Carpal arthrosis is more common in racehorses due to hyperextension of their carpal (knee) joints when they fatigue, says Duberstein. Veterinarian conformational assessment should particularly focus on the presence of any such faults and the relationship of these faults to existing or potential pathologic conditions (Rossdale and Butterfield, 2006). Some common terms describing conformational alignments are defined anatomically in Table 15-1 and illustrated in. It is the arrangement of muscle, bones, tissue, and overall body structure that come together to create the horse and the resulting athletic ability of said horse. Furnished . (2006c) also suggested that variability in judgment is affected by the limited repeatability of measurement techniques due to inaccurate identification of anatomic landmarks and inconsistent positioning of the subject. A horse's head needs to be in proportion to the rest of their body. As the horse ages, the proportion of white hair may increase but usually not to the extent this occurs in grey horses. Despite these limitations, subjective evaluation can be easily and quickly performed by an experienced evaluator, expediting the assessment of large numbers of horses within a short time frame. In the hindlimb, a plumb line dropped from the ischial tuberosity should touch the point of the calcaneous (prominent caudally in the tarsus or hock), follow the plantar metatarsal surface to the metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ or fetlock), and fall 7.5 to 10 cm (Ross, 2003) caudal to the heel in the lateral view. Ideally the foot lands slightly heel first at faster gaits (thus the shock absorbing function of the heel). A founding study by Magnussen (1985) described the comprehensive set of landmarks listed below, and many research studies have followed this protocol or a derivative of it. Joint anglesScapular/pelvic inclinations Croup: from point of hip to point of buttock. Attempts to correct some foot deviations, such as shoring up low heels on a long-toed horse, can lead to further problems, notes Collatos. If a horse has bad conformation, then that means the bone structure may be disproportioned. Horses with straighter shoulders and pastern angles tend to have shorter strides. Aesthetic factors such as athletic elegance, suppleness, overall balance and harmony, jumping style, and movement symmetry are necessarily subjectively based.< div class='tao-gold-member'> Join us as we interview leading equine researchers from the University of Kentucky, Problem Solver Series: How to Control Nuisance Birds on Horse Properties. TABLE 151 A horse with good conformation has a centerline that splits the leg to the level of the fetlock (the horse's ankle), and then falls to the ground just behind the heel. Tape measure unshod Standardbred horses with toed-in, toed-out and normal hoof conformation Vet J. From the side, you should be able to draw a line from the point of the buttock, down the back of the cannon to behind the heel. She has also authored the books Go the Distance as a resource for endurance horse owners, Conformation and Performance, and First Aid for Horse and Rider in addition to many veterinary articles for both horse owner and professional audiences. When considering conformation, Chrysann Collatos, VMD, PhD, Dipl. To evaluate conformation you need to take a walk around the horse, examine it close up, then again from 20-30 feet away and when the horse is in motion. Increases winging of hoof flight with potential for interference injury. Tools of Conformation Measurement Particular attention is warranted in evaluation of distal limb alignment, hoof quality, size, and balance due to the concentration of locomotive stresses in this area. The lack of anatomic precision, documentation, or both limits the interpretation of some studies. FIGURE 15-5 Illustrations of some common conformational defects of the hooves (see Table 15-1 for description). Smaller-Footed Horses. Hindlimb horse conformation Horse conformation is sometimes described as a complex or polygenic trait. The evaluation of conformation has traditionally been subjective or empirical and remains the primary method of assessment. From the side of the front leg, a straight line should be formed in front of the withers down the center of the front leg and touch at the heel. Cranial, caudal, and lateral views are needed to determine limb deviations in the sagittal, coronal (frontal), and transverse planes (see, When examining the conformational traits of individual limbs, a plumb line approach is useful in identifying angular or torsional deviation of segments from the vertical or horizontal at each joint level (Figure 15-4). Conditioning a horse properly goes a long way toward delaying the onset of fatigue, and using leg protection can help prevent interference injuries. 3. This finding was supported by a study comparing radiographic and visual assessments of hoofpastern conformation in Warmblood foals (Kroekenstoel et al., 2006).Visual assessment was only in agreement with radiologic evidence in 6 of 92 (6.5%) evaluations. Proximal attachment of the lateral collateral ligament of the fetlock joint to the distal end of the third metatarsal bone. For this reason both Collatos and Duberstein try to avoid limb conformation that might predispose a horse to suspensory ligament desmitis (SLD, inflammation of that structure), including straight hock conformation and long cannon bones and pasterns. However, this requires expensive equipment, has the health and safety implications of possible radiation exposure to personnel involved, and is very sensitive to subject positioning (Barr, 1994; White et al., 2008). Most horses have 18 pairs. Name of breed: Shire Country of origin: England Breed origin: The Shire is a breed of draught horse that originated in England in the 17 th century. The hind legs have fewer lameness issues than the front legs because they only carry 40 percent of the horses weight. The croup helps transfer energy for thrust and power from the hindquarters. Each breed organization has identified its ideal horse. The evaluation of conformation has traditionally been subjective or empirical and remains the primary method of assessment. Yet, most studies have employed generalized or horsemanship terms in describing conformational traits. They generally appear somewhat uphill in their balance, with a neck that comes relatively high out of the withers, a moderately sloped shoulder, and a very powerful sacrum and pelvis. Despite these limitations, subjective evaluation can be easily and quickly performed by an experienced evaluator, expediting the assessment of large numbers of horses within a short time frame. What movement defect is this due to bad conformation? Horses with poor conformation may be at higher risk of: The basic conformation rules allow you to review a horses athletic ability for a certain performance. Some studies and studbooks have used a system of linear scoring in an attempt to quantify the repeatability of subjective evaluation (, method of assessment employs a numeric scale to describe defined conformational traits across the entire spectrum of possible configurations, one biologic extreme to the other. Some have more arch to the neck and dish to the face, or have more "action" when traveling. A wide chest (from the front) allows for good stamina, endurance and lung capacity. Good conformation is key to the intended performance of your horse. Advancing technology has allowed more objective, quantitative evaluation of conformation amenable to statistical analysis and aims to find evidence-based relationships among conformation, performance, and soundness. The walk and trot should be checked both under saddle and in hand. That might or might not offer them a speed advantage but has been bred into many lines of racehorses. Coronet Band: a ring of soft tissue just above the hoof. 3. Conformation can, therefore, only be considered an indicator for future athletic potential. Neck and forelimb And, armed with that knowledge, you can take steps to help keep him sound. A horse's conformation and structure can . Muscle fatigue diminishes this stabilization ability, allowing joints to move beyond their normal range of motion, she says, and potentially causing severe and acute damage to cartilage, bones, and soft tissue. Short-Backed vs. Long-Backed Horses. Forefeet differ in size, shape, or both, causing variable hoofground angles CHAPTER 15 Regents of the University of Minnesota. In the hindlimb, a plumb line dropped from the ischial tuberosity should touch the point of the calcaneous (prominent caudally in the tarsus or hock), follow the plantar metatarsal surface to the metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ or fetlock) and fall 7.5 to 10 cm caudal to the heel in the lateral view. 2. Offset knee/bench knee The stance of the horse has been identified as a major source of error in conformation assessment, as small changes in limb placement and weight distribution can introduce significant variation in segmental alignment. Conformation is a major factor in the physical soundness of a horse. Head and forelimbs: 1, the cranial end of the wing of the atlas; 2, the proximal end of the spine of the scapula; 3, the posterior part of the greater tubercle of the humerus; 4, the transition between the proximal and middle thirds of the lateral collateral ligament of the elbow joint; 5 . The literature presented in this chapter will follow the terminology appearing in the research papers. Conformation of the cervical (neck) spine is critical for creating a connection from the poll to the base of the tail, she explains. The assessment of conformation is subjective, and different people . The neck should tie into the horse's body fairly high with a distinct chest area below. This has resulted in verification of some traditional empirical ideals and refuting of others, though results are often conflicting. Dynamic Motion vs. Static Structure. 2) What conformation flaw is shown? Muscle mass and conditioning don't change a horse's basic structure. Coronet: The coronet is a layer of skin that encircles the top of the hoof . In horses with ideal conformation, a visualized vertical plumb line dropped from the tuberosity of the scapular spine should bisect the longitudinal axis of the forelimb to the metacarpophalangeal joint (MCPJ or fetlock) and fall 5 cm behind the heel in the lateral view. Major areas to focus on are balance, muscling, type and way of going. Farrier textbooks suggest and determine excellent conformation as feet, cannon bone and knees The horse's neck should be equal to or longer than the shoulder, back, and hip. Objective conformational evaluation provides a useful adjunct to subjective assessment by quantification of some conformational traits; however, it must be remembered that not all conformational aspects can be measured objectively. . This means that an imaginary line drawn down the front of the horse's pastern should continue in that line down the front of the hoof wall. Horses that carry themselves in a way that generates less impact when they land likely do less damage to bones and joints than those individuals that come crashing down with each step., Toed-in (carpal or tarsal or fetlock varus), Toed-out (carpal or tarsal or fetlock valgus). One way to measure this angle is to measure down the center of the shoulder blade to the point of the . A founding study by Magnussen (1985) described the comprehensive set of landmarks listed below, and many research studies have followed this protocol or a derivative of it. Yet, most studies have employed generalized or horsemanship terms in describing conformational traits. Establishing the exact source of the alignment deviation is imperative; for example, does a laterally pointing hoof, commonly described as toed out, originate from an externally rotated limb or from a particular distal joint? When examining the conformational traits of individual limbs, a plumb line approach is useful in identifying angular or torsional deviation of segments from the vertical or horizontal at each joint level (Figure 15-4). Here are a few examples: Romantique is an 11-year-old Haflinger ridden to 2015 First Level Reserve Champion (18-21) at the Northern California Junior/Young Rider Championships by Arianna Barzman-Grennan. Historically its assessment has been a largely subjective practice with the formation of anecdotal relationships between certain characteristics and certain abilities. In many instances, coexisting conformational anomalies will be present, at times allowing biomechanical compensation and at other times exacerbating musculoskeletal stresses during locomotion. The entire hindlimb should be bisected evenly in the caudal view. Space between the fourth tarsal, the third metatarsal, and the fourth metatarsal bones NO, Horse breeding from planning through foal care, Horse-health-problem risk factors, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, Design and maintain a healthy horse operation, Prevention and treatment for problems of the equine foot, How to care for the basic health needs of horses, Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of leg lameness, Proper feeding practices for foals, adult horses, and older horses, All aspects of caring for performance horses, News and issues for equine health professionals, Discussions about the welfare of our equine friends, When considering conformation, Chrysann Collatos, VMD, PhD, Dipl. Predispose to degenerative joint disease (hock spavin) and curb (plantar ligament strain). For global advancement in this area of study, it is clearly imperative to use universally comparative methodology, which is somewhat lacking. Straight behind Splayed, feet move forward in larger inward arcs "winging! Evaluating Horse Conformation 4 A Cooperative Extension Bulletin 1400 How the neck ties in to the shoulder also tends to also influence the shape of the horse's neck. Selecting a horse that is well-built in its skeletal structure will provide a more comfortable ride and reduce health issue. (From Mawdsley A, Kelly EP, Smith FH, Brophy PO: Linear assessment of the thoroughbred horse: an approach to conformation evaluation, Equine Vet J 28:461, 1996). However, certain conformational faults such as extreme tarsal angulation (large or small) and tarsal valgus are almost certainly predisposing to injury or lameness in racing events and are best avoided. The combinations of joint configurations and segment lengths are infinite and multifaceted, so the resulting judgment is variable and directly dependent on the individual expertise and personal ideal of the practitioner. 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