Balance is one of the most important criteria to consider when evaluating conformation. When determining balance in a live situation, stand at least 25 to 30 feet away from the horse or horses. Determining balance is more attainable from this perspective. A well balanced horse should have a long neck, a long sloping shoulder, a short strong back, a long underline, a deep heart girth and a long sloping hip.

		Neck A horse's neck provides leverage and the longer the neck, the more leverage the horse has to perform maneuvers under saddle. In addition to length, the size of the horse's neck is also important. A desirable neck will be clean in the throat latch and trim throughout while tying smoothly into the withers and smoothly into the chest or forequarter. Necks that tie higher into the forequarter provide the horse with more agility and flexibility for performance. Horses with
with short, thick, cresty, low-tying necks will have less suppleness and flexibility in their movements. Noteworthy breed differences are found in Morgans and Walking Horses who naturally have thicker necks. Walking Horses also have lower necks that tie in lower to the forequarter. The Arabian and Saddlebred will have a well-arched neck, however the Arabian's neck ties in high where the Saddlebred's neck is lower tying into the forequarter. (See Oklahoma State Breeds of Livestock Horse Pages to compare these differences)

Shoulder Follow the line of the scapula that runs from the withers to the point of the shoulder when identifying a horse's shoulder slope. A long sloping shoulder will increase the range of motion in the forelegs of a horse. These horses will have a smoother ride and should stay sound longer. Horses with short, steep shoulders will have a shortened stride and provide a rough ride. The horse's pasterns are generally a mirror image of their shoulder.

Hip Likewise, a horse's hip is similar in angle to their shoulder. Stock type horses (example: Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa), Thoroughbreds and Walking Horses are more rounded over the croup which allows them to reach further up under themselves to have a more collected stride. Arabians, Morgans and Saddlebreds are more level over the croup and have a more sweeping stride. Horses that tend to be steep in the hip are called "goose rumped."

Back All horses should have short backs with a strong loin in comparison to their longer underline from heart girth to hindrib. Horses with long, sloping shoulders generally have short backs where steeper or straighter shouldered horses may have longer more undesirable backs.
Example of a desirable back	Example of undesirable back

In general, balance can be determined by placing an imaginary triangle on the horse. Allow one side of the triangle to follow the angle of the shoulder. If the point of the triangle is above the center of the horse's back and the opposite angle follows that of the hip, then the horse can be considered balanced. If the point of the triangle is either in front of or behind the center of the horse's back then the individual is probably not balanced.