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The desired conformation in a Western Pleasure horse is within the eye of the beholder. Remember that conformation affects a horse's strength, athletic ability, and movement. Certain types of conformation favor different kinds of movement. Some conformation defects handicap a horse in the way he moves. Shorter is usually stronger. Short, wide, well-developed cannon bones and flexor tendons are stronger than long, narrow cannons. A horse with a long back may have springy gaits and greater scope over fences, but a long back is less able to carry weight and more prone to injury than a short back. Long pasterns are more prone to injury than shorter ones. They put more stress on the flexor tendons.

In the front legs, ideal proportions are long shoulder, short arm, long forearm, short cannon, medium pastern. This favors maximum length of stride, strength, efficiency, and range of motion. A short shoulder, long arm, short forearm, and long cannon causes a shorter, higher stride and is less strong.





A long distance from hip to hock indicates short, strong hind cannon bones and a more powerful hind leg.

This is what most judges normally look for:

BODY: Balanced - every part of his body appears to be the correct size and shape in relation to the other parts, and all the parts join smoothly together. Long muscles are able to move a limb further than short muscles. Length in the neck, shoulder, forearm, croup, and from hip to hock helps a horse take longer strides for his size.

HEAD: Attractive - well shaped, with alert ears. An expressiveness while just standing will be a real eye-catcher on the rail; large eyes that will tell the judge that he is a pleasure to be around and ride.



NECK: One that just hangs out in front of him, easily able to carry it level. If there's a slight thickness to the neck it should not impede his movement or the way he carries himself.

BACK: Too long in the back may affect his movement. The extra length could make it difficult for him to drive deeply under his body with his hind legs. He needs that drive to produce a slow, balanced lope. It should be a strong back one with no emphatic dip or hollow.

HIPS/HOCKS: Judges tend to look for fairly long hips with a good set to his hocks. Hocks should be a little low to the ground and under his body. Their correct placement could help compensate for any lack of drive resulting from the length of his back.

CONDITION: Neither thin nor fat. Judges dislike a thin pleasure horse, but too much weight can inhibit athletic ability. Solid, well defined muscles a very big plus.

Along with all of these conformation tips, the most important part is the headset. A correctly conformed prospect who is schooled in a proven set of basics will gradually develop a headset that is comfortable and natural for him. It's a position of carriage that complements the horse's conformation and allows him to balance and move smoothly. He should look confident, relaxed and soft in the bridle - not resistant and forced to hold his head in a particular position.