Conformation concerns body structure and anatomy. In this comprehensive volume, Heather Smith Thomas explains how conformation relates to function and what to look for when evaluating a horse. She teaches the reader to see beyond a horse's physical beauty to identify desirable attributes and potential faults, and with copious illustrations and explanations, trains the eye to recognize the hallmarks of soundness, durability, trainability, and athletic potential. Thomas begins with an in-depth discussion of equine anatomy and the importance of balance and proportion. She also explains how to detect "heart," that indefinable quality that distinguishes a horse from his peers and compels him to excel. The book concludes with real-world applications of the principles of good conformation, including helping a horse succeed by matching him with the right job and what the conformation of the aging horse can tell you. Horses with good conformation move fluidly, experience less wear and tear on joints, and are more apt to stay fit and sound during a long life of service. Whether you're buying your first horse, choosing breeding stock, or simply want to learn more about your equine companion, The Horse Conformation Handbook will help you understand horses better than ever before.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5.0
an excellent book:
This book provides a wealth of information that I have not seen elsewhere. It enables a very detailed assessment of every aspect of a horse's conformation.
This book is not for the Cliff's Notes reader:
Thomas has written a fabulous book that digs deep into the mechanics of the equine. I enjoy understanding why/how things function. This book has helped me to understand why some activities came very easily to my Pony Club mount and why we had to work so hard on others. By reading this you will understand how conformation impacts performance, soundness and longevity. It is well written and the diagrams make it easy to follow. This isn't a light read, be prepared to study. If you are a casual rider... more info
Great Book:
This book is wonderful. It really goes into detail and there is more information here than I will ever need.
Equine enthusiast:
The Handbook is an exhaustive overview of equine conformation relative to athletic ability and stamina. It also appears to be a 'halter class' juding guide. There is an exhaustive amount of information which can make it difficult for the reader to maintain focus on what is an acceptable vs. unacceptable deviation from perfect conformation. The text is well written and the examples well illustrated, however, in order to be absolutely useful, the reader needs the ability to summarize, overview, review,... more info
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