Evaluating Horse Conformation Pt 3

Another important consideration when examining the horse's neck and shoulder is the point where the neck ties into the chest at the shoulder. It is preferred that the horse's neck tie in high to its chest to allow for greater slope to the shoulder and a neater, more refined neck. If the horse's neck ties in low, the neck tends to be much heavier at the base and the shoulder is usually straighter (Figure 6).

How the neck ties in to the shoulder also tends to also influence the shape of the horse's neck. An important ratio to consider when evaluating a horse's conformation is the ratio of the top of the neck to the bottom of the neck. The topline of the neck is measured from the poll to the withers and the underline is measured from the throatlatch to the shoulder junction. The ideal ratio would be a 2:1 topline:underline ratio. This allows the horse to have a more sloped shoulder since the withers will be set back well behind the point of the shoulder and also allows the horse to flex at the poll and carry his neck in a slight arch (Figure 6a). A horse that has a longer underline than topline is said to be "ewe necked." This is a very undesirable conformation trait as it typically is associated with a straight shoulder and a lack of ability to flex and lower the head.

One other ratio that is important to consider when looking at the horse's neck is the ratio of the throatlatch to the length of the head. The throatlatch is measured from the poll to the windpipe and should be roughly half the length of the head as measured from the poll to the muzzle. If the throatlatch is longer and thicker than this, it restricts the horse from flexing at the poll. Horses with deep, coarse throatlatches can possibly have trouble breathing when asked to flex their head towards their chest. This also detracts from a refined show quality appearance.

Finally, the length and turn of the hip is also critical to a horse's athletic ability. In general, larger hips are better since they provide more power and musculature to propel the horse forward and carry its weight. Almost all disciplines of riding have maneuvers that require power and adjustability.

The larger and better shaped the hip is, the more power the horse will have. 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. A horse with too flat of a hip will have trouble bringing its hind legs under itself, while one with too steep of a hip (a "goose rump") will lack the range of motion to provide power to the horse's movement. Additionally, the hip should tie in low to the gaskin muscling (muscling of the upper leg). How important is the head when looking at balance?

The major function of the head, apart from essential purposes such as breathing, eyesight, etc., is to serve as a pendulum to balance the horse as it moves; therefore, it is critical for the head to be proportionally sized to the rest of the horse's body. The horse's head is heavier in proportion to the length of its neck than any other animal in the world and weighs, on average, 40 pounds. If the neck is the proper length and the head is proportionally sized to the rest of the body, it can function as a balancing aid for the horse's movement.

A classic example of this is the lame horse "head bobbing." When a horse has lameness or injury to a front leg, it limps by using its head to pull his body upwards; it lifts its head and pulls in the opposite direction of the injured leg. When it is lame in a hind leg, it will limp by lowering its head and pulling in the opposite direction of the back leg. In both instances, the head is acting as a pendulum to take weight off of the injured leg.