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Conformation is a term that is used to describe how a horse is constructed or put together.
The way in which the parts are assembled and aligned determine whether the horse will stand up to the work for which it is used. If the parts are misaligned or otherwise poorly assembled, the vehicle may still operate adequately on city streets and on expressways. If it is taken to the racetrack where it is driven for long distances at full throttle, placed under the stress of cornering at high speeds and maneuvered in and out of racing traffic, it is likely to vibrate, rattle and quickly fall apart. It is no different with horses. When assessing conformation, the first items one looks for are those factors which limit a horse's potential.