Title: Evaluate the balance and quality of a horse.
Course: Equine Science, Advanced (18104-II) > Section: Judging the Horse

Evaluation should include an explanation of how balance refers to the even, smooth blending of all parts and muscling determined by the length of the neck, the back, and the croup. Quality refers to a horse that exhibits many of the ideal characteristics of a specific breed:

- When viewed from the side, the length of the shoulder, back and hip should all be equal.
- The horse’s neck should be equal to or longer than the shoulder, back, and hip.
- The top of the neck should ideally be twice as long as the underside of the horse’s neck (i.e., a 2:1 ratio).
- A horse’s face should be equal to or shorter than the length of the horse’s back, hip, and shoulder.
- The back of the horse should be shorter than its underline.
- The heart girth should equal the length from the underline to the ground.

Process/Skill Questions:

- What is the ideal measurement of a horse's neck?
- Why is it important to be able to evaluate the balance and quality of a horse?