Confirmation and Locomotion Flashcards
What is conformation?
Structure or form of limbs
-Heritable
-Predisposed to predictable pathologies
-Should be evaluated dynamically and statically
What are you looking for when evaluating the muscle conformation?
General amount and tone, breed and use and symmetry
How do you evaluate the conformation of the limbs?
-Standing square on firm, level ground
-Use a plum lime from the shoulder down to the ground - split forelimb in half
-Plum line from ishial tuber down to ground in half when looking from behind, should be in line with cannon on lateral with foot 4 inch in front
-Dynamic
What does it mean if the horse is toed in?
Pigeon toed
-toes medial
-Rotates whole leg
-wing out
-damage on lower lateral side of leg (splint, suspensory, DIJ)
-Trim medial side of hoof
What does it mean if they are toed out?
Splay footed (mild normal for foal)
-toe lateral
-rotates outward
-wing in
-damage to medial side
-correct by trimming lateral side
What does it mean if a horse is base-wide?
Narrow chest and feet wide
(saddle bred or Tennese walker)
-Overload medial side
What does it mean if base narrow?
Large chest (quarter and draft)
-Overload lateral side
Which direction does a valgus angulation turn? Varus?
Valgus - lateral compared to joint of interest
Varus - medial to joint of interest
What doe in at the knee or knee knocked predispose to?
Carpal valgus
Medial carpal and splint issues
What does out at the knee or bow-legged predispose to?
Carpal varus, bad, toe in
-Bad for lateral side
What is an offset knee?
Cannon bone offset latera side at radiocarpal joint (more load medially)
- carpal valgus
What is palmar deviation of the carpus?
Calf-knee, sheep knee, hyper-extended, back at the knee)
-proximal row of carpal bones set back
-Hyper extension injuries
-Common in standard bred pacers
What is dorsal deviation of the carpus?
Buck kneed, sprung knee, hanging knee, over at the knee)
-Congenital, aquired for jumpers, less severe than calf knee
-Buckling can throw a rider forward
What should the hoof pastern angle be?
Straight line through hoof and pastern
Are forelimb or hindlimb conformational defects worse?
Forelimb
