Sport Horse Conformation vs. Canadian Breed Standards

A sport horse is not a breed: it is a type of horse that is bred to effectively compete in sports. Thus any breed could be a sport horse if it meets the following criteria:

• Conformation: Including a sloping shoulder, a well-developed neck and and uphill build. Conformation directly effects the animal's movement and jumping ability.
• Movement: Most sport horses are bred for a long, athletic stride and movement that uses the whole body. The trot and canter should have good suspension, and the horse naturally reaches under his body with his hind legs. This movement makes it easier for the rider to teach the horse to engage, collect and extend his stride, which are necessary qualities in all sport horse disciplines.
• Jumping ability: Possesses good jumping form, with tight lower legs and good bascule.
• Temperament: Because of the great deal of training needed to produce a successful sport horse, they are generally bred for trainability and willingness to work.

Many of the Canadian breed standards align with sport horse conformation criteria.

Now let's take a look at how this compares to the Canadian Horse breed standards (taken from the Canadian Horse Breeders Association breed standards):

• Shoulder: long, sloping and well muscled.
• Back and loins: short, straight, strong and broad.
• Buttock: firm, thick and well muscled. Gaskin is broad and thick. Stifle clean, close to belly, turned slightly outward.
• Legs: long, wide, the tendon well separated from the bone, large and hard.
• Hock: clean, lean, wide, thick, parallel to the inclined plane of the body, not turned either in or out.
• Neck: rather straight than arched, sides slightly rounded and firmly muscled; gracefully attached to the head and well fastened to the shoulders.
• Temperament: docile but full of vigor and spirit without being nervous.
• Movement: graceful in carriage and demeanor as well as in symmetry and shape.

As a horse that was bred for versatility, has an excellent work ethic and enjoys a challenge, you can see that the Canadian can and does meet the Sport Horse criteria. Does every Canadian meet these criteria? Of course not, just like not every horse in every other breed doesn't either. But we can and do breed for specific conformation within the breed. The fact that Canadians are sport horse and warmblood eligible confirms this assertion.

And as always, everything is relative. A taller, lighter Canadian is still not going to look like a Trekhaner or Holsteiner or Dutch Warmblood but it certainly can and does hold its own against these other warmblood or sport horse breeds.

Here are some that we know of!