The National Show Horse shall strive to produce an athletic horse which retains size, beauty and refinement. Specifically, the following traits are desirable:

A.  Motion.  Balanced and obvious power from the hindquarters flowing into an elevated front end, the front legs showing both flexion and extension;

B.  Neck.  Very long, set high on the shoulder and relatively upright with fine throatlatch.  The neck should be shapely but without a pronounced crest;

C.  Head.  Relatively small, short and refined with large eyes and small, well placed ears and a straight or slightly concave profile (a "Roman nosed" or convex profile is not desirable);

D.  Pronounced withers and a very deep and well laid back shoulder;

E.  Proportionately short back closely coupled with a long hip and relatively level top line (moderately sloping croup not to be penalized);

F.  Legs.  Correct from all angles with long forearms and short cannon bones in front and long, well angled pasterns front and rear;

G.  Refinement of bone but not lacking in substance, especially in the chest, girth, shoulder and hip;

H.  A relatively high set tail, natural and flowing;

I.  When observed at rest or in motion, the horse must exhibit a natural presence and, when animated, extreme brilliance.  The horse must exhibit high carriage when showing or relaxed.