Hippotherapy
when people take pictures of horses, why do they make them stand with their legs so far apart?
like this: http://www.ridgeviewstables.com/images/COMMANDER(YEARLING).jpg
Public Comments
- It's to show their conformation.
- The owners make the horses stand with their legs far apart because it is a way of showing their confiormation. Show horses are purposely trained to do this to please the judges
- i dunno it makes them look .... better? LOL yeah i agree wit the girl who said it shows their conformation... sort of gives away a good body shape i guess? lol
- I only show qh and my arabian, oh and a welsh pony too. But i always had then squared up not streched out, but my arabian had to have one of his back legs out further than the other one. I can remeber which its been a long time since i last showed. But its to show off the conformation
- Not all horses are shown (or photographed) at a full stretch like this one. American Saddlebreds, Tennessee Walkers, and various others are stood this way for several reasons most of which are related to confirmation. (Confirmation means how a horse is physically built.) Each breed has its own standards of confirmation and everyone plays their horse up to make theirs closer to the ideal. So some horses are shown at a stretch like this to enhance their long backs, to show how nicely their legs are built. Also you'll usually see them with their ears pricked forward. Photographers like to use keys with a streamer for that one. They'll have the handler put the horse in their stance and toss the keys in front of the horse. A well trained one won't break position, but he will stand his ears up wondering what that thing was. That enhances the look and shape of the head and then neck set; all parts of confirmation that judges look at. Some horses are shown at a more natural stance like Quarter horses. That's to enhance their naturally "boxy" shape that is a plus to the breed. It's like dog shows - each breed has it's on specialties and strengths and so they're handled, shown and photographed to play those up.
- I think its because it makes them look better. taller and stronger. just look at the picture and think about how you think the horse looks. now would he look better all close together?? it would prolly make him look smaller and not a sturdy horse.
