In an ideal conformation, a line draw down the leg should bisect (be in the middle of) which joints?

Where should the line be in relation to the foot?

- A line drawn from the tubar spinae (the bump that sticks out of the middle of the scapula) should bisect the carpus and fetlock joints.

- The carpus should not deviate to the anterior (forward to cranial side), nor should it deviate to the posterior (palmar/back) side

- The line should intersect the ground at a point just behind the heel

- One third of the hoof would be behind the line, and two-thirds in front.

If a horse has more than two-thirds of the foot forward of a line drawn down the front of the cannon bone, what conformation is the horse considered to have?

What type of horse commonly has this type of conformation?

- If more than 2/3rds of the foot is in front of the line, the horse is said to have long pasterns.

- Many thoroughbreds will have the entire foot forward of the line.

A horse has half of its foot behind a line drawn down the front of the cannon bone, and half in front.

What is this conformation considered?

- The pastern length is more than 50% of the cannon bone length

- A line dropped from the anterior (front) side of the cannon bone falls at or behind the heels, sometimes by several inches.

The anterior distal aspect (lower front) of the cannon bone is jammed into the proximal aspect of P1. This can lead to osselets.

- Due to the strain of the DDFT the navicular bone will be under greater stress.

- The impar ligament (distal navicular ligament) can also be affected.

Where does the center of gravity on the foot of a horse with a long pastern tend to move towards?

What does this do to weight distribution in regards to loading the foot?

- The center of gravity will move towards the palmar/caudal area of the foot.

- The heel area of the foot will be excessively loaded

- Bruised, collapsed/underrun heels

- corns

-quarter cracks, heel cracks

-general heel pain

- bruising

- palmar heel pain

- Breakover is affected negatively

- the horse may over-reach

- low arc of flight of foot

- stumbling

 Map the foot

A horse has long, sloping pasterns. What trimming considerations should be taken into account?

What can the farrier use (if available) to determine how much dorsal wall can be removed?

- Remove dorsal flares

- Remove crushed/collapsed heels

- Radiographs can be helpful to see how much dorsal wall can be removed.

- Easing breakover due to long toes/low heels

- Rocker shoes, half rounds or rolled toes

A line drawn down the anterior (front) face of the cannon bone will bisect the foot - 1/2 in front, 1/2 behind the line.

What primary issue will a horse with a short, straight pastern experience?

Which joints are most affected?

- The horse will have potential bone damage due to concussion.

- Fetlock, pastern, coffin joint and navicular issues.

- Base narrow toed-in horses

- Look for evidence of concussion (sole bruising, etc.)

- Shoe to protect the bottom of the foot if damage exists

- Consider aluminum shoes with pads

- Due to the long toe and low heel

- Heel support

- Breakover - address by rasping dorsal surface, if needed

- Address breakover with either a rocker, rolled toe or half round.

- Heel support can be addressed with an egg bar shoe.

Describe a horse that is "Over at the knees."

What are other names for this conformation?

- The carpus (knee) joint is forward of the ideal conformation plumb line

- Also known as "buck knees" or "knees sprung."

- Some type of flexor tendon/muscle problem

- Contraction of carpal flexors

- Sesamoid bones (due to suspensory ligament strain)

- Suspensory ligament

- Superficial Flexor tendon (SFT)

- Navicular bone

- The condition will usually resolve itself by three months of age.

- There is very little the farrier can do.

Describe a horse that is "standing under."

What causes 'standing under?'

The entire front leg looks too far back beneath the horses body, falling behind the ideal conformation plumb line.

This occurs when the length of the humerus is more than 50% of the length of the scapula.

A horse that stands under is prone to what kind of issues?

Why?

- They are prone to stumbling and falling.

- The leg has a low arc of flight, and the foot does not lift very high off the ground while in motion.

- Overreaching - The toe of the hindlimb contacts the palmar aspect of the forelimb

- Forging - The toe of the hind foot contacts the solar surface of the lateral fore hoof.

- No. The horse is stumbling because of low foot arc, not a breakover issue.

- The rider needs training to learn how to keep the horse collected.

- A horse experiencing pain, such as bilateral navicular syndrome or laminitis will stand 'camped in front."

- Some horses are taught to stand this way...the 'Park' stance.

- Dress the dorsal surface (flaring)

- Address heel support 

- Address breakover issues

- Consider a rocker toe egg bar shoe.

A horse is 'cut out under the knees.'

Describe this conformation and its cause.

- The front of the leg will appear to have a 'cut out' just below the knee.

- This is caused due to the cannon bone being offset to the palmar (rear) of the radius.

- When viewed from the side, the leg will appear to have a 'bench' just above the knee.

- The cannon bone is offset to the anterior (front) of the radius.

- The flexor tendons appear to be too close to the cannon bone, just below the knee.

A horse is tied in at the knees. 

How does this affect the flexor tendons and the cannon bone?

- The cannon bone and the flexor tendons are usually reduced in size.

- The carpal bones will be under heavy stress due to uneven weight bearing

- Carpal chip fractures