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Conformation Clinic - Part 2

© Patricia Celley

Conformation Clinic Part 2

The Body

The next area I would like to focus on is the body of the horse. The three areas in particular are; the barrel, which is the whole belly and rib cage, the horse's top line, which refers to an imaginary line running across the length of the horse from the bottom of his mane to his tail, and the bottom line, which refers to an imaginary line running under the barrel, parallel to the top line. Some of the names and terms may vary from one riding discipline or one country to another, but I hope to lay it out in a manner that everyone can follow and understand.

Proper conformation in the barrel is important because it houses all the internal organs and must hang unsupported from the backbone. "Slab sided" is a term that refers to a horse's ribs not having enough spring to them. This makes his sides seem narrow and flat. This is conformationally incorrect because it restricts the area for the lungs and heart. The opposite conformational flaw is too wide in the barrel, or "sprung ribs." Sprung ribs or big barrels put additional strain on a horse's back.

A very serious unsoundness can sometimes be detected in the barrel region. The unsoundness is called "heaves." Heaves affect the horse's respiratory system. A horse with heaves is like a person with emphysema or asthma. If left untreated it becomes more and more difficult for the horse to breathe like emphysema, but it also has allergic triggers like asthma. As the horse works to get the air in and out of its lungs you will see the muscle contract along the bottom of the barrel, below the last few ribs and back toward the coupling. This muscle tightening is referred to as a "heave line."

The top line is easy to see and very important, especially in riding horses. The base of the neck, at the end of the mane, is the withers. If the bone here is very prominent, the horse is said to be "sharp in the withers." If, however, that bone is recessed and the area is flat then the horse is said to be "mutton withered." The ideal conformation is right in between. When a saddle sits on a horse with proper conformation, the withers help hold the saddle in place. Ponies are very often mutton withered and it is sometimes very hard to keep the saddle from slipping around on them. On the other hand, if the withers bone is too prominent it sticks up into the saddle and rubs sore spots.

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