STALL AND STABLE



CONFORMATION – C2

Instructor’s Guide

Part I – Introduction to Conformation

|Purpose |

|Define conformation |

|Know what good proportions in the horse are |

|Begin to learn hints to temperament and smoothness of ride |

|Identify conformation faults |

|Teaching Suggestions |

|Review parts of the horse on a picture with skeleton. |

|The conformation faults chart is very large. Before reviewing the chart, highlight on your copy the main point you want them to |

|write for each square ( they should just be learning to recognize the faults and know the names of them. |

|What is conformation |Description |

| |the way a horse is built (CMS - 11) |

| |Physical characteristics (MH – 404) |

| |affects performance, ride and soundness (NZ2 – 131) |

| |good conformation is attractive |

| |good conformation is functional ( stronger and sounder |

|Can you label the parts of |[pic] |

|the horse | |

| | |

|In future levels underlying| |

|structures become | |

|increasingly important. | |

|Students should begin to | |

|become familiar with what | |

|is under the skin. | |

Proportions

|Good Proportions |[pic] |

| |Neck: long |

| |Withers: medium |

| |Back: short |

| |Loin: short |

| |Croup: long |

| |Hip to hock: long |

| |Heart girth: deep |

| |Forearm: long |

| |Cannon bones: short |

| |Joints: wide and flat |

| |Pasterns: medium |

| |Chest: deep |

| |Shoulder: long |

Hints to temperament and smoothness of ride

|lop ears (flopping forward |sign of kind, generous and easy –going horse (MH 407) |

|or out) | |

|ears frequently laid back |bad temper (MH 408) |

|drooping ears |sluggish (KYH 31) |

|long ears |speed (KYH 31) |

|ewe neck |uncertain temperament (KYH 31) |

|Roman nose |generous and genuine (MH 407) |

|bump on forehead |sullen or ungenerous or wilful and stubborn (MH 407) |

|pig eyes |willful and obstinate (MH 405 |

|longer sloping shoulder |smoother ride |

|(and pastern) | |

|heavy or loaded shoulder |rolling gait |

|chest too wide |short rolling gait and be an uncomfortable ride (MH 412) |

Good and Bad Points of Conformation

Head

Influences balance, way he moves and how easy he is to ride and train.

| |GOOD POINTS |BAD POINTS |

|Head |proportion to horse and length of neck |head too large |

| |teeth correctly aligned (graze and chew normally) |coarse head/thick throatlash |

|CMS 17 |nostrils large and flexible (adequate air intake) |parrot mouth |

| |large prominent eyes ( kind expression |undershot jaw |

| |ears: well placed and alert (KYH 31) |pig eyes (harder too see all around) |

|[pic] |

Neck (CMS 18)

Part of balance of horse.

Muscling can change over time ( influences by how horse is ridden (CMS 17)

| |GOOD POINTS |BAD POINTS |

|Neck |medium length |low set: horse moves more on forehand |

| |well muscled |high set: easier for horse to raise head too high and move with hollow back |

|CMS 18 |slightly arched |Short neck: shorten stride and scope. Often goes with steep shoulder and long back |

| |clean throatlash |Ewe Neck straight or hollow along top and bulges at the bottom. often set at a sharp angle|

| |blend smoothly into withers and topline |to head and may be thick at throatlash (Uncertain temperament KYH 31) Horse may move |

| |come out of top of chest |hollow. |

| | |Thick (bull) neck less flexible and makes forehand heavier. Affect horse’s balance and |

| | |controllability. May be difficult to put on bit correctly. |

| | |Too acute at join with head: may restrict the larynx and thus breathing. (KYH 31) |

|[pic] |

Shoulders

Form the connection between the horse’s forelegs and his neck and body.

| |GOOD POINTS |BAD POINTS |

|Shoulders |long sloping (about 50 degree angle) |Short shoulders: shorter stride, less scope |

| |clean but well muscled |Straight or steep shoulder angle: shorter stirde, less ability to pull up foreleg in |

|CMS 19 |longer ( longer, smoother stride and more freedom of movement (ability to bring the |jumping, rougher movement with more concussion |

| |forelegs up in jumping) |Heavy or “loaded” shoulder, too thick, heavily muscled, with thick neck: short restricted |

| | |stride and heavy way of going. May “roll” from side to side as he moves |

Topline

Includes skeletal structure and muscle lying over it.

Muscle of topline is indicator of way the horse has been trained and ridden and can change over time.

| |GOOD POINTS |BAD POINTS |

|Withers |clean |Mutton withers low withers hidden in fat |

| |prominent | |

|CMS 19 |medium height | |

| |blend smoothly into back | |

| |Withers that are well laid back go with good back conformation | |

|Back |short |Hollow/Sway Back makes saddle fitting difficult and is weaker than a normal back. May make|

| |moderately broad |horse move with poor engagement and high head. |

|CMS 20 |well muscled |Roach back is rounded upwards, especially at the loins; tending to throw saddle forward |

| | |and make balance difficult. |

| |Short well muscled back is stronger and carries weight better than a long back. |Cold backed horse: horse dips back when first mounted. Could be spinal, muscular or |

| | |behavioural problem (MH 412) |

|Loins |short |long loins, back and coupling is usually less strong in the back and more prone to back |

| |broad |injuries. |

|CMS 20 |well muscled | |

| |blend smoothly into highest point of the croup |COUPLING |

| | |rough coupling: denotes long, poorly muscled loin rising to bony prominent peak ( weak |

| |Loins are weakest part of back because it has the least structural supper (KYH 32) |and unattractive |

| |Creates a powerful coupling (where loins end and pelvis and sacrum begin). | |

| |COUPLING: | |

| |short and strong | |

| |no more than a hand’s space between the last rib and the point of hip | |

|Croup |long, well muscled and slightly rounded with the tail set moderately high |Short croup: less powerful muscling than a longer croup |

| |come breeds have characteristically flatter or more rounded croup and a higher or |Flat croup: often goes with hind legs that are placed too far back making engagement |

|CMS 21 |lower set tail |difficult |

| | |Steep croup: places hind legs farther under the horse, and often goes with sickle hocks or|

| | |incorrectly angulated hind legs. |

| | |Goose rumped (short steep croup): is weak and poorly angled |

| | |Jumpers bump: prominent bulge at the highest point of the croup. Due to an extra prominent|

| | |iliac crest (upper wing of pelvis) which provides the attachment point for the powerful |

| | |croup muscles ( often found in good jumpers. Could also be a swelling from an injury |

|[pic] |

Chest, body and underline (CMS 21)

Parts of horse torso ( contains lungs, heart and vital organs.

Good conformation gives horse better heart and lung capacity and is characteristic of an easy keeper that uses his food efficiently.

| |GOOD POINTS |BAD POINTS |

|Chest, body and |CHEST |Narrow chest: lack of stamina/poor development |

|underline |deep and moderately wide |Shallow heart girth: lack of stamina/poor development |

|CMS 21 |RIB CAGE |Flat ribs (slab sided): lack of stamina/poor development |

| |“well sprung” with well-arched rubs and deep heart girth. |Wasp waisted (herring gutted): tucked in tightly near flank. Lack of stamina/poor |

| |deep heart girth |development MH 412) Don’t confuse with “run up” when horse is in poor condition (NZ2 137) |

| |maximize heart and lung capacity for greater endurance and makes the horse better |Pot belly: large round belly. Lack of stamina/poor development |

| |able to carry weight. |Short underline: incorrect proportions such as straight shoulders and tipped pelvis. |

| |measurement around girth should exceed height (KYH 32) | |

| |UNDERLINE | |

| |long and nearly level | |

| |indication of good proportions and development | |

|[pic] |

Hindquarters (CMS 22)

Horse’s motor.

Conformation influences ability to engage hind legs for speed, power and balance.

| |GOOD POINTS |BAD POINTS |

|Hindquarters |wide and deep |Rafter hips: weak, lacking muscle on the croup |

| |well-defined muscling extending well down into the gaskins |Hip down: condition in which bony point of the hip has been fractured leaving one hip bone|

|CMS 22 |developed evenly on both sides (from behind) |lower than the other; and lack of muscle development in the stifle, inner thigh or gaskin |

| |well rounded over the croup and wide and powerful through the stifles (from |area. |

| |behind) |Fat rounded hindquarters: should not be mistaken for good muscling. |

| |inner thigh and gaskin muscles should be as well developed as the outer muscles | |

| |Good length from hip to hock (KYH 32) | |

| |well let down: good length from stifle to hock (MH 414) | |

|[pic] |

Front Legs

Front legs carry 55 percent of his weight when standing still

Do not pull him forward, but reach out and carry his weight and absorb concussion at every stride. (CMS 22)

| |GOOD POINTS |BAD POINTS |

|Front Legs Side View |vertical line (plumb line) should drop straight down from the center of the |Standing under: most of the foreleg is behind the plumb line; the leg is too far back under|

| |shoulder blade, down the middle of the leg, to the fetlock joint |the horse. Puts the horse’s balance too far forward. |

|CMS 23 |half the leg should be in front of the plumb line and half behind it |Camped out in front: most of the foreleg is in front of the plumb line; the leg is out in |

| | |front of the horse. Puts more strain on the legs. |

| | |Over at the knee (knee sprung): the knee is always slightly bent which puts the lower leg |

| | |too far back under the horse. May be result of contracted tendons but tendons in this |

| | |conformation are under less strain (KYH 34) |

| | |Back at the knee (calf knees): knee has a slight backward bend, with the cannon bone |

| | |slanting forward. Puts extra stress on the flexor tendons and the fetlock joints and |

| | |especially on the bones of the knee (carpal bones). Indicates weakness in tendons (KYH 34) |

| | |Weak forearm: denotes lack of muscle and can also indicate weakness of the related |

| | |tendons.(KYH 33) |

|Front Legs |straight and parallel |Base narrow: legs are closer together at the feet than they are at the chest (inside the |

|Front View |not too close together or too wide apart |plumb line). Feet too close together, so it is easier for horse to interfere. Puts more |

| |vertical line running straight down from the point of the shoulder, should pass |weight and concussion on the outsides of the feet and legs. |

|CMS 24 |through the middle of forearm, knee, cannon bone, fetlock joint, pastern and foot.|Base wide: legs are wider apart at the feet than they are at the chest outside the plumb |

| |good conformation lines the bones up properly and makes each leg move straight |line. Conformation often goes with a narrow chest. Puts more weight and concussion on the |

| |helps distribute concussion evenly as each foot hits the ground. |inside of the feet and legs and may lead to ringbone. |

| | |Knock knees: knees that bend inwards so that the knees are inside the plumb line. Extra |

| | |stress on the knees and on the inside of the legs. Prone to develop splints. |

| | |Bowed knees: knees that bend outward so that knees are outside plumb line. Extra stress on |

| | |knees and on the outside of the legs. Weaker than straight legs. |

| | |Bench knees (offset knees): cannon bones do not line up exactly with the center of the |

| | |knees, but are set slightly to the outside. Outside of the knee gets better support and |

| | |there is extra weight and stress on the inside of the lower leg. Often leads to splints on |

| | |inside of cannon bone. |

| | |Toeing out (splay footed): toes point out instead of straight ahead. Makes foot swing in |

| | |towards the opposite leg (winging in). May result in interfereing/lameness. Causes uneven |

| | |weight and concussion on the insides of feet and legs which may lead to ringbone. |

| | |Toeing in (pigeon toed): toes point in instead of straight ahead. makes foot swing outward |

| | |(paddling). Does not cause interference andis less likely to cause lameness than winging in|

| | |but does put uneven weight and strain on the outsides of the feet and legs which could lead|

| | |to ringbone. |

|[pic][pic][pic] |

Hind legs

Pushing power comes from hind legs.

Must reach forward under the horse’s body (engagement) at every stride ( ground covering pushing power.

Hindlegs help balance in collected gaits and in stopping, turning and transitions.

Good conformation gives more strength, power and better balance.

| |GOOD POINTS |BAD POINTS |

|Hind Leg |cannon bones should be vertical |Camped out behind: hind leg is behind plumb line from point of buttock. Harder for horse to|

|Side View |plumb line from point of buttock should run down the back of his hock and back of |engage his hind legs. Weaker than correctly set leg. |

| |his leg all the way to the fetlock joint. |Standing under (sickle hocks): hock is slightly bent (shape of farmer’s sickle) and the |

|CMS 26 |thighs should be long and well muscled – not a lot of daylight between them when |hind legs are in front of the plumb line. Puts hind legs forward under the horse but puts |

| |viewed from behind (KYH 38) |stress on the hocks. May develop curbs, thoroughpins, bog spavins and bone spavins. |

| | |Leg too straight (post leg): hind leg is too straight in the hock and stifle joints. Whole |

| | |leg is set in front of the plumb line from the point of the buttock. Easy to swing the leg |

| | |forward without bending it much. Put more stress on hind leg, especially hock and pasterns.|

|Hind Leg |not too close or too wide |Cow hocks: hocks point in toward each other, with the cannon bones slanting outward. |

|Rear View |stifles must point out a little so the horse can swing hind legs forward without |Weakness puts extra stress on inside of hocks |

| |hitting belly |Bowed hocks: hock point outward with cannon bones slanting inward. Go with base narrow |

|CMS 28 |hocks and lower legs should be parallel and straight up and down |conformation. Extra stress on hocks and on outside of foot and leg. |

| |hind legs must not be too close or too wide apart |Too wide: hind legs appear straight but are too far apart. Goes with base wide |

| | |conformation. Hard for horse to reach well forward with hind legs ( shorter stride |

| | |Too narrow: hind legs are closet together often lack good muscle development which makes |

| | |them weaker. Easy for a horse to interfere. |

|[pic][pic] |

Lower Leg and Joints

| |GOOD POINTS |BAD POINTS |

|Lower Leg and Joint |joints should be clean (free of thickness or swelling and bones tendons and other |Small round joints: weaker and more easily injured. |

| |structures stand out clearly and are easy to see and feel) |Tendons tied in below the knee: tendons are small, narrow and poorly developed look |

|CMS 29 |cannon bones: fairly short, clean, strong and well developed tendons. |“squeezed in” just below the knee (as if band were tied around the leg) ( weakness |

| |“Bone” refers to measurement around the leg below the knee and incorporates both |Pasterns too long and sloping: easily injured. Put more stress on the tendons which can |

| |the bone and the tendons. 8 to 9 inches is estimate of good bone. |contribute to bowed tendons. |

| |knees and hocks: wide, flat and clean with clearly defined bones. |Pasterns too short and steep: do not absorb shock. Rough gaits and transmit more concussion|

| |hocks: wider when viewed from side than front (MH 414) |to the foot and rest of leg. |

| |pasterns: enough angle to absorb shock. Front pasterns usually a little more |Curby hocks: small hocks that are liable to get curbs (NZ2 138) |

| |sloping than hind pasterns. | |

Foot

Carry weight and absorb shock with each step.

Foot expands when horse steps down on it ( helps absorb shock.

Pressure on frog helps pump blood through the hoof and back up the leg with very step.

| |GOOD POINTS |BAD POINTS |

|Foot |large and strong |Too small feet: receive more concussion especially to the navicular bone and coffin bone |

| |wide well developed heels and prominent bars |since there is less are to absorb shock. |

|CMS 30 |frog: large and touch ground (on soft ground) |Contracted heels: heel is very narrow, frog is pinched in and small and does not touch |

| |sole: arched or concave |ground. Caused by foot problems like navicular disease or poor trimming and shoeing. Can |

| |walls: strong and smooth |be helped by good shoeing. |

| | |Contracted hoof (one hoof smaller than the other): may indicate horse has been keeping |

| | |weight off that foot for long period of time. Sign of navicular disease or another |

| | |long-term lameness of the foot. |

| | |Flat soles: weight is carried on sole instead of wall ( feet tender. Dropped sole can be |

| | |result of laminitis, or founder (coffin bone rotates and drops down). |

| | |Shelly feet: thin brittle walls that crack and break off easily. Tender feet and hard to |

| | |keep shoes on. |

| | |Foundered feet: dropped soles, separation of the wall from sole at toe and irregular wavy |

| | |rings on outside wall of hoof. May walk on heels with toes grown long and upwards. |

| | |Low heels: conformation fault or excessive wear and neglect of foot trimming or poor horse|

| | |shoeing. Extra stress on deep digital flexor tendon (especially with long toes) |

| | |Splay footed (turned out): affects movement ( winging in (CMS 25) |

Part II – Underlying Structures of the Leg

|Purpose |

|Begin to learn the underlying structures of the leg |

|Teaching Suggestions |

|Review the materials. If possible have one or more horses to evaluate. |

|Students must be able to identify and describe the good as well as bad points. |

|Be sure students don’t get caught up in detail and miss the general points. If they understand why you want good conformation and |

|how things should line up they will be able to figure out why certain things are good or bad |

Structure of the limbs

|Tendons and Ligaments |Tendon Description |

| |strong cables or straps which connect muscle to bone (USC 311) |

| |tendons extend out of the body of a muscle and attach to bone at the other end |

| |when muscles contract (get shorter) they pull on the tendons which then moves the joints |

| |muscles usually work in pairs using tendons to move the joints in two directions (flex and extend) |

| |Ligament Description |

| |a fibrous band which connects bone to bone |

| |provides stability to joints |

| |more fibrous and less elastic than tendons (VN 220) |

|Extensor tendons |assists in the extension (straightening) of a joint |

| |run down the back of the leg |

|Flexor tendons |assists in the flexion (bending) of a joint |

| |run down the front of the leg |

|Sheath |case that surrounds tendons |

|The Foreleg |[pic] |

| | |

| |there are no muscles in the lower leg ( only muscles and tendons |

|The hindleg |[pic] |

| | |

Part III – Systems of the Horse

|Purpose |

|Begin to learn the systems of the horse |

|Teaching Suggestions |

|This is an introduction to upcoming levels. Becoming familiar with the names of the systems will help the students learn the |

|details more easily in future levels. |

Systems of the horse USC 416 to 437

|Musculoskeletal System |system of movement and support |

| |muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments |

|Nervous System |the brain and all nerves throughout the body |

| |includes the sensory systems (seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and feeling) |

|Endocrine System |system of hormones in the body |

| |growth, ageing, metabolism, immunity, reproduction |

|Circulatory System |system which distributes blood throughout the horse |

|Lymphatic System |acts in conjunction with the circulatory system moving lymph around the horse |

| |lymph is clear fluid containing many white blood cells, serum and fats |

| |carries vital substances to cells and wastes away from cells |

|Respiratory System |carry oxygen breathed in by the horse to the blood |

|Digestive System |take in food and extract nutrients from it then eliminate solid wastes |

|Urinary System |expelling liquid waste from the body |

Part IV – Unsoundness

|Purpose |

|Know the definition of the term unsoundness |

|Know the names of two unsoundnesses of wind |

|Begin to learn advanced terminology relating to unsoundness |

|Teaching Suggestions |

|Review terminology enough that students will make sense of the descriptions of unsoundness but they will learn these terms in |

|greater detail in further levels. For that reason the student guide includes the definitions of these terms. |

|NOTE WELL: If students have been studying individually they may have become confused by the different “groupings” in the various |

|reference materials – each is slightly different. In the past “bursal” and “bony” were used to describe virtually all unsoundesses.|

|New editions of and additions to the reading lists have made the designation of unsoundness’ into clear-cut groups difficult. |

|The confusion about grouping is best overcome by ensuring the students have (1) a clear understanding of terminology (example |

|“bursal” and “bony”) and (2) an understanding of the structures involved in different unsoundness’. With these tools, students |

|will be able to understand the reference materials and will be able to group unsoundness’ in any way they may be requested. Be sure|

|to focus on this. |

Unsoundness

|Unsoundness |Description |

| |condition or injury which causes lameness or otherwise impairs the horse’s health or ability to work. |

|USC 324 |All lamenesses are also unsoundness’ (because they make the horse “un-sound”). |

| |An unsoundness may change to a blemish once the horse becomes sound. (CMS– 49, 54) |

| |some unsoundnesses may make a horse unfit for strenuous work but may not bother him for easier work |

| |(USC 325) |

| |Causes |

| |some unsoundnesses are a result of injury |

| |some result from a conformation fault which creates a weakness at a certain point |

|Blemish |Description |

| |unsightly but don’t keep the horse from working |

|USC 324 |examples: lumps or scars |

Unsoundness of wind

|Wind |Description |

| |condition of the horses respiratory system that results in difficulty breathing |

|MH 371 |unsoundness of wind may impair the horse’s ability to perform |

| |Note about breathing noise |

| |horses often makes noise on expiration (breathing out) |

| |unfit horses will sometimes make noise while breathing but it will stop with improved fitness |

|Whistling and Roaring |Description |

| |Whistling: high pitched noise during inspiration (horse breathing in) |

|MH 372 |Roaring: lower pitched noise |

| |Cause |

| |may be partial obstruction of the airway |

| |impaired movement in one of the vocal cords |

| |Treatment |

| |partial or complete paralysis can sometimes be treated using the “hobday operation” which removes the |

| |sac adjacent to the vocal cord and the |

| |“tie back operation” which holds the vocal cord in a fixed position so it will not vibrate or fall |

| |into the airway |

| |the two operations are usually both done together |

Unsoundness of limb Terminology

|Term |Definition |

|Bursae |Description |

| |sacs lined with synovial membrane and filled with synovial fluid |

| |found over bony prominences and facilitate movement of tendons or muscles over the bony protrusion (VN|

| |– 206) |

| |True Bursae |

| |occur at standard anatomical locations and are present in all horses |

| |they may become enlarged and/or inflamed resulting in swelling with or without pain and lameness |

| |Acquired/False Bursae |

| |synovia-filled sacs which develop as a result of repetitive low-grade trauma |

| |usually result in a cosmetic blemish but rarely cause lameness |

| |over time they may become increasingly firm and fibrous |

|Articular |Description |

| |where two bones meet (such as a joint) |

| |it may occur in a sentence such as “cartilage is present at the articular surfaces of the carpals.” |

| |This means that cartilage is found at the areas where the knee bones meet |

|Joint Capsule |a capsule surrounding the joint. Inside the joint is a synovial membrane and synovial fluid. (VN – |

| |172) |

|Bony |an enlargement which is made of bone. The bone can be added through either ossification of exostosis |

|Ossification |cartilage is converted to bone (e.g., sidebone) |

|Occult |a bone spavin occurring within the joint (between the bones) where no bony enlargement is visible |

|Arthritis |cartilage between the bones breaks down -- > inflammation of the synovial membrane occurs ( further |

| |cartilage damage |

| |Bony changes occur later and are a response to what is primarily a disease of cartilage. |

| |The lower limb joint (knee, fetlock, hock pastern and coffin joints) are more susceptible (VN – 176) |

Common Unsoundnesses

|Splint |Description |

| |bony lumps that develop between the splint bones and cannon bones |

|USC 325 |ligament that attaches splint bone to cannon bone becomes sore ( build up of calcium (new bone) welds |

| |splint bone to cannon bone |

| |Cause ( anything that injures the splint bone |

| |carrying heavy weight |

| |striking one leg against the other |

| |making tight circles |

| |jumping |

| |working on hard ground |

| |conformation causing splint bones carrying extra weight ( bench knees |

| | |

| |Symptoms |

| |hot and painful when it first happens |

| |with rest most become painless ( old healed splints generally considered blemishes |

| |Prevention |

| |avoid hard work with young horse before it has matured |

| |[pic] |

|Bowed Tendon |Description |

| |when a tendon is stretched too far (commonly the flexor tendons of the fore leg) |

|USC 326 |some tendon fibres are torn causing pain, heat and swelling |

| |scar tissue forms creating a thickening “bow” in the tendon |

| |may be described as “high bow” or “low bow” depending on if it is closer to the knee or the fetlock |

| |joint |

| |Causes |

| |accident or slip when horse is overtired |

| |conformation that puts more strain on the tendons ( back at the knee, long sloping pasterns, long toes|

| |and low heels, weak “tied in” tendons |

| |Symptoms |

| |extremely painful when first happens |

| |with time lameness may disappear but leg may never be as strong as before |

| |Prevention |

| |be considerate of the tired horse to avoid slips and falls |

| |[pic] |

|Navicular Disease |Description |

| |the deep flexor tendon passes under the navicular bone and attaches to the underside of the coffin |

|USC 327 |bone |

| |navicular bursa protects the navicular bone where the tendon passes under it |

| |inflammation and soreness of the navicular bursa, navicular bone or end of the tendon |

| |more common in middle aged horses |

| |Causes |

| |conformation that promotes concussion ( e.g., steep shoulder/pasterns |

| |poor hoof conformation ( small feet, narrow heels, upright pasterns, long toes and low heels |

| |Symptoms |

| |starts as mild lameness that comes and goes ( may disappear when horse is warmed up |

| |as bone and tendon become inflamed and roughened ( lameness more severe and continuous |

| |heels hurt so horse tries to walk on toes giving a short tiptoe gait that may make him stumble |

| |Treatment |

| |right kind of shoeing and medication offers some relief |

|Ringbone |Description |

| |bony lump on the pastern bones |

|USC 327 |if not near a joint horse will become sound with rest |

| |High Ringbone |

| |arthritis in the joint between the two pastern bones |

| |bones may fuse together and horse may become sound |

| |Low Ringbone |

| |bony growth between the end of the pastern bone and the coffin bone (inside the hoof) |

| |usually more serious and horse usually becomes permanently lame |

| |Cause |

| |too much concussion ( conformation such as upright pasterns |

| |uneven weight bearing on the foot and leg ( crooked leg conformation |

| |[pic] |

|Sidebone |Description |

| |lateral cartilages of the coffin bone turn to bone |

|USC 328 |slow process and does not usually cause lameness unless the sidebones are very large or one gets |

| |broken |

| |you can feel the lateral cartilages by pressing just above the bulbs of the heel and the sides of hoof|

| |just above the coronary band ( in young horse they feel springy |

| |in horse with sidebone they feel hard |

| |not usually considered an unsoundness unless it causes lameness |

| |Cause |

| |concussion ( large heavy horses with big feet and straight pasterns |

| |[pic] |

|Curb |Description |

| |sprain of the plantar ligament (runs down the back of the hock) |

|USC 329 |thickening at the lower end of the hock joint |

| |usually causes lameness |

| |takes a long time to heal |

| |Cause |

| |extra strain on the back of the hock |

| |conformation that makes hocks weak and puts more strain on the ligament ( sickle hocks or horses |

| |standing under |

|Bone Spavin |Description |[pic] |

| |arthritis in the form of bone spurs on the edges of the | |

|USC 330 |small bones of the hock | |

| |lower bones of hock fit closely together with little | |

| |movement between them ( if the bone growth fuses bones | |

| |together, pain decrease and horse may become sound | |

| |upper bones of hock ( hock cannot move properly ( permanent| |

| |lameness | |

| |Symptom | |

| |painful and cause lameness | |

| |hard swelling low down on the inside of the hock joint | |

| |Cause | |

| |conformation putting extra strain on hocks ( cow hocks, | |

| |bowed hocks and very straight hocks | |

|Bog Spavin |Description |

| |soft swelling on the font of the hock |

|USC 330 |usually not hot or painful ( seldom causes lameness |

| |usually considered a blemish not an unsoundness but does show the hocks are under stress |

| |Cause |

| |having a horse’s hocks under stress but not enough to make him lame |

| |joint makes too much joint (synovial fluid) ( joint capsule becomes enlarged and full of fluid |

| |usually gets larger after work and may shrink after rest |

| |conformation ( straight hocks or weak hock conformation doing hard work |

| |[pic] |

|Thoroughpin |Description |[pic] |

| |soft cool swelling in upper part of hock | |

|USC 331 |sign of stress but doesn’t usually cause lameness | |

| |Cause | |

| |stress or strain on a weak hock | |

| |tendon sheath produces extra fluid an stretches | |

Part V – Movement Problems

|Purpose |

|Know the common types of faulty movement |

|Teaching Suggestions |

|Some of the movement faults are commonly confused (forging and over-reaching being one such confusion). Be sure students |

|understand the difference. |

|Come up with away of remembering. For example a “forge” is used when doing farrier work and “forging” often involves the sound of |

|shoes clicking on each other. |

Faulty Movement

|Lameness |Description |

| |a sign of pain or a serious problem in a leg |

|USC 332 | |

|Stumbling |Description |

| |momentary accident from poor footing or getting off balance |

|USC 332 |stumbling often is a dangerous problem |

| |Cause |

| |sore feet (navicular disease), arthritis, poor balance, neglecting shoeing, poor trimming |

| |Action |

| |veterinarian and farrier check |

| |do not ride until problem has been evaluated and treated |

|Interfering |Description |[pic] |

| |Brushing: striking opposite leg | |

|USC 332 |Speedicuting: cutting the opposite knee or hock | |

| |horse strikes one leg against the other | |

| |can cause cuts and bruises | |

| |can lead to splints | |

| |Cause | |

| |toe out conformation ( leg wings in during movement | |

| |base narrow ( legs too close together | |

| |doing lateral work or longeing | |

| |more likely when tired | |

| |Prevention/treatment | |

| |special shoeing | |

| |wear protective boots | |

|Plaiting |Description |[pic] |

| |horse places one leg in front of the other ( walking on a | |

|USC 332 |tightrope | |

| |may lead to interfering or stumbling | |

| |Cause | |

| |base narrow conformation | |

| |Prevention/treatment | |

| |corrective shoeing | |

| |wear boots to protect legs | |

|Forging |Description |[pic] |

| |horse hits a front foot with toe of hind foot | |

|USC 332 |usually occurs at trot | |

| |Cause | |

| |tiredness or moving on the forehand | |

| |toes too long | |

| |very short back and long legs | |

| |Prevention/treatment | |

| |corrective shoeing | |

| |riding in good balance | |

|Over-reaching |Description |[pic] |

| |toe of hind foot grabs the hell of the front foot ( injury | |

|USC 334 |can result in shoe being pulled off | |

| |“high over-reach” ( injury to pastern or tendon (“Strikes” | |

| |MH 363) | |

| |Cause | |

| |galloping or jumping in deep or muddy footing | |

| |same causes as for forging | |

| |Prevention/treatment | |

| |bell boots to protect horses heels | |

| |galloping boots or exercise bandages to protect from high | |

| |over-reaches | |

| |good shoeing can help | |

CONFORMATION – C2

Homework Key

CONFORMATION – C2

Student’s Guide

Part I – Introduction to Conformation

Purpose

1. Define conformation

2. Know what good proportions in the horse are

3. Begin to learn hints to temperament and smoothness of ride

4. Identify conformation faults

|What is conformation |Description |

| | |

|CMS 11 | |

|MH 404 | |

|Can you label the parts of |[pic] |

|the horse | |

| | |

|In future levels underlying| |

|structures become | |

|increasingly important. | |

|Students should begin to | |

|become familiar with what | |

|is under the skin. | |

Proportions

|Good Proportions |[pic] |

| |Neck: |

| |Withers: |

| |Back: |

| |Loin: |

| |Croup: |

| |Hip to hock: |

| |Heart girth: |

| |Forearm: |

| |Cannon bones: |

| |Joints: |

| |Pasterns: |

| |Chest: |

| |Shoulder: |

Hints to temperament and smoothness of ride

|lop ears (flopping forward | |

|or out) | |

| | |

|MH 407 | |

|ears frequently laid back | |

| | |

|MH 408 | |

|drooping ears | |

| | |

|KYH 31 | |

|long ears | |

| | |

|KYH 31 | |

|ewe neck | |

| | |

|KYH 31 | |

|Roman nose | |

| | |

|MH 407 | |

|bump on forehead | |

| | |

|MH 407 | |

|pig eyes | |

| | |

|MH 405 | |

|longer sloping shoulder | |

|(and pastern) | |

|heavy or loaded shoulder | |

|chest too wide | |

| | |

|MH 412 | |

Good and Bad Points of Conformation

Head

Influences balance, way he moves and how easy he is to ride and train.

| |GOOD POINTS |BAD POINTS |

|Head | | |

| | | |

|CMS 17 | | |

|[pic] |

Neck (CMS 18)

Part of balance of horse.

Muscling can change over time ( influences by how horse is ridden (CMS 17)

| |GOOD POINTS |BAD POINTS |

|Neck | |low set: |

| | |high set: |

|CMS 18 | |Short neck: |

| | |Ewe Neck |

| | |Thick (bull) neck |

| | |Too acute at join with head: |

|[pic] |

Shoulders

Form the connection between the horse’s forelegs and his neck and body.

| |GOOD POINTS |BAD POINTS |

|Shoulders | |Short shoulders: |

| | |Straight or steep shoulder angle: |

|CMS 19 | |Heavy or “loaded” shoulder, too thick, heavily muscled, with thick neck: |

Topline

Includes skeletal structure and muscle lying over it.

Muscle of topline is indicator of way the horse has been trained and ridden and can change over time.

| |GOOD POINTS |BAD POINTS |

|Withers | |Mutton withers |

| | | |

|CMS 19 | | |

|Back | |Hollow/Sway Back |

| | |Roach back |

|CMS 20 | |Cold backed horse (MH 412) |

|Loins | | |

| | | |

|CMS 20 | |COUPLING |

|KYH 32 | |rough coupling: |

| | | |

| | | |

|Croup | |Short croup: |

| | |Flat croup: |

|CMS 21 | |Steep croup: |

| | |Goose rumped (short steep croup): |

| | |Jumpers bump: |

|[pic] |

Chest, body and underline (CMS 21)

Parts of horse torso ( contains lungs, heart and vital organs.

Good conformation gives horse better heart and lung capacity and is characteristic of an easy keeper that uses his food efficiently.

| |GOOD POINTS |BAD POINTS |

|Chest, body and |CHEST |Narrow chest: |

|underline | |Shallow heart girth: |

| | |Flat ribs (slab sided): |

|CMS 21 |RIB CAGE |Wasp waisted (herring gutted): |

|KYH 32 | |Pot belly: |

| | |Short underline: |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| |UNDERLINE | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|[pic] |

Hindquarters (CMS 22)

Horse’s motor.

Conformation influences ability to engage hind legs for speed, power and balance.

| |GOOD POINTS |BAD POINTS |

|Hindquarters |wide and deep |Rafter hips: |

| |well-defined muscling extending well down into the gaskins |Hip down: |

|CMS 22 |developed evenly on both sides (from behind) |Fat rounded hindquarters: |

|KYH 32 |well rounded over the croup and wide and powerful through the stifles (from | |

|MH 414 |behind) | |

| |inner thigh and gaskin muscles should be as well developed as the outer muscles | |

| |Good length from hip to hock (KYH 32) | |

| |well let down: good length from stifle to hock (MH 414) | |

|[pic] |

Front Legs

Front legs carry 55 percent of his weight when standing still

Do not pull him forward, but reach out and carry his weight and absorb concussion at every stride. (CMS 22)

| |GOOD POINTS |BAD POINTS |

|Front Legs Side View | |Standing under: |

| | |Camped out in front: |

|CMS 23 | |Over at the knee (knee sprung): |

|KYH 33 | |Back at the knee (calf knees):) |

| | |Weak forearm: |

|Front Legs | |Base narrow: |

|Front View | |Base wide: |

| | |Knock knees: |

|CMS 24 | |Bowed knees: |

| | |Bench knees (offset knees |

| | |Toeing out (splay footed |

| | |Toeing in (pigeon toed): |

|[pic][pic][pic] |

Hind legs

Pushing power comes from hind legs.

Must reach forward under the horse’s body (engagement) at every stride ( ground covering pushing power.

Hindlegs help balance in collected gaits and in stopping, turning and transitions.

Good conformation gives more strength, power and better balance.

| |GOOD POINTS |BAD POINTS |

|Hind Leg | |Camped out behind: |

|Side View | |Standing under (sickle hocks): |

| | |Leg too straight (post leg): |

|CMS 26 | | |

|KYH 38 | | |

|Hind Leg | |Cow hocks: |

|Rear View | |Bowed hocks: |

| | |Too wide: |

|CMS 28 | |Too narrow: |

|[pic][pic] |

Lower Leg and Joints

| |GOOD POINTS |BAD POINTS |

|Lower Leg and Joint |joints |Small round joints: |

| |cannon bones |Tendons tied in below the knee: |

|CMS 29 |“Bone” |Pasterns too long and sloping: |

|MH 414 |knees and hocks: |Pasterns too short and steep: |

| |hocks: |Curby hocks: |

| |pasterns:. | |

Foot

Carry weight and absorb shock with each step.

Foot expands when horse steps down on it ( helps absorb shock.

Pressure on frog helps pump blood through the hoof and back up the leg with very step.

| |GOOD POINTS |BAD POINTS |

|Foot | |Too small feet: |

| | |Contracted heels: |

|CMS 30, 25 | |Contracted hoof (one hoof smaller than the other): |

| | |Flat soles: |

| | |Shelly feet: |

| | |Foundered feet: |

| | |Low heels: |

| | |Splay footed (turned out): |

Part II – Underlying Structures of the Leg

Purpose

1. Begin to learn the underlying structures of the leg

Structure of the limbs

|Tendons and Ligaments |Tendon Description (USC 311) |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| |Ligament Description (USC 311, VN 220) |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

|Extensor tendons | |

|Flexor tendons | |

|Sheath | |

|The Foreleg |[pic] |

| | |

|The hindleg |[pic] |

| | |

Part III – Systems of the Horse

Purpose

1. Begin to learn the systems of the horse

Systems of the horse USC 416 to 437

|Musculoskeletal System | |

|Nervous System | |

|Endocrine System | |

|Circulatory System | |

|Lymphatic System | |

|Respiratory System | |

|Digestive System | |

|Urinary System | |

Part IV – Unsoundness

Purpose

1. Know the definition of the term unsoundness

2. Know the names of two unsoundnesses of wind

3. Begin to learn advanced terminology relating to unsoundness

Unsoundness

|Unsoundness |Description |

| | |

|USC 324 | |

|CMS 49, 54 | |

|USC 325 | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| |Causes |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

|Blemish |Description |

| | |

|USC 324 | |

Unsoundness of wind

|Wind |Description |

| | |

|MH 371 | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| |Note about breathing noise |

| | |

| | |

| | |

|Whistling and Roaring |Description |

| |Whistling: |

|MH 372 | |

| |Roaring |

| | |

| | |

| |Cause |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| |Treatment |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

Unsoundness of limb Terminology

|Term |Definition |

|Bursae |Description |

| | |

|VN 206 | |

|MH 384 |True Bursae |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| |Acquired/False Bursae |

| | |

| | |

| | |

|Articular |Description |

| | |

| | |

| | |

|Joint Capsule | |

|VN 172 | |

|Bony | |

|Ossification | |

|Arthritis | |

| | |

|VN 176 | |

Common Unsoundnesses

|Splint |Description |

| | |

|USC 325 | |

| | |

| | |

| |Cause ( |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| |Symptoms |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| |Prevention |

| | |

| | |

| |[pic] |

|Bowed Tendon |Description |

| | |

|USC 326 | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| |Causes |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| |Symptoms |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| |Prevention |

| | |

| | |

| |[pic] |

|Navicular Disease |Description |

| | |

|USC 327 | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| |Causes |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| |Symptoms |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| |Treatment |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

|Ringbone |Description |

| | |

|USC 327 | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| |High Ringbone |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| |Low Ringbone |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| |Cause |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| |[pic] |

|Sidebone |Description |

| | |

|USC 328 | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| |Cause |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| |[pic] |

|Curb |Description |

| | |

|USC 329 | |

| |Cause |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

|Bone Spavin |Description |[pic] |

| | | |

|USC 330 | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| |Symptom | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| |Cause | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|Bog Spavin |Description |

| | |

|USC 330 | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| |Cause |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| |[pic] |

|Thoroughpin |Description |[pic] |

| | | |

|USC 331 | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| |Cause | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

Part V – Movement Problems

Purpose

1. Know the common types of faulty movement

Faulty Movement

|Lameness |Description |

| | |

|USC 332 | |

|Stumbling |Description |

| | |

|USC 332 | |

| | |

| | |

| |Cause |

| | |

| | |

| |Action |

| | |

| | |

| | |

|Interfering |Description |[pic] |

| | | |

|USC 332 | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| |Brushing | |

| | | |

| | | |

| |Speedicuting: | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| |Cause | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| |Prevention/treatment | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|Plaiting |Description |[pic] |

| | | |

|USC 332 | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| |Cause | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| |Prevention/treatment | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|Forging |Description |[pic] |

| | | |

|USC 332 | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| |Cause | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| |Prevention/treatment | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|Over-reaching |Description |[pic] |

| | | |

|USC 334 | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| |“high over-reach” (“Strikes” MH 363) | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| |Cause | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| |Prevention/treatment | |

| | | |

CONFORMATION – B

Homework

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