The Horse Conformation Handbook »

Heather Smith Thomas raises cattle and horses on her family ranch in Salmon, Idaho. She is the author of 10 books and thousands of articles on animal health care. Her books include Essential Guide to Calving, Getting Started with Beef & Dairy Cattle, and Storey's Guide to Raising Beef Cattle.

Conformation refers to a horse's shape and the configuration of its body parts. Thomas, an expert on horses and an experienced writer on the subject, offers an extensive information guide for assessing a horse's conformation for riding purposes as well as for buying or breeding. She first describes a horse's anatomy and the principles of conformation, categorized by body part. She then details how to evaluate this anatomy in terms of proportion, angle, height, movement, athleticism, type, and "soundness," in addition to assessing an older horse. Included are diagrams, a glossary, and case studies, in which six photographs of horses are analyzed. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR