10/10/2025
Conformation is barely understood today. Some people think it is "confirmation", but it is "conformation" because it is about whether a horse CONFORMS to an ideal. Like all ideals, perfect conformation is impossible. Therefore, we use it to measure how close a horse comes to the ideal. Conformation is further complicated by personal opinions. For example, I like short backed horses. Why? Because they have more agility and the kinds of things I enjoy most with horses require a high degree of agility. But that's me.
One of the most important of the many conformation elements is the structure of the legs. The images shown here indicate common conformation flaws of the hind legs. The far right horse has straight legs. Horses with this type of leg cannot reach well under their belly with the result being uncomfortable jerky gaits. The straight leg limits hind reach and thus acceleration and speed, as well as the ability to stop well using the hind.
The next horse to the left is "camped out". This is the worst horse for agility sports providing no speed and not much stop. However, if you want a horse for riding in less demanding circumstances, the straight or the camped out legged horses might do if the horse has a good mind.
The next horse to the left stands under. This usually translates into lots of stop and not much top speed, but reasonable acceleration as a result of its ability to reach under the belly. This horse might, for example, make a functional arena polo horse but not an outdoor polo horse where top speed is essential.
The horse on the far left of the four horses is ideal. Such horses, with a nice combination of hind reach and extension, are the best all around. You cannot go wrong with these hind legs.
