Page 107 - Adams and Stashak's Lameness in Horses, 7th Edition

Examination for Lameness 73

and the work for which the horse is best suited. Light horses of different breeds to attain characteristics for a
(riding and driving) horses are by far the most common specific sport is not uncommon.
VetBooks.ir horse, hunter, stock horse, sport horse, animated (show) Systematic Evaluation of Conformation
and can be described as one of several types: pleasure
horse, and racehorse.
A “breed” is a group of horses with common ancestry Although breed characteristics may vary, the process
and usually strong conformational similarities. In most of evaluating any horse should be similar. A general
cases, a horse must come from approved breeding stock systematic assessment of the horse’s four functional
to be registered with a particular breed. If a horse is not sections is made (head and neck, forelimbs, trunk, and
eligible for registration, it is considered to be a “grade” or hindlimbs), giving each area approximately equal
“crossbred” horse. Several breeds can have similar importance (Figure 2.7). The horse’s specific confor­
36
makeup and be of the same type. For example, most mational components or traits are then evaluated in
Quarter horses, Paint horses, and Appaloosas are consid­ more detail.
ered to be stock horse types. In addition, racing Quarter The evaluation begins by viewing the horse from the
horses often have considerable Thoroughbred back­ near (left) side in profile and assessing balance by com­
ground. Some breeds contain individuals of different paring the forehand (head, neck, and forelimbs) to the
types within the breed; Thoroughbreds can be of the race, hindquarters (hindlimbs and croup). Attention should
hunter, or sport horse type. In addition, crossbreeding be paid to the curvature and proportions of the top

Figure 2.7. Normal horse. The body and limbs should be well proportioned.