Sporthorse Conformation & Movement Virtual Consultation/Evaluation

Video your horse standing from the side, front, back and opposite side. Footage of each side should be long enough for a conformation evaluation, with the horse in full frame (this allows a complete evaluation of your horse). Side shots should be taken with the camera facing the center of the horse so that neither his forehand or quarters are at an angle. Avoid angling the camera down or up and maintain the shot for a minute or so. Using a tripod is the most effective way to create a still image. Of course, young horses don't always stand still, so supplemental still photos shot as described above can be helpful for conformation evaluation.

Evaluations of sporthorse movment are generally shown on a triangle, and ideally, you would show your horse at the walk and trot on the triangle on your video as well. If you don't feel comfortable trying to show your horse on a triangle, that is fine too. There is an art to showing a horse in a triangle and help on that will be the subject of articles available to CSI members in the near future!

If you aren't comfortable showing your horse on the triangle, please get footage of your horse walking and trotting (energetically) from the side angle and also coming toward and moving away from the video camera. The higher the quality of the video, the more accurate the evaluation will be.

Showing the horse at liberty in order to show his or her canter is recommended as well. This allows the horse an opportunity to show more expression in his gaits when he is not being restrained.

If your horse is not used to being shown in hand, a full video may be made with the horse at liberty, just make sure that you get sufficient footage of all gaits for a complete evaluation. Free jumping and riding may be included, at your own discretion, let your own goals and objectives guide what other footage is included on the video.