Conformation

Question 1

Parrot mouth

Answer 1

When upper jaw extends wells past lower jaw

Question 2

Ewe neck

Answer 2

A short crest resulting in an “upside down” appearance to the neck
Often elevated head carriage and a braced, hollowed back

Question 3

Pigeon-breasted

Answer 3

Appears front-heavy, with a prominent, protruding chest, and with front legs positioned too far under the body

Question 4

Base-wide

Answer 4

Wider in front of, rather than behind, the girth area. Elbow movement is restricted and girth soring
often results

Question 5

Base-narrow

Answer 5

Generally associated with sore knees, splints and decreased front-end coordination

Question 6

A short back limits ____

Answer 6

a horse’s scope

Question 7

Overly long back limits ____ and _____

Answer 7

coodination and collection

Question 8

Long loins

Answer 8

Reduce the horse’s ability to use the hindquarters properly for impulsion

Question 9

Sway back

Answer 9

indicates weakened ligaments and muscular attachment

Question 10

Roached back

Answer 10

occurs when the spine rounds up in an “arch”

Question 11

Slab-sided

Answer 11

Ribs are more straight up and down than wide and curved

Question 12

Pigeon toed

Answer 12

Toes face in

Question 13

Calf-kneed

Answer 13

Back at the knee

Question 14

Buck kneed

Answer 14

Over at the kneed

Question 15

Cow hocked

Answer 15

Hocks in, toes out

Question 16

Bog spavin

Answer 16

Fluid builds up in hock joint - only unsightly

Question 17

Bowed tendon

Answer 17

When a tendon and its surrounding tissues stretch too far, they can tear or rupture, and fail to return to their original length

Question 18

Conformation predisposition for bowed tendon

Answer 18

long, upright pasterns or a foot with a long toe and low heel

Question 19

Capped hocks and elbows

Answer 19

Injury or irritation of the hock or elbow may result in

a noticeable swelling or cap. After injury subsides, unsightly

Question 20

Cloudy eyes

Answer 20

Spot on horse’s eye can indicate corneal ulcer or laceration

Question 21

Equine Recurrent Uveitis (ERU)

Answer 21

Moon blindness. Cataracts develop from recurring irritation and inflammation and turn the lens opaque.

Question 22

Club foot angle

Answer 22

Greater than 61 degree

Question 23

Club footed horses tend to land ____

Answer 23

heel-first

Question 24

Contracted heels

Answer 24

Narrow heels that close in near the frog.

Question 25

Dished foot

Answer 25

hoof that is concave, rather than straight, in front from the coronary band to the toe

Question 26

Curb

Answer 26

inflammation or tearing of the plantar tarsal ligament at the back of the hock

Question 27

Girth gall

Answer 27

sores caused by chafing and abrasion

Question 28

Hoof flares

Answer 28

An unbalanced foot results in steepness on one side and a flare on the other

Question 29

Saddle sore

Answer 29

occur from ill-fitting, improperly positioned or poorly cleaned tack

Question 30

Splints

Answer 30

hard, visible bump alongside the cannon bone caused by injury or inflammation of the splint bone. Splints most commonly occur on the inside of the leg.

Question 31

Thoroughpin

Answer 31

windpuff of the Achilles tendon, above the hock.

Chronic inflammation of the tendon sheath around the deep flexor tendon

Question 32

Horses prone to thoroughpin

Answer 32

Sickle-hocked or post-legged

Very straight hind legs

Question 33

Windpuff

Answer 33

balloon-like fluid swelling of the deep digital flexor tendon sheath near the back of the fetlocks