Conformation and Performance in Event Horses

For thousands of years, conformation-the external physical shape of the body’s parts-has been considered a reliable indicator of a horse’s athletic ability. Despite the influence of conformation assessments on equine breeding and trade, few studies have used analytical methods to establish quantitative relationships between conformation and performance. Existing work suggests a significant relationship between judgments of quality and several conformational variables, especially shoulder and pelvis angle, which influence the reach and timing of the horse’s stride. I investigate the conformation-performance correlation in eventing, an equestrian discipline that tests the horse’s ability to complete three phases: dressage, cross-country, and stadium-jumping. Using statistical comparisons of performance records with geometric relationships between skeletal landmarks on the horse’s body, this study ultimately aims to quantify “ideal” conformation for an eventer. Preliminary results based on photographs suggest a significant relationship between con- formational variables and competition scores, especially in the dressage phase. Traits that may drive performance include back length and shoulder, hip, and pelvis angle. Future work using physical location of the skeletal landmarks may provide clearer resolution of ideal traits at each level of competition. Ultimately, this line of research may lead to a set of quantitative guidelines to be used when selecting event horses to purchase or breed.