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VETERINARY VIEWS
“In general, any conformation that departs from the ideal is likely to put stress on other anatomical structures.”
COURTESY HEATHER SMITH THOMAS
CONFORMATIONAL EXTREMES
Extremes in lower leg conformation can be performance limiting in athletic pursuits, or at the very least may cause flare-ups of musculoskeletal pain that put a horse out of action for a period of time. Certain conformational challenges that are obvious and extreme may lead to problems. Here are some examples:
• Toeing in or toeing out from an angular
limb deformity overloads one side of the foot and joints, leading to osteoarthritis and/or soft tissue injury
• A club foot is prone to abscesses, bruising, or laminitis
• Cow hocks put strain on the hock joints
• Offset knees (bench knees) can lead to splints
• Offset feet can lead to foot and joint pain in
the lower limb
• Hooves with sheared heels are prone to
quarter cracks and hoof pain
• Asymmetrical feet are a red flag needing
careful management
In general, any conformation that departs from the ideal is likely to put stress on other anatomical structures. As some examples,
hock rotation puts stress on the lower hock joints; long toes and low heels stress the deep digital flexor tendon; toeing out places stress on suspensory ligaments and joints.
There is an on-going discovery process
of how conformational abnormalities in
the back and neck may affect performance. Predisposition to injury of conformational abnormalities of the axial skeleton of the upper
body has not been delineated as carefully as flaws in the legs. For some horses, certain training regimens coupled with a flat or low back may create arthritic changes and soreness that impact success and career longevity.
Many structural challenges can be managed, but they must be managed. This necessitates consideration of farrier needs, the footing on which the horse is trained and competed, the exercise demands of the discipline pursued, the frequency of the competition schedule, saddle fit and rider equitation skills.
EXPECTATIONS
A critical factor in managing a horse with conformational challenges is the horse owner’s flexibility in their own expectations of what their horse may accomplish and for how long. There should be a realistic assessment of the horse’s physical abilities for the discipline in which he competes. It is important to continually assess his mental and physical abilities within that career discipline. It may be helpful to seek out expert advice. With realistic owner/rider expectations, a horse can be successful especially if managed by an interactive support group that works within guidelines that are customized to help maximize that horse’s performance. Otherwise, an owner is set up for frustration and setbacks.
One of the most challenging objectives for a horse owner is their own willingness to modify expectations and demands on their horse’s work output. For example, if the horse toes out and this causes hoof rotation, inflammation
may develop within a branch of the suspensory ligaments. Therefore, the rider may need to back down on exercise demands and speed and lessen the competitive schedule.
A horse that isn’t working out well for a particular owner may do better in another place and with another owner to avoid frustration, and also to protect the horse against being asked to do more than he is capable. Similarly, it may be necessary for the horse to change competition level or even switch to a different equestrian discipline, particularly if there is inconsistent performance in his job.
Many horses with extreme conformational changes have been managed successfully to perform well over long periods of time. This success often requires continual adjustments
to accommodate the horse – these should be accompanied by regular professional assessment by a veterinarian, trainer and farrier, and appropriate changes in exercise and training programs that improve fitness. Flexible expectations are important when considering how well a horse does or how often he competes.
PREPURCHASE CONSIDERATIONS OF CONFORMATION
A prepurchase examination is an extremely helpful resource to consider the future athletic possibilities of a horse. This requires a meticulous exam that doesn’t just look at a horse’s athletic ability but
also carefully evaluates the horse’s potential based on conformation and hoof structure
A club foot is an example of a lower leg conformational challenge that could lead to abscesses, bruising or laminitis, as well as soreness in joint and/or soft tissue of the limb.
A prepurchase examination is a helpful resource when considering the future athletic possibilities of a horse since it requires a meticulous exam that evaluates the horse’s potential based on conformation and hoof structure appropriateness for the intended discipline.
DR. SARAH MOURI PHOTO
. . . a horse with navicular syndrome living on the hard ground of the western United States may do poorly but if moved to softer ground in Florida or the East Coast may do quite well.
During a prepurchase exam, it helps to get additional input from a trainer and farrier.
GETTY IMAGES
104 SPEEDHORSE October 2022