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
What is correct conformation for the hind limb?
Plum line from tuber ishi to ground in line with cannon bone
135 degree angle between cannon and tibia fibula
What is straight hocks?
Straight behind, post legged
-closer to 180 degreees
-upward fixed patela, suspensory desmtitis, fetlock oa, bog spavin
What is Sickle Hocks?
Curby
less than 135 degree
-lead to hind limb lameness
(standard breed)
Foal with incomplete tarsal ossificaitnon
-prone to curb or LPL desmitis and distal hock OA
Where is the widest point when looking straight at the horses hing end?
Stifles
What is cow hocked?
Excessive outward rotation
-base narrow
-Distal hock oa
What is in at the hock?
Angular deformity - distal oa and curb
What happens when a horse is base narrow in the hind end?
heavily muscled
strain lateral limb
interfere with forelimb
can happen bow legged
Is it normal to be mildly toed out in the hind end?
Yes
What is one concern of a toed out animal?
They wing in and may interfere with the contralateral forelimb
What is the normal weight distribution of:
Standing horse:
With Ride:
With Cart:
Standing horse: F:60% H: 40%
With Rider: F: 70% H:30%
With Cart: F: 55% H:45%
What is the natural walk gait of a horse?
4 beat
LH, LF, RH, RF
What is the natural gate of the trot?
2 beat
RF and LH then LF and RH
What is the natural gate and beat of canter?
3 beat gait
Right lead: LH - RH + LF - RF
Left Lead: RH - LH + RF - LF
(Lead leg is one up by itself)
What is the gate and beat of gallop?
4 beat with suspension
Right lead: LH -RH- LF- RF
What is the gate and beat of pace?
SB natural
2 beat ipsilateral
LF + LH - RF + RH
