Horse conformation
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Many characteristics can be faults or desired depending on the breed, for example for a light racing breed an upright shoulder would be a fault (shortening the stride), whereas for many heavy draught horse breeds it would be desired as more befitting for pulling with a horse collar. Some faults are universal, such as faults in the legs.
Overall shape and condition
[edit]Body condition
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Very fat
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Fat
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Good condition
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Very thin (and pregnant)
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Extremely thin
Frame of body
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Very short
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Short
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Average
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Long
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Very long
Heaviness
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Very light
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Light
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Midweight
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Heavy
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Very heavy
Neck
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Swan neck (weak top line and bulging under line)
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Another swan neck, especially weak top line
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Very heavy neck
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Knife neck (shapeless, straight lines)
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Very large crest of neck
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Short neck
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Short neck
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Long, thin and arching neck that is today the mode for Arabian horses
Topline
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Deeply swayed back
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"Regular" back
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Almost straight, "shapeless" back
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Shapely back of a muscular heavy horse