Diagram 1
How is alignment assessed ? When alignment is assessed in an adult horse , one must observe from the front , from the side and from behind . We must also assess deviations in their different gaits , mainly walking and trotting . The imaginary lines appear in Diagram 1 .
Figure 1
In foals it is different . It is appropriate to consider the fact ( anatomically ) that limbs / body proportions are very different . The foal ’ s rib cage is narrower and this means that it ’ s support base must increase in order to keep its balance , elbows rotating inward and the limb outward ( Figure 1 ). Something similar occurs with the rear limbs , and this is NOT anything “ abnormal ” to start with .
This singular way of standing up varies with age : it is more marked in newly-borns , and as time goes by it changes progressively until it reaches an alignment that is similar to that of the adult , at approximately one year old . Throughout this time , the concept of what the “ correct alignment ” should be varies as it grows , i . e ., it is a dynamic concept . One must be aware that alignment is correct or not depending on the age of the foal . Example : the correct alignment at 2 months is necessarily a defective alignment when it is 15 days old , and vice-versa . As in the case of adults , alignment is assessed from the front ; the side and behind , but differently . One must observe the “ general ” aspect of a foal ’ s alignment , and look at it as a whole . When observing the “ particular aspect of each limb ”, the position adopted to assess each limb from the front is defined by the knee ( carpus ) and hocks ( tarsus ) planes ( Diagrams 2 and 3 ). The same occurs when assessing a foal from behind .
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