Conformation Flashcards
hindlimb ideal
- tuber ischii divides leg into equal parts when viewed from rear
- tuber ischii should hit the point of hock & go down the plantar aspect of the hock and cannon & then strike the ground 3-4 inches behind the heel
cow hocked
- hindlimb
- from rear view, hocks are turned toward each other and toes are usually turned outward
sickle hocked
- hindlimb
- from side view, angle of hock joint is decreased
- horse stands under from the hock down
- gap between line and hock
camped out
- hindlimb
- side view
- entire limb is too far behind
straight legged
- hindlimb
- side view
- too little angulation of hock and stifle
formlimbs
- 60-70% of weight bearing
- subjected to more injuries
ideal forelimb
- front view: line dropped from point of shoulder should bisect leg, toes should point straight forward, feet should be as far apart on ground as limbs are at their origin in chest, knees should be balanced, cannon bone should be centered under carpus
- side View: line dropped from tuber spinae bisects leg and fetlock and then to a point just behind the heel, carpus should not deviate anterior or posterior, hoof wall slopes at same angle as pastern
base narrow
- forelimbs
- seen in horses with large chests
- increase weight-bearing on lateral aspect of foot
base wide
- forelimbs
- seen in horses with narrow chests
- toe out
- increased weight-bearing on medial aspect of foot
toe in
- forlimbs
- congenital
- accompanied by base wide or base narrow
- tendency to wing when travel
wing when travel
inward deviation of foot during flight
bowlegged
-forelimb
- excessive strain to medial carpal bones
- hocks look like they turn outward
knock-kneed
- forelimbs
- excessive strain to lateral carpal bones
camped under (forelimb)
- shortness base of support
- overloads forelimbs
- limits anterior phase of stride
- steps more frequently
- low arc of flight
- stumbling
camped out (forelimb)
- stretched out
buck knees
knee sticks out
calf kneed
- forelimb
- posterior deviation of carpus
- knee is buckled inward
shoulder angle
-evaluate first
- 45-50 degree angle
pastern angle
- should be same as shoulder angle
neckline conformatin
- poll to top of withers
- throat latch to base of neck
- 2:1 ratio
topline vs underline
- top of withers to point of hip (top)
- stifle to girth
- 1:2 ratio
top vs bottom
- body length & length of leg should be the same
- top of withers to point of elbow
- above elbow to ground
proportions
- split into 3 quarters
- shoulder
- back
- hind quarter
- each quarter should be equal to each other
limb confirmation
- potential unsoundness
- evaluate systematically
tuber
bony, palpable protrudance
forging
- gait defect
- hind foot contacts/touches front foot on same side
overreaching
- hind foot contacts some part of distal forelimb on same side
- contacting soft tissue with hind foot
cross firing
hindlimb hits opposite forelimb
- particular to many pacers
interfering
hitting opposite leg with opposite leg
- brings limb to midline in motion
paddling
swinging out of the limb
- leg swings outwards
plaiting
placing one foot directly in front of the other
- severe form of winging
pastern hoof angle
should be able to take a straight line from pastern and hoof wall and there be no broken line
club foot
excessive heal length
- contraction of coffin joint
- hoof angle is steeper than normal
carpal contractor
tightness of carpal flexor and ligaments of the carpus
broken angle weak pastern
- form of laicity
- hoof angle is normal but sloping of pastern angle
contracted heels
- bulbs of heels are crunched and close together
carpus valgus
begins at carpus and deviates laterally from there
- inside of foals growth plate is growing relatively quicker than the outside
varus
inward deviation of a limb
what is conformation
physical appearance and outline of a horse based on symmetry, shape, and size of the body
- form to function
what is curbs and what conformation is associated with it
curbs is the swelling located over the back of the hock, this can cause sickle hocked or cow hocked
