A score of 18 to 20 indicates the horse moves or stands straight, has exceptional bone, muscle and form to function. A horse that scores 15 to 17 has minor conformation faults that would not normally lead to unsoundness or limit performance. Horses that score 12 to 14 possess faults that may not affect soundness, but may limit performance. A score of 9 to 11 indicates the horse has major conformation faults that affect the horse's soundness and performance. Evaluators appraise the head, neck, body and balance of the horse during movement and while standing.
Balance refers to the body proportions.
A score of 18 to 20 indicates the horse has exceptional balance and characteristics of the breed. A score of 15 to 17 indicates the horse possesses some minor faults. Horses will score 12 to 14 when conformation faults become more exaggerated, thus limiting performance. A score of 9 to 11 indicates the horse has a combination of faults that would make the horse potentially unusable. Rhythm refers to how well each foot moves in balance and time with each of the other feet.