Good
conformation? Maybe
Good
conformation-as defined by almost everyone-is often times not exactly
what you want in your performance horse.
"The best conformation," says Don Blazer in his newest
Know and Go Series e-booklet "is the conformation which gets
you the performance you want. And good conformation by the usual
standards may not get the job done."Blazer explains the standards
of conformation established by most breed associations are related
to the horse's efficiency of movement and not to specific performances.
"Yes," Blazer agrees, "what is called good conformation
also has a direct bearing on soundness in most cases. But soundness
and efficiency of movement may not be the most desirable traits
for specific performances," Blazer points out. "Today's
winning western pleasure horse is not the epitome of soundness and
efficient movement. And the best conformation for a gaited horse
is not the best conformation for a jumper."
According to Blazer certain conformations are best for certain performances.
"Today we breed for specific exercises. A horse which is built
to slide 20 feet has very different hindquarters conformation from
a horse which will excel at endurance racing," Blazer said.
The Know and Go Series is made up of e-booklets available only on
the Internet at www.donblazer.com. The booklets are priced at $4.95
each. The series includes e-booklets on bits, shoeing, nutrition
and behavior modification.
"The series is intended to give the busy horse owner the information
needed to both understand a subject and to get immediate positive
results when applying that understanding.
"You can study conformation or bits or nutrition for years
and enjoy every minute of your research and effort. And we encourage
that. We also know horse owners are pressed for time and need accurate,
helpful information at their fingertips now. And that's what the
Know and Go Series provides." For example, Blazer said, study
your horse and really look at his nostrils. Are they large? Are
they small? The size of the nostril affects the horse's air flow.
Horse's with small nostrils are not going to get as much air, so
they may have trouble with racing, cutting, jumping or eventing.
Study the horse's neck and by understanding its length and shape
you'll be better able to select an event suited to that horse's
natural talents.Most horse owners don't have the time to study every
little detail of conformation, so the Know and Go series gives them
what they need to know to get results, now. The information is presented
quickly, easily and in an entertaining manner.
Visitors to www.donblazer.com
can download a free e-booklet, Bits-A Quick Look, and take a Horse
Smart Quiz. The site also offers information about college certificate
programs for online courses including Training Performance Horses
and Coat Color Genetics.
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