The Effect of Conformation
A large proportion of a horse’s conformation and appearance is determined by his skeleton, from the shape of his face to the hoof - pastern angles of his feet. Whilst muscle development and conditioning can change the appearance of a horse, his basic skeletal conformation will ultimately determine his athletic ability. Some conformational faults such as limb deformities may be improved or corrected if addressed before the growth plates ossify and often horses with less than perfect conformation go on to become sound riding horses, but an awareness of how conformation influences performance is essential in the competition horse.
Good hoof conformation is critical for the competition horse, whilst a good farrier can often improve on the appearance of the external hoof and correct issues such as hoof balance, the internal structures ultimately define hoof conformation. The foot is designed to absorb impact and prevent injury to the leg structures, to do this effectively the hoof needs to be straight and at an equal angle to that of the pastern with the heel in line with the centre of the cannon bone when viewed from the side. Deviations from this ideal may result in tendon or ligament strain, uneven absorption of concussion, interference between the limbs (brushing or over reaching) and predispose to degenerative conditions such as arthritis, navicular disease, ring bone and sidebone.
The forelimbs carry around 65% of the horse’s total body weight and absorb huge forces during impact, correct angling of the bones from the foot to the shoulder enables this concussion to be absorbed and transferred through the limb to the muscles without injury to the ligaments and tendons. It is essential that the bones from the fetlock to the elbow be straight to ensure even weight distribution, whilst the angulation of the shoulder, fetlock and hoof should match to improve shock absorption and provide a smooth gait. The length and angle of the shoulder determines stride length, long sloping shoulders help to decrease concussion and provide further extension of the forelimb.
The hind limbs supply the majority of the power during locomotion and therefore any conformational weakness will result in uneven distribution of concussive forces. Good angulation of the hock and stifle is important to prevent excessive strain, horses with very “straight behind” conformation are prone to arthritis, spavin and upwards fixation of the patella (locking stifle). From behind, the hind limbs should be straight and not deviate to the inside or outside, 'base narrow' hind limbs may be prone to brushing while 'base wide' hind limbs will put uneven strain on the joints.
The Horse From The Inside