Why is confirmation a more important consideration than breed when selecting a horse for personal enjoyment?

Answer 1

It is very important that your horse has a sound comformation because, for instance, say I want to buy a horse but it's knees are not flat and it is knock kneed, I would not get it because, chances are it's knees will only get worse and it may not be suitable for riding down the line. If the horse is suede back, roach back, or anything with it's knees, back, and legs, Do not buy it! One helpfull tip is be sure to watch the horse walk around and be sure it is not twisting when it walks or limping.

Another consideration:In my opinion, when choosing a horse for personal enjoyment both breed and conformation should be considered. Taking into consider a horse's breed before buying is just as important as making sure the horse is has a sound conformation. Some people who just want a "family" horse to ride around occasionally would most definitely not want to buy a breed known for being hot-headed (like an Arabian or Thoroughbred).

Not only that, but it is also important to think about what you mean for "personal enjoyment". Is it going to be a pasture horse to keep another horse of yours company (therefore, having proper conformation would not even matter) or do you want to use it for recreational trail rides (where having decent (but maybe not perfect) conformation would be needed).

If you plan on doing more with the horse than just letting it stand around or using it for very light riding, than it is indeed important to check the horse's conformation (after having chosen a breed that will suit your discipline and training level). The most important things to look for in an enjoyment horse is to make sure that it has a sound back (therefore, allowing you to ride it regularly) and sound legs/hooves. Check for swelling and pain in these areas to see if the horse is sound.

If you plan on just using the horse purely for recreation, just remember that bad conformation does eventually lead to other health problems. While they may be sound when you buy them, a horse with bad conformation that is ridden regularly will most likely develop joint, hip, back, leg and maybe even hoof problems later down the road. If this is not something you are worried about though, and you wouldn't mind keeping a horse after you could not longer medically ride it, than buying a horse that does not have a completely sound conformation is not a problem.

Overall, it's important to consider both breed and conformation. You want to have a breed of horse that you can handle and get along with, but you also want to have enough conformation in the horse that you will be able to do what you want with it for the time you want to use it.

If you are not sure how to make a proper "in-between" decision, try making a list of everything you want out of your horse. List things like temperament, training level, type of riding (english, western, dressage, etc.), riding goals (personal hunter/jumper, recreational trail horse, pasture ornament) and decide if you would be willing to make a life-long commitment to the horse should it become lame due to conformation. Than take that list to a reputable trainer and see if they can help you narrow down and search for a horse that fits all of (or most of) your needs.