was keenly aware of the importance of emotional conformation in the equine athlete and he spent hour upon hour at auctions studying the physical and emotional conformation of the horses he planned to purchase. Start your conformation analysis by becoming famil iar with the parts of the horse figure 1. The horse conformation handbook is the only complete book on the topic and will provide horse owners with a. An overabundance of muscling is the last thing i look for. The thoroughbred as it is known today was developed in 17th and 18thcentury. If you take time to study a horses structure and anatomy, you develop an eye for what horse people call good conformation. The book is a little repetitive, repeating the same information in many different places of the book, but i found that this is a great book for explaining proper conformation and conformation. I like her a lot and she appears functionally correct, but she has some of the typical thoroughbred conformation attributes that arent appealing to wb registries. Bal ance, structure, muscling, quality, type and travel. Thus form to function is one of the first set of traits considered in judging conformation.
Test your eye for horse conformation expert advice on horse. Pdf conformation should be judged in light of the horses discipline. Stride length is largely determined by the conformation of the shoulder. Conformation 1 p a g e conformation good general conformation conformation is defined as the form or outline of an animal. Conformation critique aspiring warmbloodapproved ottb broodmare nov. This excerpt from sport horse conformation by christian schacht is reprinted with permission from trafalgar square books. This new and comprehensive book, by renowned functional conformation and pedigree research expert judy wardrope, will help both the novice and experienced horse person to more critically examine the skeletal structure of the thoroughbred racehorse in order to understand its function, its potential for success under different circumstances and at. I also liked that it listed and explained problems associated with the less desirable. Although there are several faults with universal disadvantages, a horses conformation is usually judged by what its intended use may be. Breeders in particular should remember that, since good horse conformation has a large heritable component, they should strive to choose breeding stock. Importance of correct front leg conformation showing conformation of horses legs in motion. Not sure if this is the correct place but im gonna try here anyway.
In general, the angle of the pastern will correspond with the angle of the shoulder. The most comprehensive guide to the horses body inside and outsideever published. If you were going to buy a thoroughbred then you d be looking for a tall horse with. The late federico tesio, a worldrenowned owner, breeder and trainer of thoroughbred racehorses, was keenly aware of the importance of emotional conformation in the equine athlete and he spent hour upon hour at auctions studying the physical and emotional conformation of. Feb 20, 2008 anyone have any recommendations for a good book books on horse conformation. Structure, soundness and performance 1st lyons press ed by equine research isbn.
Structure, soundness, and performance equine research, sherrie engler on. Gary contessa conformation class, august 4, 2015 duration. As a comprehensive analysis of the functional conformation of the thoroughbred racehorse, this 257 page ebook contains over 400 photographs representing horses from around the world from yearlings to aged horses, racing and breeding stock, sprinters to super stayers and claimers to champions. Rooney wrote some very interesting text books about the biomechanics of lameness that are worth reading if you would like to know more about how form affects function and dysfunction. He explained that the sicklehock conformation allowes horses to get underneath themselves and use their hind quarters for more power. The horse conformation handbook by heather smith thomas, jo. In addition hooves should be matching pairs, both front and hind, and should be neither too large nor too small for the horse. This book was very thorough in its descriptions of proper horse conformation. Champion thoroughbred racehorse seabiscuit, grandson of the great man o war, was notorious for his poor conformation.
The thoroughbred s rear legs act as springs as they bend and straighten during running. A more holistic definition considers the implications of form for dynamic function as well. One conformation analysis system is known as bsmqtt. I dont need a doctoral dissertation on the subject, but something more indepth than here is a picture of a well built horse, and here is a picture of a poorly built horse, the end. The importance of conformation when selecting a horse the strong musculature on the rear of a barrel racing horse.
Secretariat is an excellent example of ideal thoroughbred conformation. In this excerpt from sport horse conformation by veterinarian and german fncertified breeding and horse management expert christian schacht, find out what to look for in a jumper prospect when it comes to frontend conformation. As such, it is responsible for maintaining the american stud book, which includes all thoroughbreds foaled in the united states, canada and puerto rico as well as. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The importance of conformation when selecting a horse. There are many opinions regarding what makes a good horse, and various thoughts on what s most important. However, the undersized and knobbykneed runner went on to claim the 1938 horse of the year title subsequent to his victory over war admiral.
Heather smith thomas has written extensively on animal health care, authoring thousands of articles and 24 books on the subject. The book, ten conformation myths by judy wardrope, and the relative revelations for equine form to function will be an asset to the horse industry for years to come. The thoroughbred owners and breeders association will hold a thoroughbred pedigree and conformation clinic monday, oct. Ashleigh griffen swore shed never give her heart want to read. A horse that has balanced conformationwith neck, back and hip of equal lengthwill generally be a good mover and that translates into good performance. At full speed, a 500kg thoroughbred will place the equivalent of 100 times the force of gravity on each hoof with every stride, so it is essential that the foot be shaped properly to withstand this concussion and to dissipate the shock of impact.
However, the value of a thoroughbred may also be influenced by the purse money it wins. A wellbalanced horse will be able to perform athletically and will be a nice mover. Produced in 1997 a look at the conformation of a racehorse bob baffert and hall of fame trainer mack miller share their approaches to assessing young thoroughbreds. Conformation is an equine term that relates to the bone structure of a horse. Importance of correct front leg conformation equimed. While a person certainly must pay attention to conformation, and phenotype, i think there are to many people these days, picking horses apart because of some minor faults. When buying, selling, training or breeding, all horses are graded on conformation which is an analysis of the overall physical horse. Nov 16, 2014 produced in 1997 a look at the conformation of a racehorse bob baffert and hall of fame trainer mack miller share their approaches to assessing young thoroughbreds. Horses with good conformation are the ideal for most horse people. Mar 15, 2005 heather smith thomas has written extensively on animal health care, authoring thousands of articles and 24 books on the subject. Over a period of seven years 19931999, 3916 thoroughbred yearlings sold at public auction in england and ireland were assessed for nine specific conformation traits. What to look for in a racehorse conformation buyers.
Mar 20, 2017 basically, i look for overall balance first. In athletics as in architecture, form follows function, and nowhere is that truth more important than in equestrian sports. The horse is a working animal and its value is determined by the condition of its limbs and feet. Test your eye for horse conformation expert advice on. How horses are put together and why they can run so fast. Mar 15, 2005 buy horse conformation handbook by thomas, heather smith isbn.
The role of conformation in musculoskeletal problems in. Although, im a relaltive novice to thoroughbred horse racing i have bought 5 thoroughbred yearlings so far and this book helped me find a steal at the latest barretts sale. The better a horses conformation how the animal measures up, or conforms, to the ideal standards. A horse that has a better build, or conformation, is the one most capable of doing the work humans ask of them. Correct horse head conformation the ideal horse head conformation varies dramatically from breed to breed, but all breeds are valued for a relatively broad forehead. Conformation of the pasterns and hooves of horses kentucky. The role of conformation in musculoskeletal problems in the racing. Conformation analysis is the another and all horses to an ideal type for the breed or athletic purpose. The thoroughbred s conformation, or physical makeup, enables it to reach speeds exceeding 40 miles per hour. See the complete thoroughbred series book list in order, box sets or omnibus editions, and companion titles.
As such, it is responsible for maintaining the american stud book, which includes. The front legs carry more weight than hinds and are subject to more concussion and stress. Balance, struc ture, muscling, quality, type and travel. There are five main criteria to evaluate when examining a horses conformation. She raises cattle and horses on her family ranch in salmon, idaho. Hes only 4 and still a bit awkward and growing, but stands a nice 16. Although there are several universal faults, a horses conformation is usually judged by what its intended use may be. Name games before a thoroughbred can race, it must have a registered name.
This book is an outstanding reference book on horse conformation. A long, upright pastern predisposes to fetlock arthritis, but not ringbone. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the thoroughbred breed. Using hundreds of photographs and drawings, this masterfully produced book will show you how to develop the. What does this tell us about the significance of conformation defects in thoroughbred yearlings.
Conformation in thoroughbred yearlings studied kentucky. This conformation puts extra strain on flexor tendons, suspensory ligaments, and the sesamoid bones. Conformation defects were shown to be more strongly associated with pedigree than with racing performance. A long, sloping pastern is commonly seen in combination with sloping shoulders in rangy horses. One confor mation analysis system is known as bsmqtt.
What to look for in a racehorse conformation buyers guide. All assessments were done by a single veterinary observer using a fixed routine. When examining horses for conformation, either when considering a purchase or competing in horse judging contests, it is important to break things down into key principles to avoid becoming overwhelmed when putting the overall picture together. This is an extremely brief description of evaluating a horse for correct conformation as the purpose of the article is to discover and evaluate conformation. In addition, the track record of a race horse may influence its future value as a breeding animal. Ill draw an imaginary line from the tail to the front of the hip, then right in front of the hip to the withers, and from the wither to the poll, and then ill look to see how balanced those three pieces are. Thoroughbred yearling selection based on biomechanics you will never look at a thoroughbred yearling or racehorse in the same way. The horse conformation handbook by heather smith thomas. Mar 20, 2017 when im judging or evaluating a horse, the first thing i look for is overall balance. Then see how your choices compare with our expert judges. Evaluate the conformation of these reiningbred long yearlings and place them in your order of preference.
A comprehensive analysis of the functional conformation of the thoroughbred. Buy horse conformation handbook by thomas, heather smith isbn. The article below describes some aspects of horse conformation, giving us guidance on what to look for in our horses. A broad forehead provides increased sinus capacity, thus there is more room for air exchange through the air passages, and a large surface area for facial muscles that assist in. Conformation of feet and legs play a role in determining speed, athletic ability, and whether or not the horse will stay sound.
Conformation critique aspiring warmbloodapproved ottb. The thoroughbred book series by multiple authors includes books a horse called wonder, wonders promise, wonders first race, and several more. The forelimbs are not attached to the spinal column directly, but are held in place by muscles and tendons. Thoroughbreds are considered hotblooded horses that are known for their agility, speed, and spirit. The most comprehensive guide to the horses body inside and out ever published. In her latest book, internationally respected equine journalist judy. In her study, nearly all racingbred thoroughbred foals were carpus valgus knockkneed at birth, many toed out. Conformation revelations page 2 discussion egyptian. To quantify the frequency of conformational problems in the average thoroughbred, she evaluated forelimb conformation, height, weight, sale price, and. Evaluating horse conformation uga cooperative extension. The ideal horse head conformation varies dramatically from breed to breed, but all breeds are valued for a relatively broad forehead a broad forehead provides increased sinus capacity, thus there is more room for air exchange through the air passages, and a large surface area for facial muscles that assist in opening the nostrils for good air flow. The better a horses conformation how the animal measures up to, or conforms, to the ideal standards of its breed or.
Therefore, the aim of this study was to utilise an objective method developed for recording specific body measurements to investigate the role of conformation in musculoskeletal problems in the racing thoroughbred. A horse that exhibits correct conformation should be a natural athlete. I just acquired a new thoroughbred and am interested in seeing some opinions on his conformation. The game is all about picking the right horse, and this is an important. Apr 23, 2018 this excerpt from sport horse conformation by christian schacht is reprinted with permission from trafalgar square books. Page 2 of 3 conformation revelations posted in discussion. This type of conformation is often associated with straight shoulders.
Anyone have any recommendations for a good book books on horse conformation. Undesirable conformation can limit the ability to perform a specific task. Hind limb conformation the hindquarters are what provides the power to the horses movement. Conformation refers to the shape, dimensions, and proportions of a horse, created by its musculoskeletal structure. Thoroughbreds unique foot structure gives it builtin cushioning to withstand the equivalent of 100 times the force of gravity on each hoof, which is the force exerted when a thoroughbred is running at full speed. Conformation analysis is the systematic comparison of one horse to another and all horses to an ideal type for the breed or athletic purpose. Shoulder the shoulder should have the same slope or angle as the pastern see diagram below. This tremendous spring power helps thrust the thoroughbred forward as its front legs provide pull.
The footpastern axis is an imaginary line viewed from the side that passes through the centre of the pastern and down through the hoof. Im a beginner when it comes to looking at conformation in horses and this book really helped me learn what to look for. The role of conformation in musculoskeletal problems in the. A horse that has balanced conformation with neck, back and hip of equal lengthwill generally be a good mover and that translates into good performance.
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