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<< I have a couple of questions about your conformation discription
conversation to Bambi.
1. What to you mean by limb substance? Diameter Length?
2. What is a closed angle what is open? Is open more upright?
I thank you in advance for your time. I find this conformation
discussion very informative. >>
Dear Rhonda, limb substance means bone diameter, basically. Is the bone
"thick" or "thin" compared to the horses body mass. Think of a TB compared
to a draft horse--the TB has much less "bone"--the draft horse is bigger,
true, but picture the comparative width of their legs--the draft horse ain't
THAT much bigger. He has more "bone" to carry his weight on. The size,
width etc of the tendons and ligaments also play a part in this.
To FIND the limb substance--measure the circumference of the foreleg just
below the knee. I use a string, and hold this against a ruler after
carefully marking the point where the string meets itself--you don't want to
pull the string real taut, or have it real loose, when you measure. As
mentioned in a previous (several, actually) post, a riding horse should have
a cannon-tendon circumference of at least 8" per 1000 lbs of body weight. I
have been told by one in a position to know, that the Akhal Teke horse, due
to the unusual density and quality of their bone, can get by with less than
this--and generally have less. This is a rare breed, and the exception that
proves the rule--any other horse, go for that 8" or greater circumference.
A CLOSED ANGLE is more "v" shaped than an open angle. A post legged horse
(one with very straight hind legs) has much more "open" angles than a
sickle-legged horse (one who stands with his hind legs bent under him from
the hocks). If you carefully observe a variety of horses, you will see a
huge variety of angles in the hind legs--at the hock and stifle, some horses
have very little "bend" or angle--others have a great deal. If there is a
lot of bend in a horse's hind legs at the hock and stifle, and you could see
an xray of that animals bone alignment, the major bones of his hind legs
would form almost a stretched "z" shape--this horse will be able to collect
easily, and generally have a comfortable gait--he is said to have more
"closed" angles.
The horse with "open" angles behind will have a straighter looking hind
leg--his bone alignment will not be so "z" shaped. He's fast--doesn't have
as much leg to have to coil and uncoil, but he will have a more difficult
time learning to collect, which is an important ability for a riding horse to
have--helps him carry his back, and his rider, more easily. Many, many
racehorses have a tell-tail "lumpiness" at the loin coupling, indicative of
back strain. This comes from too long backs, a weak coupling to begin
with--and sometimes, not enough "angle" to the hind leg.
Just to make life complicated, too much angle at the stifle and hock is not
good either--this horse's hind legs are too long, in comparison with the
fore, and he's prone to interfering.
Hope this helps--feel free to e-mail me privately if you need more info on
this subject--(hey, I got "A's" in geometry--D's in every other math class,
but "A's" in geometry! Never could understand why my algebra prof. wanted me
to add letters anyhow---)
Trish & "pretty David"
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