What do you look for in a thoroughbred conformation?

What do you look for in a thoroughbred conformation?

Knees – It is best if the knees are set squarely on top of the cannon bones, not off to one side or another: “Offset knees.” Chest – A horse’s chest should be broad and appear powerful. Narrow chested or slab-sided horses are said to lack power. Shoulder – Look for balance, symmetry and good muscling.

How do I know if my horse has good conformation?

A horse’s hip should be approximately the same length as its back. It is also important to consider the way the hip is shaped. The horse should ideally have a “nicely turned” hip and croup. The slope of the hip should be roughly the same as the slope of the shoulder.

How do you describe horse conformation?

Conformation refers to the shape or structure of a horse, and it can impact a horse’s athletic ability. Generally, a horse’s neck should be one and a half times the length of the head. A horse can move best with a short back and long neck. Correct legs structure can improve desired performance and reduce lameness.

What does clean legs on a horse mean?

1 of poultry : having legs free from feathers. 2 : having legs free from a feathery fringe or tuft of hair —used especially of a horse or dog.

How do you take professional pictures of a horse?

Here are our top tips for horse photography!

1. Capture the Animal With Ears Up.
2. Consider the Type of Horse You’re Photographing.
3. Choose Backgrounds Wisely.
4. Don’t Forget Detail Shots.
5. Be Careful When Using Flash.
6. Use Burst Mode and Continuous Focus.
7. Choose Equipment to Compliment Proportions.
8. Become Comfortable With Horses.

How many pictures are in the Thoroughbred conformation book?

As a comprehensive analysis of the functional conformation of the Thoroughbred racehorse, this 257 page e-book 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.

How can you tell a horse’s conformation from a photo?

Horses with poor conformation can be made to look good in photos through handler manipulation. Conversely, a horse with great conformation may appear poor in photos due to the photographer’s lack of knowledge. To truly judge a horse’s conformation, the horse should be walked into position naturally and observed in person!

What does square mean in a horse’s conformation?

Square means the height from the withers to ground should equal the length of body (point of shoulder to the point of the buttocks). A proportionate horse will be symmetrical on both sides of its body. Faults in conformation should be symmetrical.

What are the problems with horse leg conformation?

Common problems here can be “calf kneed” or “back at the knee,” with the carpus falling behind the ideal straight line. A “sprung or bucked knee” is the opposite problem, with a knee that buckles to the front of that imaginary line. Both are faults that can limit the athleticism of an individual horse.