Stable Eyes
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Conformation Clinic Part III Shoulder & Front Legs This same extension is what stretches out a thoroughbred down the track, reaching for every fraction of an inch the hindquarters can propel him to. The horse with a proper slope to his shoulder is fluid in his motion and his gaits are comfortable to ride. The slope of the shoulder is not difficult to find. Follow the line of the shoulder from withers through point of shoulder (the furthest point forward at the end of the shoulder bone, or scapula). Then draw a straight line either along the underline of the horse or on the ground. The angle formed where these two lines meet should be about 45 degrees. The straighter the shoulder line, the wider that angle will be. Horses are said to be “Straight in the shoulder” when this angle is over 45 degrees. The conformation in the shoulder is normally mirrored in the slope of the pastern (the skinny part of the leg between the leg and hoof) which should also be about 45 degrees. The shoulder and pastern act like shock absorbers. When a horse is straight in the shoulder and pastern his gaits are very short and choppy. Not only is he not as comfortable to ride, but the constant jarring can be damaging to him. The most serious complication that such a horse is predisposed to is a hoof condition called “navicular.” We will discuss this condition more fully in another issue that will be dedicated to the hoof. In brief, it refers to the degeneration of the navicular bone inside the hoof. A “Sweeny” is an unsoundness located in the shoulder area. It is a degeneration of the muscles on either side of the scapula caused by nerve damage. The bone will appear very sharp and pronounced as the muscles on either side atrophy. When the horse walks, he will swing the leg on the affected shoulder out to the side. You may also hear a popping sound. This action is referred to as lateral slippage and may be apparent long before the muscles show the signs of atrophy. Looking down the leg of the horse, you should notice the way it hangs from the shoulder. Imagine a line from the center of the shoulder running straight down to the ground. If a horse’s legs extend in front of the line he is said to be “camped out.” If the legs come down behind the line he is said to be “camped under.” Either conformational flaw will cause more stress on the legs. Sometimes the leg will fall along the line correctly, but the knee will be buckled forward, “over at the knee,” or backward, “calf kneed.” Being over at the knee is not always considered a serious handicap. It is not uncommon in Jumpers and Thoroughbreds. I have heard that the great Secretariat was “over at the knees.” However, keep in mind that those legs must sustain tremendous force when a horse is running or jumping. Wherever there is a break in that straight line there is a weakness and potential for injury. You should also examine the horse’s front legs from standing directly in front of him. The chest should be broad and in good proportion to the rest of the body. Imagine a line dropped from the chest directly down in front of each leg. Some horses are “bow legged.” Some horses look like they don’t have enough space between their legs. They are referred to as, “base narrow.” Sometimes the leg falls along the line alright, but the foot doesn’t line up. The horse can be either “toed in,” or “toed out.” From the front, look to see that the forearm and cannon bones line up above and below the knee. If they are not directly on top of each other the horse is said to be “off set at the knees.” Again, any deviation from that straight line is a point of weakness. Going back to the side view of the horse, notice the proportion of the length of the bones above the knee (forearm) and below the knee (cannon bone). The forearm should be long, while the cannon bone should be relatively short. More importantly, the bones and ligaments in the cannon should be very pronounced, tight and free from any lumps or swellings. This is known as “good clean legs.” The two most common flaws in the cannon are “splints” and “bowed tendons.” Bowed tendons and splints can occur on the hind legs as well, but they are more common on the front legs. On either side of the main cannon bone are two small bones (called splint bones) that serve no useful purpose. Some believe they are what is left of the toes that prehistoric horses are believed to have had. Splints occur when there is a tear in the ligaments that bind the splint bones to the cannon bone. It is very common and be caused by any type of stress, over exercise, improper shoeing or orthopedic diseases. They usually develop in young horses. The area is very painful and swollen when it is first injured. Afterward, the horse will be sound, but the swollen area of scar tissue will remain permanently. Sometimes calcification takes place and may interfere with the other ligament requiring surgical correction. Bowed tendons can be found on the back of the leg. The tendon gets over extended and is left with a permanent bow shape pulling away from the leg. When the injury first occurs there is heat, pain and swelling. The tendon is permanently scarred which causes the bulging appearance. Bows are described as high, middle, or low in relation to where they are on the cannon. Some horses are able to resume work after bowing a tendon, but the tendon is forever compromised and the horse is likely to go lame or bow the tendon again if worked too hard. It never ceases to amaze me when I run my hands down a nice clean leg. The way my fingers slip into the groves of the cannon and splint bones. The leg is so slender my fingers almost touch together as I run one inside and one outside the leg. Watching a horse gallop, the full force of his weight bearing down on those slender legs and the springing action of the fetlock and pastern absorbing the impact is truly remarkable.
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