Genomic research is revealing the heritable basis of conformation-related health problems in horses, enabling more informed breeding decisions that improve long-term welfare outcomes.
Conformation has long been evaluated in horses for aesthetic and functional reasons, but the welfare implications of heritable structural problems are receiving increasing scientific attention. Breeding choices made for performance or appearance can inadvertently increase the prevalence of conditions that cause chronic pain and limit athletic longevity. Genomic tools now enable breeders to make more informed decisions about structural risk, complementing traditional conformation assessment. Breeding programs that integrate both genomic health markers and welfare-oriented conformation evaluation will produce horses better suited to the demands placed on them while reducing the burden of preventable orthopedic disease. The welfare of future generations of horses depends on science-informed breeding decisions made today.