Improving Conformation

I was curious if anyone had any advice on raising conf. I have noticed that the stat calculator is decently accurate and helpful but I cannot seem to have luck/understand conf. On many occasions, I can pair very selectively and the foal's conf is lower than both parents. I even try getting more detailed and comparing each specific conf point between both parents. Recently, I did two pairings, each 71.xx X 78.xx and both foals are 71.xx. You would *think* that it would have fallen somewhere between that 71-78, even say 72, showing some progress. I also noticed that this is worse in some breeds than others. I have much better luck in Andys but consistently bad in TWH. Could this be a glitch in the overall system, maybe? Any thoughts would be appreciated :) Thanks

It's not a glitch. Andalusians happen to have lines with very high conformation from before the recode, same for Paints and Quarter horses. Other more niche breeds will take more time to raise to "perfect" conformation without access to these kinds of lines. 

Conformation is random chance with +/- 10 points either way on the parents stats, it sounds like you were unlucky and got low numbers. Your best bet to improving conformation is matching any poors to betters and keeping the scores as close as possible. 

Last edited on 2021-01-19 at 13:14:17 by maplɛ

Okay, thanks. So we want parent's conformations closer together vs the high jump to make the best progress, per say? I wish there was some sort of calculation for this to really have something to strive towards vs "ope, its total chance" haha. Are TWH newer ish to the game? I just joined in October so I am fairly new myself, but working hard and precise on my breeding.

I do best with comparing each conformation stat and selectively choosing a mate that can improve upon my horse's weakest points. For instance, say I have a mare with 96 overall conformation. She has mostly "perfects" but a few "excellent." I look for a stallion who has "perfects" of her "excellent" features, and that either has same/better "perfects" that she does, so I don't end up with a worse foal. Does that make sense?

I have been fairly lucky when I match high conformation to low conformation. Although, I try not to have a totally drastic pairing. Like, not breed a 65 confo mare to a 95 confo stallion. Usually it would be more like breeding a 90 to a 95. But that is of course much easier with my Paints and QHs because of the availability of many high conformation horses. My Tekes and Thoroughbreds are my work in progress for conformation, but they are coming along. Just have to be selective. For example, here is one of my Thoroughbreds that came out quite wonderfully. Her sire has 77.44 conformation and dam has 72 conformation. She came out with 78! 

It all is a bit random, too, though. For instance, I have bred this stallion (95.38 confo) and this mare (95.65 confo) together twice. The first foal came out (slightly) worse than both parents with 95.21 conformation, while the second foal that I just bred today came out better than the parents with 96.21 conformation.

Last edited on 2021-01-19 at 14:07:24 by Havok

I love the challenge of breeding for Conformation!!!!! 👍

What I do is pair horses up that are strong where their mate is weak. I sometimes get pathetic foals; but most of the time get foals in between and sometimes even way better than the Sire and Dam! 😊

Last edited on 2021-01-20 at 02:51:18 by 💜 𝓕𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻 💜

Thanks, guys! So that is mainly what I have been doing/trying to do; I think I just have, uh, worse luck haha the Equi-Computer-Gods are laughing at me as I pair. I am going to go back to getting more detailed again with comparing conf point like Havok got into detail on/Feather agreed. Now to *remember* to check profiles BEFORE spending forever comparing and narrowing down studs to then be told owner has not progressed their game or the stud needs vet/farrier hahaha

I run into that all the time haha, so frustrating to find the right match only to find out after that the owner has not progressed their account!