Horse Confirmation: Structure, Soundness, and Performance [Paperback]

Equine Research (Author), Sherrie Engler (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2004

In athletics as in architecture, form follows function, and nowhere is that truth more important than in equestrian sports. The better a horse's conformation (how the animal measures up to, or "conforms," to the ideal standards of its breed or type), the better it will be able to perform. Using hundreds of photographs and drawings, this masterfully produced book will show you how to develop the "eye" that any horseman needs to assess equine conformation and anatomy. Its comprehensive text focuses on ideal and abnormal conformation features; balance and symmetry; the relationship between conformation faults and athletic ability; colors and markings; as well as anatomical elements, teeth, and aging; body systems; and the relationship between structure and function.

Now in paperback, HORSE CONFORMATION is the single most valuable book on its subject and one that deserves a prominent place in every horse owner's or rider's library.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A Great book - so packed with information that it leaves the average and professional horse owner plenty of room to learn more."--Book News

"Nicely designed and written in a way that will allow novices and professionals alike to gain insight into the influence that conformation has on their horses. It's a great addition to any horse lover's bookshelf."--Horse & Rider

About the Author

EQUINE RESEARCH, INC. is a respected publisher of horse-related academic and popular books. Its reference works include the contributions of the country's most authoritative veterinarians and other experts in their respective fields.

Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Lyons Press; 1st Lyons Press Ed edition (September 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592284876
• ISBN-13: 978-1592284870
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #96,641 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #15 in Books > Medical Books > Veterinary Medicine > Anatomy & Physiology
  • #68 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Animal Care & Pets > Horses > Riding
  • #71 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Individual Sports > Horses > Equestrian

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty good but has a few gaps, April 5, 2005

By 

W. Covington "tisturod" (south west) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Horse Confirmation: Structure, Soundness, and Performance (Paperback)

This book covers ALOT of stuff-Conformation(good & bad), bone stucture, muscle structure, Most conformational faults and even has a section on breeds, types and colors(the color section is lacking simply because it is all black and white). It also lacks in the description department. It leaves many pictures without enough explanation about why this conformational 'fault' is a bad thing or what a horse can still do well enough in spite of his less admired physical traits.(lets face it, there are plenty of horses out there that are less than perfect but they are sure keeping someon happy) Some of the pictures barely get descriptions. But there is plenty there to keep a person reading quite a while and this IS the first book I've read with so much on the subject. I would reccomend it as something to have on hand as a reference but keep on the lookout for another book that could help fill in the gaps. Maybe they will come out with a revised and updated edition. Overall this book is pretty handy.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Carelessness in describing details, June 28, 2008

By 

Edward Ivey "Ed Ivey" (Cottondale, FL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Horse Confirmation: Structure, Soundness, and Performance (Paperback)

If you are interested in getting a well described picture of the author's idea of good conformation, you will probably be dissatisfied with this book. As an example, on page 200 (paperback) figure 8-20, the explanation of a profile of the rear portion of a horse says, " If the croup and thigh are fairly long, the hindquarters have a triangular shape." Certainly drawing straight lines between three points (the point of the hip to the point of the buttock to the stifle) forms a triangle. In order to be of any value however, it is important that the type triangle formed be named (possibly an equilateral triangle?).

The point I would like to make is that the book seems to be thrown together from different sources in what, to me, seems a slipshod manner. Some areas are helpful, but overall, in my opinion, the lack of attention to detail by either the author or the editor, or both is problematic.

An example of a book on the subject, which I think was prepared to be truly useful, is "The Horse Conformation Handbook" by Heather Smith Thomas.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent gift item, December 23, 2007

By 

Jene Moseley "Tzarita88" (Silver City, NM) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Horse Confirmation: Structure, Soundness, and Performance (Paperback)

I purchased several of these books to use as gifts for my horsey friends. Each one loved it. It's loaded with useful information and is well written. I highly recommend it.