A vertical line from the buttocks runs down the back of the hock and the lower leg.

A vertical line down the cannon bone just touches the back of the heel.

- This type of horse may have difficult getting its legs forward and around the rib cage. A slight toed-out condition is beneficial.

The distance between the centerlines of the feet is less than the thighs, forming a 'v' shape.

Yes, the horse may also be toed-in or toed-out.

Where does a base narrow hind horse load its foot?

What stresses does this put on the limb?

It will bear more weight on the lateral side.

The lateral limb will be under constant tension strain. Excessive strain on bones, joints and ligaments.

The hocks bow outward, causing soreness

How does a base narrow hind horse move?

What issues an be expected on uneven terrain or with an unsteady rider?

It will rope walk.

It may experience limb interference.

The horse will be unsteady in a trailer.

Stepping on the medial side of the hoof, loosening clinches and shoes.

Advice the client to use bell boots when trailering

Shoe tight to the medial side, and full to lateral side.

Short, tight clinches, especially medially

Good boxing, especially medially.

Use a lateral balance shoe. Fit full to the medial within the ability of the horse to keep the shoe on) and slowly extend the shoe laterally over subsequent cycles until even wear is achieved.

In some instances, a square to trailer may be called for.

Describe a base narrow, bow legged conformation.

Is this considered varus or valgus?

- The legs form a 'V' and the hocks deviate away from each other.

- This is a common combination.

- It is varus.

The hocks will be weak and subject to accentuated stresses.

- The hocks will not stand up to hard work.

- Compression/bone damage to the medial aspect

- Soft tissue damage laterally due to stretching

- Use either a lateral balance shoe or a shoe with a lateral trailer.

- The horse loads the medial wall.  These types of shoes resist the medial wall loading and distribute weight more evenly across the foot.

A horse that is narrow behind will have limbs that are closely spaced, but parallel.

A base narrow horse will have a 'V' shape.

The distance between the limbs at the origin line of ideal at the hips is smaller than the distance between the heels.

The limb deviates outward in an "A" shape

Feet may be well outside the plumb line.

What is a common form of base wide conformation?

What physical issues with the foot can develop?

- These horses are often 'cow-hocked.'

- Flaring due to foot loading

- Sheared heels

- Pay attention to removing flares

- Trim feet level

- Shoe full to the medial side, if needed

Describe a 'cow-hocked' horse.

A cow hocked horse has a medial deviation of the hock joints. Base narrow from the buttock to the hock, and base wide from the hock to the feet.

What sort of defect are cow hocks considered to be?

What other defect do cow hocked horses have and what sort of defect is it?

Cow Hocks and an angular limb deformity (ALD).

Cow hocked horses are also toed-out, which is a rotational deviation.

The hocks will suffer compression/bone damage laterally

The hocks will have soft tissue damage medially due to stretching.

A cow hocked horse will have a pronounced medial deviation of the hocks.

The distal aspect of the cannon bones will deviate laterally from the hock down. 

 The base narrow toed-out horse is just toed out.

- Well balanced

- Angle of the stifle and hock are neither too straight or too angular in relationship to each other

- Musculature should not end abruptly at the stifle. It should continue with good development down the tibia and taper into the hock.

Where should an ideal conformation line run on a hind lateral (side) view?

Where should a line from the hip joint intersect the foot?

A line from the back of the hip should hit the point of the hock, down the plantar (rear) cannon bone, and intersect the ground 3 to 4 inches behind the heel.

Halfway between the heel and the toe.

This is called the 'park' position.

It is common to Tennessee Walking Horses and American Saddlebreds.

If it occurs naturally, it is a conformation defect.

A flat, normal trim

Use a plain, flat shoe

It is also called 'post-legged.'

The hock and stifle have very little angle

The tibia is more upright.

It will have difficulty engaging the hind limbs and lower back.

This reduces the power and swing of the hind legs

The horse will not be very athletic.

How does a Straight Behind (Post-legged) horse tend to have its feet land?

What issues does this cause?

The  horse will tend to 'stab' its feet into the ground, especially if worked.

Quarter cracks and bruising of the foot.

- Bog Spavin

- Upper fixation of the patella (stifled)

- The cannon bone deviates forward and gets further from the plumb line as it nears the heel.

- 'Curby' hocks

The further the heel is from the plumb line, the more severe the condition.

- Bog Spavin

- Bone Spavin

- Thoroughpin

- Curb

What are the major considerations when shoeing a sickle hocked horse?

- Breakover and heel support

A horse has a significant case of sickle hocks.

What portion of the foot is of most concern?

What type of shoe may be recommended?

- Supporting the heels will be of concern

- Square toe with extended heels

- Egg bar

A horse is sickle hocked, base narrow and toed out.

What issues would you expect?

How should you shoe for this?

- The horse will have major lameness issues due to the stresses from the defects.

- Square toe and trailer (breakover, heel support)

- Square toe egg bars

A horse is sickle hocked, base narrow, and toed-out.

What issues might you expect?

What type of shoeing?

- Hind limb interference due to winging in.

Use a square toe and a trailer.

Fit tight medially if interference is a problem.