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
soundnessand 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,but it can also relateto the horse's suitability for a particular pu{pose,such as
eventing,jumping, polocroosse,hack and dressagecompetition,which can include other
measuresof soundnessfor the pulpose, such as boldness,temperamentand 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,excessivebonemodelling
responsesand abnormalgrowth and balancein the hoovescan all influencethe relative
soundnessfor the purpose. A horsewith a minor joint or tendon injury, for example,may
not be suitablefor upper level equestriansports,but its soundnessas a hack will not be
compromised. As horsesage,nafural 'wear and tear' and other degenerativechanges,
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 unsoundnessinto retirementand equestrian
competition.

Splints

Ideally, splints should be appraisedon an individual basis,taking into accountthe

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
ng Under" I'Standlng
ng over,' prung
Predispogeglo Predlsposesto: Prodlsposes
to: PredlsposEs
to:
. Knoechips . Kneespraln . KneeSlabs r Kneechips
. Fetlockspraln r TendonslFaln o Tendonstraln . KneEsprain
o Seeamoldltis r Suspgnsory o Healbruislng . Suspensory
o Hoof stnaln . Segamoldltle etrain
..__ Qqnqutgign

\"ll r )\l
IDEAL
v .4I"..1

I
'rOpenKneee" '.
)t
ilCutout in Front'r
A
ta
ilest la ElChmF.
(lmmature) o Kneechlps r Tendon
siraln
Sllghtepiphysitis*-'. FetlocKeprain r FeilocKstrain
mayneedmofetimo . .Heelconousglon
to malure
_ _UWw
Itislmportanttovtewthetrtrrttl--tlmuotro@emoaandlerow,s},nrmetrvcooft
limlg anotumed-lnanptumeooutconfomiauon'iirEicou]i"tncr-Jage r
e tho riskof lolntwear
r^€arand
andteer
is6r snd
endbreakdnram
breekd.

ffi, ffi W Y{ W Pl.: wldo-toeout

Predlsposee
to
_].Bese
narr
toe out" In (plgeon.toed) toe In (plgeon
. Kneespralne Prodlsposesto: Predlsposesto: toed)
o Fellockspralne . Kneesprains' . Kneespralno Predisposes to:
o Heeland r Fetlockspralns . Follockepralns r Kneochlps
Ineldehoof r Heel . Tendonotrain
.concuggion ooncueslon . Fetlocksprains
. Tendonetrain r Hoof
ooncussion
 PASTERN ANGLES
The pastern angles of both the front and rear Iimbs should be assessedfrom each side, as
short upright pasterns can increasejoint concussionand long pasterns pre-disposeto
tendon strain and fetlock sprain, particularly if the heelsare low.

lrl
A\ /-1" LI
NormalPasternAngle ortu Long uprlght paeterneand
Predisposes
to: eloplngparterns,
r Jolntconcusslon Predlaposes
to:
. Navloular
Dleease . Tondonatnain
Accentuatedby hlghheelsand o Fstlookspnaln
contracted
tendons* Accentuated
by low heels

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.

/irT Ui
i!
i t
i u..
ii u:
i l ,tJ,'
r

Ut
l
i i
,

t !
1
\ .t,
i i
i.'t u i
i i
wtngtng" tl
Peddlin " D l g hlng"

FRONT LrMB CONFORMATION I

Offset Cannon Sones

Offset Cannon Bones

Predisposeto
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 sidesoand then from the rear.

Side View

$, $il
IDEAL "SlckleHocko"
Predlsposoe
toi
r Backspraln
. Hooksprain
' Curbllgament
$
PredlsposEg
to:
r Frontlirnb
ovadoad
. ghortchoppy
jru
hockc
Predispoees
. Bogspavln-
to:

Jolntfilling
. Elone spavln
etrain gait n'lthage
Rear View
raear vlew. r Locklngpaiella
It ls lmpoilantto Viewthehlncillmbsfromthe Uacffor Ctralgntness,
unitormltyanOeymrnetry
to determlne
weakconfqnatlonthatcouldleadto lnterforence or hocksndfetlock

f'9tanda yvlde" rrBow-logged" "Cloga-aplltup ttCow Hockgtt

behfnd"
At the walk irom the rear

"StralghtMover" I'MovlngNarow behlnd" rrMovlngWIde behlnd"

 CONFORMATION
AND S() U N D N E S S
Locatlon Conformatlon I nesultrIn: Predlsbose.c to:
Straight
shoulders lncreaiedconcussiondown
SHOULDERS (ofrenwithupright Jointproblems ;
llneof frontlegs NaMcular
pasterns) disease
RingboneSplints
Backat the knees(Catf Leg'bows.backwardduring
Knees) KneeChip fractures- racehorses
work Kree Stress- sprain
Suspensorystrain
Over at the l(ree Moreweightcarrleddown
(BuckedlGrees) Slabfractureln knee- racghorses.
back of leg Tendonstrain- heavyarsnaand rider. *1
(tGeesprung)
Heelbruising- corns? h
Fetlocksprain
Sesamoiditisin young,heavyhorses.
Suspensorystrain- extendedtrot
FROI.TT
LEGS
OpenKnees Oepresslon
overkneearea- Allowto mature- probabtynot a longterm.
(tmmaturel(rrees) heavyyoun! Warmbloods problem- correctcalciumimbalance(eg grazing
fertilizedKikuyupastures.
Offsetl(rees Moreweightcarriedby inside 'Hig.h'splintsjust
(Offsetcannonbones) belowknee joint (young
- horses
splint- tearingof upper worked.hard- heavyboCylreiilrtl.
BenchlGees attachment ArthriUsin kneeJoint
Breedinfluencss:-
- Standardbreds
- Thoroughbreds
Long Pasterns Pasternangle45nor less
(Slopingpasterns) Tendonstrain
(oftenhereditary) Sesamoiditis/s
esamoidfractures
Aggravatedby low heels. Suspensorystrain +
Uprlghtpasterns Most commonIn horseswith
(straighttegs) Fetlocksprain- old age arthritis
straightshouldersand short, FUngbone
solld build. Naviculardlsease
Increasesconcussionup leg
whenworkedon hard arenis.
Contractedhoof Breedlnfluence. eudrter
(PlnchedhooQ Naviculardisease
horses. Toe bruising/pedalosteiils
BACK Short back Increasedrlslrof Interference -.taceratlons
Over-reachlng - heel bulb bruising
and over+eaching
Long back Extrawelghton tumbo-sacral Lumbo-sacralarthriUs
coupllng SacroillacstrainJnshow jumpersor eventers-
'huntsrsbump.
Hock arthritls- bone spavln.
Old horses. sway back?

StraightHocks lncreasedstresspathway 8og spavin.

throughhocks and stifre. Bone spavin in old age.
Locking of patella.
HOCKS Slckle Hocks Increased welghtdown back Sprain of 'curb, llgament - curby hocks.
of hocks.
Cow Hocks Moreloadcarrledon insideof Bone spavin in old horses. Oflen associatedwith
hocks. speedy movement - less interferencewith hlnd
anc
fore llmbs.
Traillng Hocks Shorterstrlde,lncreased Spllnts on inside of forelegs, shorter strldes and
welghton frontllmbswhen more steps to cover dlstance, cho.ppy gait,and
working. could affect stamlna In performanCehorses.
Toe In Oflencongenital - can be 'Paddllng'
(PlgeonToed) gait.
correctedby trimmlng- Corrective shoeing helpful.
qraduallv.
FEET Turnedln . trlm lnslde
Toe Out Ofrencongenttal - can be
(SplayFooted) Results ln gait lnterference,and rlsk of tdpplng anc
correctedby hooftrlmming. stumbllng, and spllnts. More undeslrable than toe.
oraduallv. 1n.
Turnedout - trim outside 'Wlng
to the inside. gait
Corrective shoeing and weighted shoes.