Conformation does not make sense (to me)

[Hidalgo]

Some of the HWO body shapes i've bred for log pulls make me go

I hate how the draft types look on here… the legs (so short, so thick)… the LEVEL OF CHONK (extreme chonk. chonk to the max. chonk^2) the mega Roman noses…
I could never breed for strength, I dislike how it looks too much

Speak of chonk...
Ⓗ Mr. Chonx

[carlWoof]

I hate how the draft types look on here… the legs (so short, so thick)… the LEVEL OF CHONK (extreme chonk. chonk to the max. chonk^2) the mega Roman noses…
I could never breed for strength, I dislike how it looks too much

Draft sausage.

[Pieta]

I 100% agree! Not to mention that real-life upper level dressage horses are generally of a much lighter build than the HWO ones (honestly, I think that if Agility replaced Strength as a dressage stat, it would help encourage lighter-type horses while still making sense from a realism standpoint, as the more advanced dressage maneuvers require a very agile horse).

Could've sworn i replied to this, but apparently, i have not.
Or maybe i forgot to Submit. Chalk it up to lack of sleep and umpteen coffees.

Yeah, even though i'm not breeding or competing anything beyond drafts, i've noticed some really odd body shapes in the rankings and competition results and went to look and sure enough, there's weird stuff all over the place. And yes, you're right, dressage horses look way too heavy.

I must say that in general you are right, but there are 2 kinds, if I can say so, of dressage: "sport" dressage where are used taller horses of lighter build and classical dressage where are usually used so called "baroque" breeds (Andalusian, Lipizzaner ...) that are a little shorter and have medium build.

[carlWoof]

I must say that in general you are right, but there are 2 kinds, if I can say so, of dressage: "sport" dressage where are used taller horses of lighter build and classical dressage where are usually used so called "baroque" breeds (Andalusian, Lipizzaner ...) that are a little shorter and have medium build.

Point taken.
But there's baroque and there's this:

https://www.horseworldonline.net/horse/profile/619097

[Tenacious Equine]

…

And the fact remains that light or very light horses on here don’t do as well in dressage.
My own horse is of a similar size and build to the classical dressage horses, and he’s much lighter than most of the more successful dressage horses I’ve seen on here. (He’s haflinger/paint and 15.3hh)

[Pieta]

I must say that in general you are right, but there are 2 kinds, if I can say so, of dressage: "sport" dressage where are used taller horses of lighter build and classical dressage where are usually used so called "baroque" breeds (Andalusian, Lipizzaner ...) that are a little shorter and have medium build.

Point taken.
But there's baroque and there's this:

https://www.horseworldonline.net/horse/profile/619097

You are right. That horse don't look anything alike horses in RL.