Evaluate and place these performance geldings. Then see how your choices compare to our expert judge’s.

When judging conformation, the first thing I look for is balance from front to back and top to bottom. I want the horse whose parts flow together correctly and proportionately. A well-balanced horse should divide into three equal segments from front to back, and show equal distance in his depth of heartgirth and length of front leg.

Next, I look for structural correctness, and though it’s difficult to really assess how correct a horse is in a photo, I will evaluate these geldings from the side view I have. I look next at quality, which includes breed and sex characteristics. Geldings may not appear as masculine as stallions, but should still show traits of their breed. Finally, I look at muscling, the one aspect that can improve with good conditioning.

As I judge these three young geldings, I’ll be looking for all those factors to see which will make the best performance or pleasure riding horse among them.

Now, try your hand at ranking these geldings in order from 1st to 3rd place! Then, check your answers below.

Ready to find out how you did? Find the judge’s placings below, and learn how a judge decodes conformation to determine placings!

First Place | Gelding A

This nicely balanced gelding has several pluses that put him first here. When divided into thirds from front to back, he’s very proportionate, though perhaps a touch long in his back. However, his topline is smooth and strong, with withers prominent enough to hold a saddle in place and a nice turn over his croup.

Despite his questionable expression here, his head shows adequate quality. His throatlatch is clean and leads to a neck of sufficient length, decently tied in to his chest. His shoulder is well angled and should enable him to reach forward for a good length of stride. His hip shows an equally good angle and plenty of substance. His depth of body nicely matches the length of his front legs and he’s adequately muscled.

His front legs form a straight column from the forearm through the knee to the cannon bone, and his front pasterns match his good shoulder angle to help provide a fluid stride. His well-set hocks should provide good reach underneath himself, as well as driving power. He should be able to perform athletically.

Second Place | Gelding C

This attractive gray is also well balanced and a very close second place. He, too, divides into fairly proportionate thirds front to back, but with a bit too much length through his loin. His topline isn’t as strong as Gelding A’s, dropping off behind the withers and rising higher at the top of his croup than at the withers.

He has a bright expression, a pretty head, and a clean throatlatch. His nicely shaped neck is long enough to be proportionate and ties in tidily to his chest. His shoulder is well sloped to give him some reach, and his depth of heartgirth is in proportion to his length of front leg. His muscling, sufficient but not excessive, suits him.

His front legs appear appropriately straight from forearm to cannon bone from the side view,
with pasterns of good length and angle to match his shoulders. His hind legs appear slightly post-hocked, though, lacking enough angle in the hock joint to be able to reach underneath himself and drive forward as well as Gelding A.

Third Place | Gelding B

This gelding is the least balanced of the three, quite long in his midsection and short in his shoulder and hip segments when divided into thirds from front to hind end. His topline comprises less prominent withers, a long back, and a short croup, lacking the appearance of strength.

It’s difficult to see well, but he appears to have a pleasant expression and appealing head. His throatlatch is trim, and his neck is adequately long, but ties into his chest a bit lower than ideal. One of his most notable issues is his steep shoulder, which will limit his length of stride. His hip has a better angle than his shoulder. He’s quite shallow in his heartgirth, a mismatch to his length of front leg, and he lacks adequate muscling throughout.

His front legs lack muscling in the forearms, as well as enough slope to the pasterns. Those upright pasterns match his steep shoulder and will contribute to a choppier, less comfortable ride. His hind legs appear a bit post-hocked, as well, which will limit his driving power from behind.

[Learn: How to Take a Good Conformation Clinic Photo]

Sandy Curl, Vero Beach, Florida, holds AQHA, APHA, ApHC, PHBA, ABRA, PtHA, POA, AMHA, AMHR, and NSBA cards, and judges every discipline from halter, pleasure, and trail to working cow horse, cutting, and roping. She judges more than 40 shows per year, with multiple APHA, ApHC, PHBA, and PtHA World Shows, the NSBA Show Your Colors event, the AQHA Level One Eastern Championships, the European Paint Championships and Australian Paint Championships on her résumé.

To submit a photo of your horse to be evaluated in Conformation Clinic, send us a left-side profile photo of your horse (for digital photos: high-resolution, 300 dpi, in at least 3″ x 5″) to HorseandRider@equinenetwork.com with your contact info and your horse’s breed, age, gender, and height. (We welcome all breeds!)