CONFORMATION AND SOUNDNESSIN HORSES

by John R Kohnke BVSc RDA The structuraldevelopmentof the limbs, size and body proportionsthat make up an individual horse's conformation can influence its balanceand movementduring exercise. The strengthof its limbs and conformationin furn, can influence its overall soundness and ability to perform in competition. Conformation and soundnessare interrelatedin determiningthe movement, performanceand overall quality of a horseduring its competitive lifetime. Soundnesscan be classifiedin a number of ways relative to the horse's freedom from lameness, it can also relateto the horse's suitability for a particular pu{pose,such as but eventing,jumping, polocroosse, hack and dressage competition,which can include other measures soundness the pulpose, such as boldness,temperament of for and flow of the stride. Soundnesscan also be influencedby factors such as the type of working surface, shoeing,dietary balance,body weight and the exerciseprogram, especiallyas a horse ages. Accidental injuries suchas lower limb lacerations,excessive bonemodelling responses abnormalgrowth and balancein the hoovescan all influencethe relative and soundness the purpose. A horsewith a minor joint or tendon injury, for example,may for not be suitablefor upper level equestriansports,but its soundness a hack will not be as compromised. As horsesage,nafural 'wear and tear' and other degenerative changes, that are not always related or influencedby conformation,can occur and restrict its suitability for long term training and competition.It is always important to selecta horse that is soundand strong if you plan to competeover a few years,rather than try to rehabilitate ahorse from the racetrack which has broken down due to tendon andjoint problems and carriesthe legacyof unsoundness into retirementand equestrian competition. Splints Ideally, splints should be appraised an individual basis,taking into accountthe on location, size and interferencewith movement,and the overall conformationof the front legs. Most splints in the lower or mid cannon areaare'accidental', resulting from knocks or bumpsof everydaylife as a horse. However, in contras! the majority of splints Iocatedon the inside ofthe upper cannon areawhich appearto blend into the knee outline, are causedby underlying conformationalfaults. Theseinclude the degreeof offset in the cannonbones,the bulk of the shouldersand neck, and the amountof hard work the animal was given in its younger days. Therefore,Iower splints on the canoncan be considereda minor 'blemish', but high splints in the knee region, or those found close to tendons,should be appraisedin relation to limb conformation and risk of interfering with tendon or kneejoint soundness.

FRONT LIMB CONFOR]VIATION

Check the alignment and relationships of the knee and cannon bone of the front limb on both near and offside, standing 3-4 metres to the side,level with front shoulders, and then view from the front.

Side View

IDEAL

"Etrndlng Under" ng lo Predispogeg . Knoechips . Fetlock spraln o Seeamoldltis o Hoof

I'Standlng ng over,' Predlsposes to: . Kneespraln r Tendon slFaln r Suspgnsory stnaln

prung
Prodlsposes to: . KneeSlabs o Tendonstraln o Healbruislng . Segamoldltle

..__ Qqnqutgign

PredlsposEs to: r Knee chips . KneE sprain . Suspensory etrain

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IDEAL

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I

'rOpenKneee '. "

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o Knee chlps
ilCutout in Front'r

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r

ta

(lmmature)

ilest la ElChmF.

Sllghtepiphysitis*-'. mayneedmofetimo . to malure

Tendon siraln
FeilocKstrain

FetlocKeprain r .Heel conousglon

r limlg anotumed-ln tumeooutconfomiauon'iirEicou]i"tncr-Jage anp e tho riskof lolntwearand teer snd breekd. r^ar is6r endbreakdnram and

Itislmportanttovtewthetrtrrttl--tlmuotro@emoaandlerow,s},nrmetrvcooft

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ffi, ffi W Y{ W
_].Bese narr to toe out" . Kneespralne Prodlsposes to: o Fellock spralne . Knee sprains' o Heeland r Fetlock spralns out Pl.: wldo-toe Predlsposee
Inelde hoof .concuggion
r Heel

In (plgeon.toed) Predlsposes to: . Kneespralno . Follock epralns

ooncueslon Tendon etrain

toe In (plgeon toed) Predisposes to: r Kneochlps . Tendonotrain . Fetlock sprains r Hoof ooncussion

PASTERN ANGLES
The pastern angles of both the front and rear Iimbs should be assessed from each side, as short upright pasterns can increasejoint concussionand long pasterns pre-disposeto tendon strain and fetlock sprain, particularly if the heelsare low.

A\
NormalPastern Angle

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ortu

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parterns, eloplng Predlaposes to: . Tondon atnain
Long uprlght paeterne and o Fstlook spnaln Accentuated low heels by

Predisposes to: r Jolnt concusslon . Navloular Dleease

by Accentuated hlghheelsand contracted * tendons

LIMB ALIGNMENT
Observation at the walk to evaluateIimb low and straightness,absenceof 'paddling', 'plaiting', 'winging' and 'dishing' as poor Iimb alignment results in higher risk of interference and abnormal joint loading during exercise.

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FRONT LrMB CONFORMATION I

Offset Cannon Sones

Offset Cannon Bones Predispose to o Iligh splints o Knee weakness e Hoof concussion
Force on insldo lpllnt bone down and backwards.

HIIIDLIMB

CONFORIVIATION

Appraise the alignment and strength of the hindlimbs standing 3-4 metres to the side, level with the hind limbs and rump, evaluating both near and off sideso and then from the rear.

Side View

IDEAL

$, $il
Predlsposoe toi r Back spraln . Hook sprain ' Curb llgament etrain
"SlckleHocko"

PredlsposEg to: r Front lirnb ovadoad . ghortchoppy gait

jru
hockc

Rear View raear vlew.

Predispoees to: . Bogspavln filling Jolnt . Elone spavln n'lthage

r paiella Locklng

It ls lmpoilant Viewthe to hlncillmbs the Uacffor Ctralgntness, from unitormlty eymrnetry determlne anO to weak confqnatlon could to lnterforencehock fetlock that lead snd or

f'9tanda yvlde"

rrBow-logged"

"Cloga-apllt up behfnd"

ttCow Hockgtt

At the walk irom the rear

"StralghtMover"

I'Movlng Narow behlnd"

rrMovlngWIde behlnd"

CONFORMATION S() U N D N E S S AND

Locatlon SHOULDERS

Conformatlon Straight shoulders (ofren upright with pasterns)

Backat the knees(Catf Knees) Over at the l(ree (BuckedlGrees) (tGeesprung)

nesultrIn:
lncreaiedconcussion down llneof frontlegs Leg'bows.backward during work Moreweightcarrleddown back of leg

Predlsbose.c to:

Jointproblems NaMcular disease Ringbone Splints KneeChip fractures racehorses Kree Stress- sprain Suspensory strain Slabfracture knee- racghorses. ln Tendonstrain- heavyarsnaand rider. Heelbruising corns? Fetlock sprain Sesamoiditis young,heavyhorses. in Suspensory strain- extended trot

*1 h

FROI.TT LEGS

OpenKnees (tmmature l(rrees) Offsetl(rees (Offsetcannonbones) BenchlGees

Oepresslon kneeareaover heavyyoun! Warmbloods Moreweightcarriedby inside splint- tearingof upper attachment Breedinfluencss:- Standardbreds - Thoroughbreds Pastern angle45nor less (oftenhereditary) Aggravated low heels. by Most commonIn horseswith straight shoulders and short, solld build. Increases concussion leg up whenworkedon hard arenis. . Breedlnfluence eudrter horses. Increased of Interference rlslr and over+eaching Extrawelghton tumbo-sacral coupllng

Allowto mature- probabty a longterm. not problem correctcalcium imbalance grazing (eg fertilized Kikuyupastures. 'Hig.h'splintsjust belowknee joint (younghorses worked.hard heavyboCylreiilrtl. ArthriUs kneeJoint in

Long Pasterns (Slopingpasterns)

Tendonstrain Sesamoiditis/s esamoidfractures Suspensory strain Fetlocksprain- old age arthritis FUngbone Navicular dlsease

Uprlghtpasterns (straighttegs)

Contracted hoof (PlnchedhooQ BACK Short back Long back

Navicular disease Toe bruising/pedal osteiils -.taceratlonsheel bulb bruising Over-reachlng Lumbo-sacral arthriUs SacroillacstrainJnshow jumpersor eventers 'huntsrsbump. Hock arthritls- bone spavln. Old horses. sway back?
8og spavin. Bone spavin in old age. Locking of patella. Sprain of 'curb, llgament - curby hocks. Bone spavin in old horses. Oflen associatedwith speedy movement - less interferencewith hlnd anc fore llmbs. Spllnts on inside of forelegs, shorter strldes and more steps to cover dlstance, cho.ppy gait,and could affect stamlna In performanCehorses. 'Paddllng' gait. Corrective shoeing helpful.

Straight Hocks

lncreased stresspathway throughhocks and stifre. Increased welghtdown back of hocks. Moreloadcarrled insideof on hocks. Shorter strlde, lncreased welghton frontllmbswhen working. Oflencongenital can be corrected trimmlng by qraduallv. Turnedln . trlm lnslde Ofrencongenttal can be corrected hooftrlmming by . oraduallv. Turnedout - trim outside

HOCKS

Slckle Hocks

Cow Hocks

Traillng Hocks

Toe In (Plgeon Toed) FEET Toe Out (SplayFooted)

Results ln gait lnterference,and rlsk of tdpplng anc stumbllng, and spllnts. More undeslrable than toe. 1n. 'Wlng to the inside. gait Corrective shoeing and weighted shoes.