Horse Evaluation Flashcards
1
Q
What are the 5 points of horse evaluation?
A
-Planned use (performance, pleasure, breeding?)
-Behavioral characteristics
-physical characteristics (health, color, movement, conformation?)
-genetic characteristics (pedigree, production records)
-cost
2
Q
How does planned use affect your priorities for selection?
A
-athleticism vs temperament?
-beginner vs advanced?
-pleasure vs. competition?
3
Q
How does planned use affect your breed selection?
A
-work horse vs. stock horse vs. sport horse
4
Q
How have breeds/types been developed?
A
to have physical characteristics consistent with their primary intended use (size, muscling, overall shape/proportions, speed, strength, endurance, agility)
5
Q
“Ideal” for one breed/type =
A
different than another breed/type
6
Q
“Ideal” characteristics can vary from breed to breed but…
A
we can use similar techniques to evaluate those characteristics
7
Q
Lameness
A
an irregularity in an individual horse’s normal gait that often involves the limbs and is often associated with pain
8
Q
What do we need to know to identify lameness?
A
what the horse’s normal gait is
9
Q
Gait defect (fault)
A
A deviation in limb movement from the ideal which may or may not be associated with pain and can be normal for a particular horse (horses can develop these because of lameness to avoid pain)
10
Q
To identify gait defects what do we need to know first?
A
the “ideal” for the type/breed of horse we are evaluating
11
Q
Examples of gait defects:
A
a horse may move their limbs to the outside in their individual movements
12
Q
Unsoundness
A
a characteristic that impairs the ability of a horse to fulfill a specific purpose
13
Q
What do we need to know to determine if a horse is unsound?
A
the horse’s purpose
14
Q
Examples of unsoundness
A
-blindness
-old tendon injury
-asthma
-reproductive issues
-a filly injured on the track that heals cannot race again but she can be sound enough for breeding
15
Q
Conformation
A
close study of the form of the horse (con = to study; formation = giving form or shape to something)
16
Q
Conformation defect (fault)
A
a deviation from the “ideal”
17
Q
To be able to identify conformation defects what do we need to know?
A
the “ideal” for the type of horse we are evaluating
18
Q
Examples of conformation defects:
A
saddlebreds should have a very upright neck, if they have a low or straight neck it is a conformational defect
19
Q
Blemish
A
a characteristic that affects the appearance of the horse but not its ability to function or fulfill a purpose
20
Q
Examples of blemishes:
A
-scars
-eye problems (that don’t effect vision)
-sometimes hearing problems
-brands sometimes
21
Q
Is conformation evaluation all about the legs?
A
No! the legs only function because of whats above them, the body is just as important as the legs
22
Q
Conformation characteristics
A
-symmetry
-structure
-balance
-height, breadth, muscling, quality (sex)
-breed characteristics
23
Q
Dynamic symmetry
A
in motion, symmetry of limbs, body position
24
Q
Examples of dynamic symmetry
A
do the left and right move together/in the same way?
25
Static symmetry
relationship of left and right
-are they mirror images of each other?
26
What are the best gaits to evaluate symmetry in?
walk and trot (symmetrical gaits)
27
How to observe dynamic symmetry
-are legs taking the same step length?
-are legs lifting off the ground to the same height?
-are legs stretching forward the same distance?
28
How to observe static symmetry
from the front:
-ears
-eyes
-notrils
-muzzle
-chest/muscling
-forearms/muscling
-knees
-cannons
-ankles
-pasterns
-hooves
from behind:
-hips
-stifles/muscling
-hocks
-tail
29
What could a lack of dynamic symmetry do?
-may affect performance
-may indicate lameness (sudden loss of symmetry)
30
What could lack of static symmetry do?
may affect dynamic symmetry
31
What is structure?
angle, alignment, length
32
What does structure affect?
-dynamic balance
-dynamic symmetry
-stride length
-power and efficiency
-force distribution within the body and limbs
33
What makes up structure?
where the skeletal parts are in the horse
-angle
-alignment
-length
of bones
34
How do we observe structure?
from the side, front, and rear
35
Describing words for structure of the torso:
-deep
-good
-bad
-sloped
36
Shoulder structure
scapula and humerus
-where the scapula joins with the humerus and where the humerus ends in the forearm
37
Shoulder length
the length of the scapula (top of scapula to where the scapula joins the humerus)
38
Deep shoulder
the humerus joining the leg to the top of the shoulder
39
Comparing the shoulder between young and old horses:
it is hard to do because the shoulder gets longer as they grow older
40
Shoulder slope
-ideal angle is 45 degrees
-length of scapula joins a line parallel to the ground at a 45 degree angle at the point of the chest
41
More upright (straighter) shoulder
bigger angle
42
More sloping shoulder
smaller angle/ gentler slope
43
Shoulder angle
angle between the scapula and the humerus (open/large angle vs. closed/smaller angle)
44
Pigeon chested
leg is set slightly back from the chest
45
What is the ideal shoulder for a saddlebred?
very sloped shoulder because they pick their legs up so high (easier to get vertical to the ground)
46
What type of shoulder would jumping horses need?
a sloped shoulder to get their legs up and out of the way
47
A long sloping shoulder with an open angle gives the horse what type of movement?
a longer stride and more freedom of movement
48
A straighter shoulder gives horses what type of movement?
shorter stride (good for barrel racing and pole bending)
49
How does a sloped shoulder influence the neck set?
a higher set neck
50
How does a straighter shoulder influence the neck set?
a lower set neck
51
Length of the hip
from the point of the hip to the end of the pelvis
52
What does a longer hip mean?
more are for muscles (more muscles = more power)
53
Slope of the hip
the slope of the line from the point of the hip to the end of the pelvis
54
Flatter hip
hip length is closer to parallel to the ground
55
Steeper hip
hip length is pointing more down towards the ground (better for broodmares)
56
Angle of the hip
angle between the pelvis and where the femur articulates with it
57
What does the angle and structure of the hip affect?
the placement and reach of the hindlimb (where the power comes from)
58
What does the position of the pelvis and femur affect?
the ability of the horse to engage the hind end
59
The front end is lifted by the...
rear!
60
What is the only thing supporting the front end of the horse to the hind end?
the lumbar vertebrae
61
The back is what to the horse?
the bridge and transmits the lifting action
62
A long back is...
unsupported
63
A short back is...
ideal (unless too short) because there is less area that is unsupported
64
Length of back
from the withers to the point of the hip
65
A line from the shoulder joint to the front of the hoof should be...
perpendicular to the ground
-lower forelimb is aligned underneath the scapula with the radius and cannon mostly perpendicular to the ground
66
Camped under
when the front legs are set slightly back from the perpendicular line straight to the ground
67
What does a long forearm allow?
reach
68
What does a short cannon bone allow?
it is strong and allows low foot flight (less effort)
69
What is the length desire of the front legs for horses?
a long forearm and a short cannon
70
When is the front leg the strongest?
when the radius, carpus, cannon, and fetlock are aligned for more even force distribution
71
What distributes forces more evenly in the front leg?
a flat cannon, knee, and radius
72
A speed/big jumps what may happen to the knee
it may be hyper-extended
73
What is the role of the pastern and fetlock?
drop down to absorb concussion and then spring back
74
Back pasterns are what compared to front pasterns?
a bit more upright
75
What angle are foals pasterns?
more upright (sink over time)
76
Flexural defects
angles are too large or too small
77
What could flexural defects increase?
-forces on bones
-forces on soft tissues
-or distributes forces unequally
78
How are flexural defects observed?
from the side
79
Buck-kneed/Over at the knee
knee is set forward
80
Calf-kneed/back at the knee
knee is set back
81
Two types of pasterns
upright or sloping
82
Some combinations of characteristics can increase what?
risk of injury
ex: short upright pasterns + calf knees + heavy body = more forces focused on lower limbs
83
Structure of the hind limb from the side:
-hindlimb is aligned underneath the buttocks
-the hock and stifle have moderate angulation
84
What does placement of the hind leg effect?
the ability to engage easily, but may also predispose to interference
85
Camped out behind:
hind leg is set behind the point of the buttock
86
Desirable structure of hind leg?
a long tibia (+ gaskin) and short cannon
87
What does a long tibia and short cannon allow?
reach with strength and agility
88
Post-legged behind
a straight stifle and/or a straight hock (usually together)
89
How is the hind leg aligned?
underneath the buttocks with the cannon bone perpendicular to the ground
90
Sickle hocked
point of buttock and hock line up, but the lower leg is more forward
91
Ringbone
extra bony growth on pastern in response to irritation/trauma
-appears as a bump on the front end of the pastern
-can happen if the extensor tendon gets irritated
92
Sidebone
calcification of the collateral cartilage that affects the function of the hoof
-deals with the medial and lateral collateral cartilages
-can be painful
-flexibility decreases
93
Bone spavin
boney growth in the hock (medial side) joint
-makes the hocks look boxy
94
Ideal structure of the limbs from the front:
limb aligned in a straight column perpendicular to the ground
-distributes forces evenly through the limb
-swings forward and back in a straight path
95
What happens when a limb is not aligned in a straight perpendicular column
-the limb will not swing straight
-forces will be concentrated in one part which can predispose that part to lameness
96
Base wide
-legs set to the outside of perpendicular to the ground
-forces concentrated more towards the inside
97
Base narrow
-legs set to the inside of perpendicular to the ground
-forces are concentrated more towards the outside
98
Rotational defects
limb is aligned but rotated in or out (usually out)
99
What is and isn't affected by rotational defects?
-limb flight is affected
-force distribution is still relatively even (unless very extreme)
100
Angular defects
limb is not aligned; something is out of alignment
101
What can be affected by angular defects?
both force distribution and limb flight (often easier to identify in the walk vs. standing)
102
Toed in/out from knee down
angular defect
103
Toed in/out from fetlock down
angular defect
104
Knock kneed/carpus VALGUS/In at the knee
-increases tension forces on the inside of the limb
-increases comprehensive forces on the outside of the knee (carpal bones)
105
What type of angular defect gets worse as the horse gets older?
carpus varus and toed in
106
Toed out with base narrow
-limb wings in and feet are close together so interference may occur
-rope walking or plaiting
107
Toed out with base wide
-forces are concentrated on inside (medial)
-limb wings in but feet are apart so interference is not as common
108
Toed in with base narrow
-foot moves out (wings out) so less chance of interfering than with TO-BN
-puts force on outside of limbs
-paddling
109
Offset cannon/bench knee
knee is aligned correctly under the forearm but the cannon is off-set (usually to the outside) under the knee
-medial/inside bears more weight
110
Splints
a bone growth that forms on the cannon, usually associated with a splint bone and the cannon
111
What can predispose horses to splints?
conformation characteristics that caused unbalanced forces on one side or the other of the cannon (bench knee, toed out base narrow, carpus valgus)
112
How else can splints form?
as a result of interference
113
Offset cannon with Crooked/offset knee
knee and cannon will have increased forces
114
Cow hocks
hocks are pointed in towards each other
115
Stands-close
feet and hocks are close together
116
What will defects in the rear legs affect?
forces generated for pushing
117
What are horses with cow hocks predisposed to?
osteoarthritis of the hock and forming bone spavin
118
What are horses with sickle hocks and straight hocks predisposed to?
bone spavin forming
119
Shape of front feet
round and flat (for shock absorbtion)
120
Shape of hind feet
oval and concave (for pushing off)
121
Size of the hoof
should be appropriate to size of the horse
122
Ideal shape of front and hind hooves
front = round-ish
rear = more triangular/oval
-straight dorsal wall
-wide heel
-concave sole
123
Balance of hoof
-dorsal - palmer
-medial - lateral
124
What is affected by a narrow heel and narrow frog?
shock absorption
125
Straight dorsal wall
ideal, flat line from coronary to ground (unlike a dished hoof)
126
Dorsal-palmar balance
lines on top, middle, and bottom of hoof are parallel
127
Medial-lateral balance
coronary band is approximately parallel to the ground
-medial and lateral wall are approximately the same height and length
128
Front two hooves and hind two hooves should be...
symmetrical
129
Dynamic balance
balance during movement
-distribution of weight on limbs under various circumstances/gaits
130
Static balance
"conformational" balance from the side, the relationships among the parts of the horse (do all the parts fit together?)
-may affect dynamic balance
131
"The center of gravity"
center of the withers straight down
-from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttocks
-where do the two lines intersect?
132
"The hill"
relationship between the top of the withers and the buttocks
133
Uphill
when withers are higher than the croup
134
Downhill
When the croup is higher than the withers
135
What are the consequences of being downhill?
the horse doesn't come far off the ground when they trot and there is more force on their front end
136
"Rule of thirds"
3 relatively equal sections would be well balanced
137
Is a bigger hind end or front end better?
a bigger hind end, so the back and front end don't have to fully support it
138
"The square"
relationship between the overall length and height of the horse
139
"The ratio"
depth of the body compared to the length of the legs
140
What are the consequences of taller than length legs due to long legs and a short back?
the horses are more susceptible to forging
141
What are the consequences of a horse that has short legs and a deep body?
can exert a lot of force on the front end
142
"The trapezoid"
the idea that a horse should have a shorter back with a longer underbody/line
143
The trapezoid extended to a triangle
where do the lines meet over the back? Middle or towards the front or back?
144
"Ideal" balance depends on what?
the circumstances
-lower set body might be better for working cattle
-a large shoulder might be better for horses that pull
-longer legs than depth of body might be good for saddlebreds
145
Height and breadth varies by...
breed and discipline
146
What moves the limbs?
muscles
147
Is more muscle always better?
no, it depends on the horse's type, gender, discipline, etc.
148
Main landmarks for muscling:
-neck
-back
-forearm
-pectoral muscles/chest
-shoulder
-gaskin
-butt
-hip
149
What type of shape should muscles create when viewing a horse from behind?
a trapezoid (shorter up top and more muscle down towards the gaskins)
150
What does the neck affect?
balance
151
What is the length of the neck?
where the neck leaves the shoulder to the head
152
What do you look for in necks?
-length
-shape
-set (high, straight, low?)
153
What does a trim throatlatch allow?
a lot of flexibility
154
What does a thick throatlatch do?
less flexibility, if flexed it may constrict the windpipe
155
Ewe neck
upside down neck/neck curves upwards
156
What traits should be looked at in the head?
-eyes
-ears
-shape
-length
-width
157
What are good characteristics of eyes?
big and set on the corner of the head
158
Withers can be:
-"well-defined"
-too flat "mutton"
-high/sharp (shark fin)
159
What type of withers do young horses normally have?
flatter, they will develop as they grow
160
Appearances of tendons and ligaments:
-tight/well-defined
-full/meaty
161
Substance/ bone words:
-light bone
-heavy bone
-flat bone
-coarse/round bone
162
What is the most important characteristic of conformation evaluation?
it depends on the horse's planned use
163
Other than identifying ancestors, pedigree analysis involves what?
-quality of the athletic performance of individual mares and stallions in the pedigree
-quality of the athletic performance of progeny of the mares and stallions in the pedigree
164
What types of accurate records are better for performance records?
-the more objective (non-opinionated) the better
-the more complete the better
165
What is necessary for performance records:
must have a basis of comparison
-records of contemporary horses
-the more complete the better
166
What % of thoroughbreds in a foal crop will actually race?
60-70%
167
What % of a thoroughbred foal crop will win a race?
30-40
168
Racing classes:
-claiming races
-allowance/conditioned races
-stake races (may have a nomination fee or fee to start)
169
170
Non-black type stakes race
usually stakes with low purses, or have some significant restriction (ex: only horses sold at a specific sale)
171
Black type races
-usually purses of more than $60,000-75,000+
-horses than win earn "BLACK TYPE"
-horses that place 2nd or 3rd earn "Black Type"
172
Graded stakes
highest quality black-type stakes
-G1
-G2
-G3
172
Listed stakes (L)
second highest quality black type race
-can be eligible to race in graded stakes if proven high quality
173
Non-graded, non-listed stakes
-still blacktype just not as elite
174
Restricted (R)
black-type race where only certain horses can run
175
What % of races are G1 stakes?
less than 0.5%
176
What % of a foal crop will win a G1 stakes race?
less than 0.4%
177
What % are graded stakes races
1.25%
178
What % of a foal crop will win a graded stakes race?
1%
179
What % of races are black type?
about 5%
180
What % of a foal crop will win a black type race?
3-4%
181
Average
winning a race
182
Far above average
winning a black type stake
183
Elite
winning a G1 race
184
Any black type win is considered...
above average
185
