Welcome to Trainer Tuesday! Each week we ask trainers a question and gather their answers for you. These trainers have a range of experience, backgrounds, and focus points of their programs, so the answers have as much variation as you would expect and also probably much more similarity.
This week’s question posed is: Do your students learn horse and pony conformation, and what is one physical trait every rider should recognize?
Here are their answers:
“Conformation and soundness go hand in hand for me. A conformation flaw is not a deal breaker–and when I say that, I’m talking about the flaws that world-class veterinarians can agree are less of a problem than some other conformation flaws. For that information, talk to your vet.
Dr. G. Marvin Beeman, DVM was and is, from my upbringing to current questions today, my trusted veterinarian, educator, and horseman. I have relied on his state-of-the-art knowledge and experience since the 1970s. To repeat my opening statement, soundness is the focus for me.
At some stage of being around the barn or riding many horses, the horse’s soundness is felt by the rider and can also be seen from the ground. I still, to this day, trust the sound and visual of a “sound” horse trotting. Many horses have a conformation question that a “track record” of soundness can put to rest.
If I had to pick an issue that concerns me the most, it would be the hoof of the horse. Good hooves and correct bone structure of the leg are of #1 importance for me. I have had great horses for decades successfully competing with acceptable conformation questions but great hoof structure.
Note: That being said, my farrier schedule NEVER varied. Horses in my business were shod on schedule, and by working backward from the competition schedule, farrier dates were penciled in.
So for me, the conformation question takes me to soundness, which takes me to the horse’s hoof, and my valued expert farrier schedule for the good of the horse’s soundness and longevity.” –Diane Carney
Read more from Diane and listen to her on The Plaidcast here.
“Yes, my students or adults that really want to learn and be a part of their horse’s life do learn conformation–especially the kids that do the pony division.
One main thing I make sure ALL students know and understand is their horse’s leg issues. I believe everyone should feel and KNOW their horse’s legs, and if they care to know the bumps and dips horses have, then they can usually stop a larger injury from happening or recurring or know to treat it before it’s a big lump!
Example Injuries include: splints, bowed tendons, thickened tendons, wind puffs, quarter cracks, etc… If you KNOW what is the norm for your horse and if something abnormal pops up, then you can help the horse’s conformation from becoming a larger problem for them! Conformation isn’t just about being pretty!” –Dana Hart-Callanan
Read more from Dana here.
“I’m a big believer in the saying ‘it all starts from the ground up.’ I try to teach my students the importance of even feet, and we work our way up from there.” –Johanna Hyyppa
“I talk with my students about conformation when we talk about the different parts of the horse and when we start discussing the biomechanics of the horse. I will also have my vet and farrier speak to them about conformation when they are learning about hoof care and overall horse care.” –Gregory Franklin
Read more from Gregory here.
“With my students, I teach about positive and negative conformational traits as a way to learn how to best alter or improve a training and care program for that horse. In creating educated horsemen and women for the future of our sport, learning about things like corrective shoeing, proper saddle fit, and different training techniques can be crucial in helping horses best perform with conformation “flaws.”
On the flip side, learning to spot things like good feet and well-balanced biomechanics can help riders learn about picking the right candidates for breeding or help them decipher what horse/pony will be best suited for future careers. However, I always stress that the most important part of the horse’s body is their brain. A horse with a good mind can often outperform a textbook “correctly built” horse. It remains my highest priority in selecting horses for different jobs.” –Ariel Univer
Read more from Ariel here.
“While my riders with cognitive and physical disabilities don’t focus extensively on conformation initially, they do learn valuable aspects through practical experience. Our students understand that horses move differently—some with more concussive gaits (characterized by upright shoulders, short pasterns, and straighter hocks) and others with smoother movements (featuring sloping shoulders, sloping croups, and longer hind limbs).
This knowledge becomes meaningful when they learn why I match them with specific horses for their therapeutic sessions, as some riders benefit from the stimulating effect of a more concussive gait, while others thrive with the calming influence of a smoother-moving mount. If there’s one physical trait every rider should recognize, it’s the horse’s shoulder angle—as it profoundly influences movement quality and directly impacts the rider’s experience in the saddle.” –Ada Haensel
Read more about Ada Haensel’s unique equine therapy program and listen to her on The Plaidcast here.
“In 2010, I started the Athletic Riding League (AEL), where athletes are judged 40% on flat, 40% on fences or ground poles, and 20% on unmounted practicum taken from the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) manual. I feel it is critical for a rider to know conformation to understand how their horse moves and how their body movement can affect the horse’s movement. Every rider should be able to recognize how the horse’s head is set and how it will affect the discipline that they want to do.” -Sally Batton
Read more from Sally here.
