Equine Evaluation - Introduction to Conformation

What are some factors to consider when selecting a horse?

• conformation

• intended purpose

• breed

• pedigree

• color

• disposition

• personality

What is a Blemish

a visible lump, thickening, or scar that is not considered unsoundness unless it interferes with a moving part, the ability of a horse to work, or cause lameness

What is unsoundness

any disease, injury, or structural defect that limits the horses physical ability to preform

What is conformation

the configuration of the body parts, the relationship between structures, and how they function

What does conformation determine

how the horse moves and how the horse can withstand the stress and concussion of movement

What is a fault

an undesirable aspect of conformation

what could a fault lead to

unsoundness

what are two examples of a fault

• pigeon toes

• sickle hock

What is the Poll

the space between the ears or just behind the ears

What is the crest

the dorsal portion of the neck

What is the withers

the highest point of the thoracic vertebrae

What is the loin

the space between the last rib and the croup

What is the hip

the bony prominence that corresponds to the ilium of the pelvis

What is the croup

the toppling of the hindquarters from the point of the hip to the point of the buttocks

What is the dock

the base of the tail

What is the point of buttocks

bony prominence that corresponds to the ischium of the pelvis

What is the hock

the set of seven small bones that joint between the tibia proximally and the cannon bone distally

What is the Gaskin

the muscling (gastrocnemius/calf) on the area between the stifle and the hock.

What is the stifle

the joint between the femur and the tibia/fibula

What is the flank

its where the hindlegs and the barrel meet

What is the Barrel

the mid-section body of the horse

What is the elbow

the joint created between the humerus and the radius/ulna

What is a ergot

a keratinized structure on the palmar or plantar aspect of the fetlock joint

what is a chestnut

a keratinized structure on the medial side of each limb

What is the fetlock

the joint between the cannon bone and the pastern

What is the hoof

a keratinized covering over the coffin bone

What is the coronet

a ring of soft tissue that is proximal to the hoof and from where the hoof growth originates

What is the pastern

the portion of the limb between the hoof and the fetlock

What is the cannon

the long bone between the carpus and the fetlock

What is the knee

on the front limb of the horse that corresponds to the carpus joint

What is the forearm

the upper part of he arm above the knee

What is the girth

the circumference of the body measured from behind the withers and around the barrel

What is the shoulder

the region of the body corresponding to the scapula and the surrounding muscles

What is the point of shoulder

the point of the scapula and the humerus

What is the throatlatch

the ventral region where the neck joins in to the head

What is the muzzle

the chin, mouth, and nostrils of the face

What is the forelock

the continuation of the mane that hangs down between the ears