I have been gathering knowledge from the working western threads on how to select the elements that are needed in basic conformation for a horse to be sucessful in reinning.
I was thinking they have a long list of needs that must be met before a saddle ever slaps on their backs. I thought I bet the same can be said of a Park horse.
What is vital, must have in the selection of the next possible Park horse champion?
Lets break it down shall we?
So I shall start it off.
While a long neck is nice it must be flexable at the poll and rise up out of the shoulders normally attached more closely to the withers than the chest.
This will allow the center of gravity to shift easier onto the rear and help them work the shoulders freely bringing the knees up. The shoulders must be attached well to wide sprung ribs, it takes a great deal of air to trot at such a aggressive cadence, well srung ribs provide it.
Since the greater portion of mass has shifted to the rear it is vital that the horses hind quartes are built to withstand the stress. This means the gaskins must be powerful and stifle joint square. ( How many atheletes have been benched for week knees? The stifles are the horses rear knee caps, you want the capella to be nestled on top of a flat or square joint. A pointed stifle has the capella resting on the tip of the joint. Do not worry the joint is easy to feel with your hand .)
That should be a beginning
Val