Do conformation standards assure the horse's soundness?

Answer 1

The better a horse's conformation, the more likely he is to stay sound, but it's not a guarantee. Any crookedness in a leg increases the stresses on joints, which can lead to arthritis and lameness (ringbone, navicular, splints etc). Legs that are too straight lead to jarring gaits and increased concussion on the joints, which also increases the chances of arthritic problems. Legs that are too sloped are pretty rare, but can increase the chance of tendon injuries. So the closer a horse is to ideal conformation, the more likely he is to stay sounder longer. What he does for a living also makes a difference. Racehorses, eventers, show jumpers, and upper level dressage horses put a tremendous amount of wear and tear on their joints. Pleasure horses are more likely to be sound well into their teens or even twenties. I'm not sure if I answered the question you were asking... if not, repost and I'll try again.

Answer 2

Conformation is only 50% of the equation. Lifestyle, Health & Nutrition and if there have ever been any injuries to the horse account for the rest. The only way to get an idea is to have a vet do a pre-purchase exam, and they will be able to tell you more about that particular horse's future soundness.

Answer 3

No it doesnt. Good confirmation just means the horse is put together well. Therefore, you may not have to worry about soundness issues in the future due to bad confirmation. For instance, if you have a horse with fetlocks that are either too straight or are too angled, you can probably state there will be dramas with the suspensory ligament in the future. But, a horse with good confirmation doenst mean that there wont be soundness issues as I've known many horses with great confirmation to wind up lame due to navicular, founder, etc , etc