26/10/2022
Conformation vs Posture
What is conformation?
👉Conformation refers to the basic physical structure the horse is born with.
What is posture?
👉Posture is determined by the horse’s soft tissue structures, including muscles, fascia, ligaments and tendons.
Conformation cannot be changed, whereas posture can be changed. This can be positively or negatively affected by the type of work, rider, tack fit, farriery, and dentistry. A horse with good posture will generally stand square and have a well-balanced muscle development.
If a horse has a negative posture this can be improved gradually through corrective exercises, massage therapy, correct tack fit, remedial farriery and equine dentistry to resolve the issues.
If postural imbalances are ignored or are undetected, they can over time become more serious problems. The first detectable signs may be changes in behaviour, movement, or facial expressions.
By learning to identify the difference between conformation and posture, owners and professionals can work together to change the horse’s posture to improve performance and welfare.
