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Article by Randall Baker, DVM, and Sis Osborne

The term conformation includes type, muscling, balance, and structural smoothness. It also includes the form and proportion of the various parts of the body.

Type

The "type" of a horse depends upon the function a horse is to perform. A Spotted Saddle Horse is a light horse type. Desirable type in a saddle horse requires a horse of medium size and weight, generally ranging in height from 14.3 to 16 hands and weighing from 900 to 1100 pounds. This horse has a long sloping shoulder, a long sloping hip, a fairly short back and a short strong coupling. The bottom line is longer than the top line, allowing a long stride.

Balance

A balanced appearance comes from the forequarter and hindquarters appearing to be of nearly equal size and development. They "fit" together well.

Head

The Spotted Saddle Horse's head should be in proportion to the rest of the animal's body. The head and throat latch should be refined and clean-cut, with the facial bones exhibiting a chiseled appearance. The eyes should show character, being of good size and well placed, with good width between the eyes. The eyes should be clear and bright. The face should be straight, rather than convex (Roman-nosed) or concave (Dish-faced). The ears should be well set, medium to small in size, and they should be carried forward showing attentiveness. The muzzle should be small, with large sensitive nostrils. The upper and lower teeth should meet. The jaw should show bone structure but should not show excessive thickness.

Neck

The head should join the neck at approximately a 45 degree angle, with a distinct space between the jawbone and neck. The neck should be medium to long in length, and the head should be carried high. In the adult, the neck should be slightly arched. The neck should be lean and muscular and blend smoothly into the shoulders and withers. Excessive arching or crested neck is undesirable.

Shoulders and Withers

The shoulder should be long and should slope forward at an angle of 45 degrees from the withers to the point of the shoulder. The shoulder should be smooth, yet well muscled. The withers should be well defined and extending beyond the top of the shoulder. The top of the withers should be at least as high as the top of the rump.

Chest and Forelegs

The chest should be of moderate depth and width, with good depth being exhibited into the forerib and barrel. A good heart girth and well-sprung ribs give room for good respiration. The forearms should be set apart enough to prevent interference of the forelegs and should be set well forward of the shoulder, blending well. The forearm should be moderately muscled and taper into the knee smoothly from the side, front, or rear view. the knee joint should be clean, with the cannon bone being of moderate length. The pastern should be medium to long in length. The pastern and hoof should join the leg at a 45 degree to the ground (from the elbow to the knee should be longer than from the knee to the ankle).

Back, Loin and Croup

The top line of the Spotted Saddle horse should be level, or slightly sloping to the hind quarters. The back should be short to medium length, with a short, strong loin. The croup should be long and good muscling and a well set tail. The croup should slop moderately from the point of the hip bone to the point of the buttock.

Rear Quarters

The rear quarters should be of moderate thickness and depth, well muscled when viewed from the side and rear. The muscling should be evident inside and out on the rear legs. The hock joint should be fairly wide and deep, with the joint being clean. The cannon area should be vertical from the hock to the pastern, with the pastern showing a 45 degree angle with the ground. It is acceptable for a saddle horse to "stand under in the rear slightly" or to be slightly "cow hocked" or sickle hocked.

Bones and Legs

The bone of the leg should be flat and free of puffiness or protrusions. The bone should be of adequate substance to support the animal during a strenuous performance. The hock and knee should be wide and deep, clean of puffiness and blended well into the leg. When viewed from the front or rear, a vertical line should bisect the knee and body. The legs below the knee and hocks should show clean tendons, giving the legs a flat appearance. All legs should be set squarely under the body. From the front view, the fore leg should be parallel with the feet pointing straight ahead. From the side view a line drawn perpendicular to the ground should bisect the forearm from the shoulder to the rear of the hoof. From the rear view, the hock should be straight or slightly turned in. The hind legs should set well under the horse and the hooves should point straight forward. The hock should be set at the correct angle with a straight rear leg being very undesirable. Excessive angle to the hock can cause weak hocks.

Feet and Pastern

The hoof should be well shaped and balanced to the size of the horse. The hooves should be tough and durable. The pastern should be medium to long and set at a 45 degree angle to the ground. A straight short pastern will give a rough ride and predispose the horse to injury.

Quality

Quality is indicated by a cleanness of bone and head, with good body smoothness. The animals parts blend well together. The hair coat is glossy.

Gaits

The Spotted Saddle Horse performs the show walk, show gait, and canter. These three are the gaits for which the Spotted Saddle Horse is famous, with the show gait being an inherited naturally smooth gait unique to this breed. The Spotted Saddle horse is able to perform the rack, stepping pace, fox-trot, single-foot and other variations of the intermediate gait. The flat walk is a brisk, long-reaching walk that can cover from 4-8 miles an hour. This is a four cornered gait with each of the horse's feet hitting the ground separately at regular intervals. The show gait is the intermediate gait for the Spotted Saddle Horse. This extra-smooth gliding gait is basically the same as the flat walk with a marked increase in speed. This breed can travel 10-20 miles per hour at this gait. This gives the rider a feeling as if he or she were gliding through the air propelled by some powerful but smooth-running machine. the show gait or saddle gait is a smooth, easy gait for both horse and rider. The canter is a forward movement performed in a diagonal manner to the right or to the left. On the right lead, the horse should start the gait in this order: left hind, right hind and left fore together - then right fore. The order for the left lead is: right hind, left hind and right fore, then left fore. When performed in a ring, the animal should lead his canter with the fore leg to the inside of the ring. In the canter the horse gives one the abundance of ease with lots of spring and rhythm, with the proper rise and fall to afford a thrill from sitting in the saddle. This is often referred to as the "rocking chair-gait". The Spotted Saddle Horse comes in a variety of colors and exhibits two main color patterns, tobiano and overo. No preference should be shown in judging as to color combinations. No color combination or pattern should be preferred over any other color combination and/or pattern. Of course, individuals will always have preferences and favorite colors and combinations; however, if the horse is registered with the Spotted Saddle Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association, then that horse's color combination has been approved, and should be judged on an equal basis with the other entries. The multitude of pattern and color combinations are what make the Spotted Saddle Horse different, eye catching and desirable. The chrome edition of the equine world is a much sought after horse.

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