Conformation, Really, How Important Is It?

Short answer...Very Important.

This has come up on some of my horse boards and I guess it'll be debated till the end of time, and then some more.

The way a horse is put together is very important. First for soundness and then for looks. When you have a good looking horse, it says a lot about you even. It shows you know and care enough about horsemanship to do and buy the right thing. There is an English saying that goes something like "Show me your horse and I'll know all about you". I can't think of the exact quote but I have the basic gist and it's too true.

But a good looking horse is probably going to cost you a bit more than a 2-bit plug. You may take care of them the same but the better looking horse is going to probably last longer and hold his value over the long term.

Now, I'm a former horse trader (or 'Bloodstock Agent' if you want to get snooty about it) and I've had all SORTS of equines in the barn. Notwithstanding this current economic climate, I'm going to talk about a properly conformed horse here.

Very seldom, in my trading days, did I ever come across an abfab (short for 'absolutely fabulous') horse in the trading pens. If I wanted a good looking, properly conformed horse, then I had to pay really good money for him. On the lower end of horses, most of these horses are put together by a committee and even at a glance, you can see the quality just isn't there.

Even if a good horse ends up on the lower end, say, the owner just couldn't afford to feed properly, you can still see the quality in the bone structure and even in the attitude. A lower end horse just doesn't have 'it'.

I've ridden all sorts of horses and did just fine but nowadays, if you even want to compete, you have to have a good looking horse anyway. Conformation counts. "Back in the day", it didn't matter so much. Egads, you should have seen some of the horses I used to fork and show! But even if I were riding them today in the showpen, if it were between another horse/rider and me, the other rider would probably win out over me because that horse looked better.

Even in trail-riding. For long term durability, look for the straight-legged horse in front. No post legs in back. A good sloping shoulder and a good set of the head onto the neck. Width between the eyes AND ears. Well sprung ribs. When you buy a good conformed horse, you don't have to pay out so much for vet bills and wraps and stuff. Keep your horse in shape (you as well) and you don't have to buy so much liniment, a good wash-off with a hose will do the same thing.

I hate to admit it, but times have changed. It costs just as much to feed a crummy horse as it does to feed a good-looker. Might as well have a good looker in the barn.

I'll have more on this later as my 'net connection is acting up. Dial-up is SUCH a pain! Almost makes me want to spring for the expensive satellite stuff...but not yet...I'm still too much of a chinch...

Ride safe, everyone!!