Conformation and Locomotion of Horses

Question 1

Define conformation

Answer 1

Structure/form of the limbs

Question 2

Why is poor conformation a problem?

Answer 2

It may predispose to predictable pathologies

Question 3

What may asymmetrical muscling indicate?

Answer 3

Atrophy from a chronic lameness, nerve damage, EPM

Question 4

Describe the toed in (Pigeon toed) abnormality.

Answer 4

A congenital rotation of the limbs inward (often occurs with a base narrow conformation)

Question 5

What does the toed in conformation predispose to?

Answer 5

Increase in lateral splint bone osteitis, lateral suspensory branch desmitis and interphalangeal joint OA

Question 6

How can you correct for toed in conformation?

Answer 6

Trimming! Mildly lower the medial wall

Question 7

T/F: The toed out conformation is always abnormal

Answer 7

False! Mild splay is normal

Question 8

Describe the toed out (splay footed) conformation

Answer 8

It is a congenital rotation usually of the entire limb. This is also called winging in

Question 9

How can you correct the toed out conformation?

Answer 9

With trimming! Don’t correct in foals unless severe as this can be normal

Question 10

What does the base wide conformation predispose to?

Answer 10

Injuries on the medial side- can overload medial aspect of lower limb and foot by landing on the inside of the foot

Question 11

What breeds are predisposed to the base wide stance?

Answer 11

Saddlebreds and Tennessee walkers due to their narrow chests

Question 12

What breeds are predisposed to the base narrow stance?

Answer 12

Large chested horses (QH, draft)

Question 13

What injuries can the base narrow conformation predispose to?

Answer 13

Lateral injuries due to overload of the lateral aspect of the distal limb and foot

Question 14

Contrast valgus vs varus

Answer 14

Valgus is a lateral deviation
Varus is a medial deviation

Question 15

What does the in at the knee or “knock kneed” conformation predispose to?

Answer 15

This is related to carpal valgus and predisposes to medial carpal and splint problems

Question 16

What does the out at the knee (bow legged) stance predispose to?

Answer 16

This increases forces on the lateral distal limb leading to OA in the carpus/fetlock, lateral sesamoiditits, and suspensory branch desmitis
- it is the result of early life carpal varus

Question 17

What does offset knees (bench knees) predispose to?

Answer 17

This is when the cannon bone is offset to the lateral side. It increases the medial splint loading leading to splint bone problems as well as carpal lameness. This may occur with carpal valgus

Question 18

What does the palmar deviation of the carpus predispose to?

Answer 18

Carpal injuries (dorsal carpal chip fracture, palmar carpal soft tissue injury, and proximal check ligament injury)

Question 19

What does dorsal deviation of the carpus predispose to?

Answer 19

Nothing in most cases. This often is congenital and improves with age or may be acquired in jumpers

Question 20

What does straight hocks predispose to?

Answer 20

Upward fixation of the patella, suspensory desmitis, fetlock OA, bog spavin (tibiotarsal joint effusion)

Question 21

Horses with sickle hocks are prone to…

Answer 21

Curb (lateral patellar ligament desmitis), distal hock arthritis

Question 22

What is one of the main causes of sickle hock in horses?

Answer 22

Foals with incomplete tarsal cuboidal bone ossification due to short gestation length

Question 23

What does tarsus valgus (in at the hock) conformation predispose to?

Answer 23

Distal hock OA, Curb

Question 24

What gait is expected with the toed in conformation?

Answer 24

wing out or paddling of the limb during advancement

Question 25

What does the toed out conformation cause in terms of gait abnormalities?

Answer 25

winging in- may cause injuries to contralateral limbs

Question 26

What is the normal weight distribution in a horse between the forelimbs and hindlimbs?

Answer 26

Forelimbs bear 60% of the weight, hindlimbs bear 40% of the weight (70, 30 with rider)

Question 27

What is the order of limbs hitting the ground with the natural 4 beat gait?

Answer 27

LH, LF, RH, RF

Question 28

Which limbs hit the ground in sinc with one another during the trot?

Answer 28

RF, LH–> LF, RH

Question 29

Describe the order the limbs hit the ground during the canter

Answer 29

Right lead: LH–> RH + LF–> RF

Left lead: RH–> LH + RF –> LF

Question 30

Describe the gallop

Answer 30

4 beat gait with suspension
- LH–> RH—>LF–> RF

Question 31

Describe the pace gait

Answer 31

LF + LH–> RF + RH