Selecting Your Horse

To properly appraise or judge horses they should be viewed from at least three positions, front, side, and rear. Figures 7, 8, 9, 10 show what to expect and what to look for when viewing horses from these positions. Emphasis is placed on the set of feet and legs. It's essential to be able to recognize when a horse has a fault in the way he sets on his legs as this definitely determines how he will move. A crooked legged horse can't move true. Regardless of a horse's excellent head, neck, shoulder, top, and general balance and conformation, if he is crooked on his legs, he is not a top horse.

Also give close scrutiny, at the time you are viewing the legs, to unsoundness. Observe the pasterns, cannon bones, knees, and especially the hocks for any swelling or protuberance that is out of the ordinary.

The following conformation features affect action and gaits and may be predisposing to certain unsoundnesses:

• A long forearm contributes to a long stride.

• Sloping shoulders and pasterns are associated with a springy stride.

• If a horse stands straight, he is likely to move straight and true. If the legs are set properly, he is better able to move with collected action. (See figure 5.)

• A calf-kneed (back at the knees) posture is associated with hard concussion or a pounding gait; and it is predisposing to bone chips.

• Low rounding withers are associated with a defective gait called forging. A horse with low withers commonly hangs in the bridle, moves with head low, and handles the front feet awkwardly.

• A pigeon-toed horse will paddle or wing out. Conversely, a splayfooted (heels in, toes out) horse will wing in and the striding leg may actually strike the supporting leg. In addition, hooves wear unevenly. (See figure 5.)

• Short, steep ankles and pasterns result in a stilted stride, hard concussion, and a tendency to cocked ankles and unsoundness.

• Front legs out at the corner or too wide in front are a structural defect associated with a rolling motion when the horse moves.

• A short, thick, bulky neck too often goes with a straight shoulder and reduces neck suppleness and mobility and the rider's ease of control of the horse.

• A short straight shoulder and forearm, accompanied by steep pasterns, results in a short stride and a tendency toward sidebones.

• Buck-knees and long toes cause stumbling.

• Nervous and continuous movement of the ears may mean impaired vision; protruding or bulging eyes, called pop eyes, usually indicate nearsightedness.

• Sickle hocks detract from the horse's appearance, affect action, and often are associated with a steep croup and curbiness. Conversely, hocks that are too straight indicate crampiness and greater likelihood for the horse to go out at the stifle joint.

Figure 5.   How a horse stands is indicative of how he will move. The normal stance, with width between the legs in proportion to the width of the chest and feet placed straight, results in the legs and feet moving in a straight line. A base wide horse, particularly if he also toes out, moves his feet and legs in or wings in with each stride. If the condition is severe he is most apt to strike one leg with the other resulting in injury and even unsoundness. Base narrow, with toes pointing in, results in a horse that paddles. It's unsightly, results in excessive hoof wear on the outside quarters and results in excessive strain on the knee, fetlocks and tendons.

Figure 6.   Normal Angled Hoof; Acute Angled Hoof; Upright Hoof "Stumpy"

Figure 7.   Front View of Fore Limbs. A perpendicular line drawn downward from the point of shoulder should fall upon the center of the knee, cannon, pastern, and foot: 1, represents the correct information 2-7, represent common defects; 2, slightly bow-legged; 3, close at knees, toes out; 4, toes in; 5, knock-kneed; 6, base narrow; 7, base wide.

Figure 8.   Side View of Fore Limbs. A perpendicular line drawn downward from the center of the elbow point should fall upon the center of the knee and pastern, and back of the foot. A perpendicular line downward from the middle of the arm should fall upon the center of the foot: 8, represents the right conformation; 9, leg too far forward; 10, knee spring; 11, calf kneed; 12, foot and leg placed too far back.

Figure 9.   Side View of Hind Limbs. A perpendicular line, drawn downward from the hip point should fall upon the center of the foot and divide the gaskin in the middle; and a perpendicular line drawn from the point of the buttock should just touch the upper rear point of the hock and fall barely behind the rear line of the cannon and fetlock. Correct position of the leg line of the cannon and fetlock. Correct position of the leg from this view is most important in a horse: 13, represents the correct conformation; 14, leg too far forward and hock crooked, 15 entire leg too far under and weak below hock; 16, entire leg placed too far back.

Figure 10.   Rear View of Hind Limbs. A perpendicular line drawn downward from the point of the buttocks should fall in line with the center of the hock, cannon, pastern, and foot: 17, represents the correct conformation; 18, bow-legged; 19, base narrow; 20, base wide; 21, cow-hocked and toes out—very serious fault.

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