Conformation Clinic

So today Robyn held a conformation clinic. We basically took standard conformation shots of a bunch of horses at the barn. I had Happy, he's a 7 year old Standardbred that I really like. He's a very sweet horse. He's the type of guy i'd love to have to hack around on. We completely destroyed the pictures by drawing all over them and measuring from here to there to discuss the different parts that make up the whole. For the most part Happy wasn't too badly put together, he has a nice back, decent legs, and overall soundness. His major fault is that his hind end is higher than his front by about 30degress! Which means his hind end is taller. But standardbreds tend to be really down hill because it helps for them to race faster. The good thing is that his overall measurements of his hind were pretty good, so that means he probably wont have many issues with his hind legs.

So all in all I came to the following conclusions about looking at horses to buy:
1.) There must be a strong back without a large space between the croup and the last rib
2.) Leggs should be relatively straight, with knees being better slightly to the inside rather than to the outside.
3.) Overall body porportions should be able to be split easily into thirds.
4.) Neck should be high from the shoulder, with atleast a fist being able to fit between the jaw bones.
5.) The overall body should be upward.

Of course the last two are mainly helpfull for us Dressage riders, we don't want a quarter horse with a low head/neck set, with a downhill conformation...because we want upward movement with collection.

Obviously there is never going to be the perfect horse conformation wise, but I feel like the above rules make for a well balanced horse, and something that anyone can look for in a mount for a reasonable price, and still be able to have a decent dressage prospect.

I have been doing a lot of browsing of horses. I am hoping within the next couple of years to get a horse of my own again. I of course want a dressage horse, or a dressage prospect. I like the eventing style horses. So all in all I think that this clinic was really helpful. I enjoyed it so much I went to boarders and bought the book that we were learning from.... The Horse Conformation Handbook, by Heather Smith Thomas. Its only $23, and very worth it for any horseperson's library IMO.