Head and Neck

Conformation
Lesson 2
Objectives
 Define and describe the “conformational
ideal” head and neck
 Define and describe head and neck
conformational faults
 Define proportions of the head and neck
and describe how they relate to overall
function
Head
 Attracts the eye
 Viewed first by buyers
 Affects use of that horse
Head
 Purpose: Balance by acting like a
pendulum
“Ideal” Head
 Head size compliments neck
Head—”Ideal” Ears
 Ears are usually proportional to the head
Head—”Ideal” Balance
 Distance between the horse’s eyes is ~ ½
the distance of a line from poll to midpoint
of the nostril
Head—”Ideal” Nostrils
 Enables the horse to breathe
 Nostril openings -- wide
 Nostrils -- thin and elastic
Head—”Ideal” muzzle
 Teeth -- aligned (upper and lower)
 Lips – full and cover the teeth
Head Size—Faults
 A big head =
 A small head =
 Small heads on foals/weanlings
Head Nostrils—Fault
 Too small –
Head Muzzle—Fault

 Parrot mouthed (hereditary!)

 Monkey mouthed

 NOTE: in AQHA judging mouths do not have an

effect on placing!
Head Faults
Head—Dished
 A concave face or bridge of nose
Narrow jaw/throatlatch—Fault
 Narrow if the measurement is less than
7.2 cm
Wide jaw/throatlatch
 Between jawbones = greater than 7.2 cm
(generally your fist)
Examples:
Examples
Neck Conformation
Neck
 Purpose
Neck—”Ideal”
 ~ 1/3 of the horse’s overall length or
Neck—”Ideal”
 Top line (withers to poll)
Neck Terminology
 Well-muscled
 Slightly arched
 Clean throatlatch
 Neck ties in cleanly with the withers and
top line
 Neck ties in cleanly with the shoulder
Neck Terminology
 High-set
 Neck angles up from the shoulder (breed
specific)
 Low-set
 Neck ties in low to the shoulder (usually not
desirable)
Neck Notes:
Arched or Turned-over neck
 Crest is convex or arched
Short Neck
 Common fault
 Often associated with thickness
 Still flexible, agile and moveable
 For performance:
 Bettersuited for quick turns
 BUT is still functional (if it is the only fault!)
Long Neck
 Long = exceeds the proportional length of
the horse’s body
Large crest/Fallen crest
 “Trojan horse” appearance
 In extreme cases the crest “falls” to one
side
 Most common in stallions, ponies, draft
horses, and the Morgan breed
 Result of excessive fat above nuchal
ligament
Ewe Neck (Upside-down)
 Named for the shape of sheep’s neck
 Unevenly muscled in neck/thin neck
 Noticeable dip in front of the withers
 Bulging muscles on the underside of the
neck
Swan Neck
 Slender and long neck
 Upper curved/arched (correctly)
 Dip remains in front of withers
 Underside muscles bulge
 Common fault
 Often caused by poor riding
Knife-necked
 Long, skinny neck
 Poor development of muscles
 Both top line and bottom line of neck
 Straight crest, no substance on bottom
 Often rider-induced
 Not common fault