Mare #1
Mare # 2
BEING OBJECTIVE As a noun ‘objective’ refers to the intended goal, and as an adjective it means undistorted by emotion, bias or interpretation and is the opposite of subjective. Both definitions can be advantageous when choosing a suitable mate for your horse. Objectively evaluating the functional conformation of
both mare and stallion perfectly supplements pedigree evaluation, performance records, production history, and such. It also compliments financial choices, allowing the bargain hunter to get the most value for their budget as well as decreasing the likelihood of producing a substandard offspring no matter the fee. These two sample mares demonstrate different func-
tional conformation and would require different attributes from a stallion.
MARE #1 This mare was an international show jumper. The lumbosacral gap is bisected by a line from the top of one hip to the top of the other hip, or ideally positioned for athleticism. Her rear triangle shows that the ilium and humerus are of similar lengths, which aids in the ability to coil the rear spring, again ideal for her sport. And her stifle protrusion is well below the bottom of sheath level if she were male, which equates with scope. Her pillar of support emerges well in front of her withers, the base of her neck is well above the point of shoulder and she has a good rise of humerus from elbow to point of shoulder, which all aid in lightness of the forehand. The bottom portion of her pillar of support emerges into the rear quarter of her heel, which aids in soundness. In this case the goal is to have a foal at least as good as the mare. The best stallion choices for her would be built
very much like her structurally. The stallion might be taller or shorter than her or carry more muscle or more bone, but if the elements of functional conformation are similar to hers, the chances of producing a quality jumper are good.
MARE #2 This mare’s lumbosacral gap is well within the athletic range and her stifle is well below sheath level (even though she is stepped forward with the near hind). Her hindquarters differ from those of Mare I-1 as her femur side is slightly shorter than the ilium side. However, she did have a career; she was an equitation hunter at the regional level. The short-femur construction adds stress to the hind leg from hock down, which is evidenced by the puffiness circled in the photo. Her forehand differs from that of the other mare: the base of her neck is set much lower and the top of the pillar of support does not emerge as far in front of the withers, resulting in her being heavier on the forehand. In this case the goal is to improve certain aspects of the
mare. She should not be bred to a stallion that resembled her in the femur; however, it may be difficult to find a stallion that will definitely improve this characteristic. If the mare were bred to a stallion known to stamp a lighter forehand, the foal could be an improvement over the mare.
Next issue in Part 2, Judy looks at how to choose a dressage stallion for your mare.
About Judy: Having researched equine conformation for the last 30 years, Judy has written two books about the subject with two more on the agenda. She travels worldwide giving clinics about conformation for all disciplines. Her website is
www.jwequine.com.
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