Q: How do I stand a horse up correctly for conformation shots?

A: Knowing how to take a good conformation shot is a great skill for any horse person to have. A conformation photograph can be a make-or-break factor in a horse’s sale, or if you are taking a photo for your records, using a consistent strategy will allow you to track his development accurately.

Our first tip is to wash the horse. Bath him, brush his mane and tail, and spray some coat conditioner to make him shine.

Once your horse is clean and ready for action, take him to an area with good lighting – barn shots rarely work! Ideally, you want the sun to be behind the camera, so pick your spot accordingly.

Next, you want to think about your background and the surface on which your horse is standing. Busy backgrounds detract from the horse and look unprofessional, so try to keep your background as clutter-free as possible. Similarly, it goes without saying that you want your horse to be standing on a flat, clean surface. This is trickier than it sounds, but even ground is vital if you don’t want your horse to appear artificially uphill or downhill.

In terms of position, you ideally want the horse to be standing with their legs ‘open’ or spaced out so that you can see all four legs. Make sure you have the legs on the side closest to the camera as the ones that are offset, i.e. the hind leg closest to the camera should be slightly behind the hind leg further from the camera, and the front leg closest to the camera should be slightly in front of the other front leg. Not only does this allow you to see all four legs, but it also enhances the appearance of the whole body.

Keeping your horse’s focus while you take the shot is the next trick. A distracted horse can easily ruin a photograph by looking away at the wrong moment. Having treats or playing horse sounds can work well. Once you have the horse’s attention, try to get them to stretch their neck slightly down and out to show off their musculature. A tense horse with his head in the air will appear to have a hollow back and look under-muscled, so encouraging the head downwards is important. If you have a handler, they can step back from the horse and perhaps (if safe) kneel on the ground to encourage the horse to stretch towards them.

When taking your photo, aim to stand at the girth line to avoid being at an angle that distorts the horse’s body. Do not stand too far back or too far forward.

It takes time, patience, and practice for both the horse and the handler to get a good conformation shot. Don’t get frustrated—you will get it right eventually!