We want to share with you a couple of conformation observation in the lower leg of an endurance horse. This could make a difference in the soundness of an endurance horse in the long run.
As a general rule, the center of the canon bone should be supported by the heel of the horses hoof. If this is not the case, the load factor on the superficial and deep flexor tendon is greatly increased. Furthermore, the digital cushion inside the hoof is not supported anymore. Look at the different pictures below and see the difference in the alignment of the canon bone in relation to the heel of the hoof.
Let’s call this horse A
The plum line from the center of the canon bone falls behind the buttress of the heel,
Now, let’s compare the this with the two following horses, B and C
Horse B
See the difference of the support the horse body is getting with the conformation of horse B and C?
Both canon bones are supported by the heel of the horse hoof
It does make a lot of sense, evaluating the conformation of any endurance prospect in this manner.
submitted by Christoph Schork
Check out the recent post addressing horse conformation on the blog on our website at http://www.globalendurance.com
Although Christoph has a good point here, I’d be far more concerned about the biomechanical issues that might manifest in Horse C due to the 1:1 forearm to cannon ratio than I would be with the undersling in the foot of Horse A. I can’t see the entire forearm of Horse A to measure that parameter, and while Horse B is far better than Horse C, he still doesn’t come very close to the 2:1 ideal ratio. I personally would be leery of a prospect that didn’t hit at least around a 1.6:1 or better forearm to cannon ratio, and would also add that proper body proportion will go a long way to ameliorate the stresses to the flexors of a horse like Horse A. Too often we discard horses with minor leg faults and great bodies, only to take on horses with such out-of-proportion bodies that they will trash the best sets of legs on the planet…
Heidi Smith DVM
The crop on horse C is not aligned down the cannon(it points foreward). If it was aligned,it to would fall behind the hoof of the horse.
A lot of other ,more important considerations when looking at conformation.
Heidi and Bruce are both correct and their points well taken. By no means was the previous post be meant to be an all encompassing evaluation for an endurance prospect. Such all inclusive conformation analysis and discussion would require countless pages. I was only looking at one aspect of a conformation analysis, in this case the lower leg and the support the hoof and fetlock can provide or not provide to the body of the horse. There are many more factors to consider, of course, I just selected one out of many.
In the future, we might explore other areas of the horses body, like shoulders, neck, torso or hind quarters.
Could you please explain the ratios used in your posts? 2:1 and 1.6:1 Thank you.
Bruce, I’m placing a new photo with a better alignment of the crop with the center of the canon bone. Still, it is a much better alignement than on horse A.
Great observation initially on your part.
Thanks
Koylynn:
Heidi meant that in an ideal conformation of the front leg, the forearm should be twice as long as the canon bone. Therefore the 2:1 ratio. If the canon bone is longer than half the forearm, then the ratio would change to e.g. 1.6:1. Were the forearm the same length as the canon bone, it would be a 1:1 ratio, would it be three times as long, a 3:1.
Hope that helps
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Christoph,
I see what you mean by the weight distribution and it makes sense.
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