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The Horse Conformation Handbook | 
 enlarge | Author: Heather Smith Thomas
Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC
Category: Book
List Price: $22.95
Buy New: $13.89
You Save: $9.06 (39%)
New (15) Used (8) from $11.98
Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 70432
Media: Paperback
Pages: 400
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2
Dimensions (in): 10.7 x 8.6 x 1.1
ISBN: 1580175589
Dewey Decimal Number: 636.10891
EAN: 9781580175586
ASIN: 1580175589
Publication Date: March 15, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Absolutely Brand New & In Stock. 100% 30-Day Money Back. Direct from our warehouse. Ships by USPS. 1+ million customers served-In business since 1986. Happy Customers is Our #1 Goal. Toll Free Support
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Product Description
Conformation concerns body structure and anatomy. In this comprehensive volume, Heather Smith Thomas explains how conformation relates to function and what to look for when evaluating a horse. She teaches the reader to see beyond a horse's physical beauty to identify desirable attributes and potential faults, and with copious illustrations and explanations, trains the eye to recognize the hallmarks of soundness, durability, trainability, and athletic potential.
Thomas begins with an in-depth discussion of equine anatomy and the importance of balance and proportion. She also explains how to detect "heart," that indefinable quality that distinguishes a horse from his peers and compels him to excel. The book concludes with real-world applications of the principles of good conformation, including helping a horse succeed by matching him with the right job and what the conformation of the aging horse can tell you.
Horses with good conformation move fluidly, experience less wear and tear on joints, and are more apt to stay fit and sound during a long life of service. Whether you're buying your first horse, choosing breeding stock, or simply want to learn more about your equine companion, The Horse Conformation Handbook will help you understand horses better than ever before.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
an excellent book June 22, 2008
Fran (Australia)
This book provides a wealth of information that I have not seen elsewhere. It enables a very detailed assessment of every aspect of a horse's conformation.
This book is not for the Cliff's Notes reader October 26, 2007
Ritz' Kid (Enumclaw, WA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Thomas has written a fabulous book that digs deep into the mechanics of the equine. I enjoy understanding why/how things function. This book has helped me to understand why some activities came very easily to my Pony Club mount and why we had to work so hard on others.
By reading this you will understand how conformation impacts performance, soundness and longevity. It is well written and the diagrams make it easy to follow. This isn't a light read, be prepared to study.
If you are a casual rider that doesn't request a lot of your horse, then you may not need to know this depth of knowledge for conformation. I find something new to learn each time I pick it up.
Backyard breeders... PLEASE read this book. Bred-to-the-Nines doesn't do much for a horse that isn't built correctly to perform.
Great Book April 6, 2007
L. J. Pellitteri
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book is wonderful. It really goes into detail and there is more information here than I will ever need.
 Equine enthusiast January 3, 2007
British History Buff (San Diego, CA USA)
13 out of 13 found this review helpful
The Handbook is an exhaustive overview of equine conformation relative to athletic ability and stamina. It also appears to be a 'halter class' juding guide. There is an exhaustive amount of information which can make it difficult for the reader to maintain focus on what is an acceptable vs. unacceptable deviation from perfect conformation.
The text is well written and the examples well illustrated, however, in order to be absolutely useful, the reader needs the ability to summarize, overview, review, and focus.
It would be helpful if the author would re-state throughout that her text is written for the 'perfect' specimen and establish that a stated percentage of horses aren't perfect. Having done that, insert a summary on conformation points which are not acceptable under any circumstance; which confirmation points are relatively acceptable; and whether any combination of confirmation points will never be found all in one horse.
It is THE book to have on Conformation December 5, 2006
R. Cavallero (Clarksville, TN)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
This book is one of the most excellent to have if you want to understand conformation, and there are only a handful on the subject even worth having. I am usually disappointed with the quality and quanity of information in books on this subject and only rarely do I find one that is actually worth buying and this is one of them. It rivals the quality of Dr. Deb Bennett's "Principles of Conformation", usually regarded as the industry's standard on this subject, and it touches on some things that Bennett's books do not. I recommend both equally as they compliment each other very well.
This author is a very experienced horse woman and author who has written several books on equines and many, many articles for various magazines. I've been familiar with her work for years and she is a thorough author.
This book hits on equine anatomy and it does a good job of it. You have to have a handle on anatomy before you can understand conformation and this books takes the pains to explain the skeleton, the muscles, and even equine teeth before it really delves into explaining faults, and it does really delve into faults and it explains and illustrates them well.
The Book is divided into 3 parts:
Part 1. Anatomy and Principles of Conformation
2. Basic Anatomy
3. Head and Neck Conformation
4. The Teeth
5. Chest Conformation
6. Back Conformation
7. Foreleg Conformation
8. Hindquarter Conformation
9. Foot Conformation
Part II. Evaluating a Horse
10. Body Proportions
11. Body Angles
12. Height
13. How a Horse Moves
14. Athletic Ability
15 Type
16. Soundness
17. The Senior Horse
Part III. Appendixes
A. Applying What You've Learned
B. Training Your Eye: Six Case Studies
This book takes you over anatomy, into faults and their pathology and then it has a section devoted to illustrated critiques of 6 different horses. This is a book to have if you want to know what Equine Conformation is all about. It is concise, VERY well-illustrated, and very thorough.
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