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Lori
Member
Username: Maggienm
Post Number: 100
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, Dec 31, 2005 - 12:16 am: |   |
I have heard that the shoulder angle and the hip angle should match. I have also heard that the shoulder and pastern angles should match.
If a horse has a steeper hip angle than shoulder angle how is that likely to affect performance? This is the case with my mare, I hope to use her fro jumping and dressage.
She is a TB x.
I understand steeper pasterns can mean a rougher gait and more concussion on the joints.
Thank you. |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 14399
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Saturday, Dec 31, 2005 - 9:11 am: | |
Hmmm I have not heard of the comparison of the shoulder with the hip but the idea that the shoulder angle and pastern angle should match is commonly put forth. I have heard knowledgeable people argue both ways and personally do not subscribe to the idea as I see horses that perform well with different angles. I will start to look at hips and shoulders to see what I think.
DrO |
Shawna G
Member
Username: Qh4me
Post Number: 88
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Monday, Jan 2, 2006 - 3:22 pm: | |
Hi Lori,
I attended a clinic at the Quarter Horse Congress this past fall, and they talked about Conformation. They gave a handout, called "Conformation - the relationship of form to function" by Marvin Beeman, DVM.
When you mention the hip and shoulder angle being the same, they are referring to balance and no matter what breed of horse, if they are balanced, they have a better chance of being a better mover.
In the clinic, they divided a horse from the point of the shoulder to the point of the withers, to the point of the croup to the point of the buttocks. Ideally, the speaker said that if your horse is even when disected at these points, she pretty much guaranteed a good mover, no matter what breed. Another couple of tidbits she told us is, the length of back, should equal the length of neck, their heart girth, equal to their legs, and the the pastern angle equal to the shoulder angle.
I guess that would be the ideal horse. And as DrO suggested, there are horses that do not meet this, and they are still good performers.
I will see if I can scan in some of the pics from the handout. |
Lori
Member
Username: Maggienm
Post Number: 101
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, Jan 5, 2006 - 11:23 pm: | |
Shawna, could you explain a bit more where/how the horse is divided to determine evenness?
When measuring the heart girth is that from the top of the withers or the base and then around to the bottom of the belly along the girth line? It wouldn't be the complete circumference is the same length as the legs is it?
Thanks |
Lori
Member
Username: Maggienm
Post Number: 102
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, Jan 7, 2006 - 10:52 am: | |
I have heard a lot about the angle of the hock. What angle is this in relation to? In order to measure an angle you need a base line. |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 14470
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Sunday, Jan 8, 2006 - 8:45 am: | |
Usually you take the angle made by the two long bones leading away from the joint, in this case it would be the tibia and the 3rd metatarsal. Two angles can be measured here, depending on which way you go, and normally we look at the angle in which the joint normally moves.
DrO |
