Equine Conformation - Conformation of The Feet and Base

Conformation of The Feet and Base

Toe-Out/Splay Footed

• The horse's feet are turned away from each other
• Common fault
• Causes winging motion that may lead to interfering injury around fetlock or splint.
• As horse wings inward, there is a chance that he may step on himself, stumble, and fall.
• A horse that is “tied in behind the elbow” has restricted movement of the upper arm because there is less clearance for the humerus (it angles into the body too much). Reduced clearance of legs causes horse to toe-out to compensate.

Toe-In, Pigeon-Toed

• Toes of hooves face in toward each other
• Common fault
• Pigeon-toes cause excess strain on the outside of the lower structures of the limb as the horse hits hard on the outside hoof wall. This often leads to high or low ringbone. The horse is also predisposed to sidebone and sole bruising.
• The horse moves with a paddling motion, wasting energy and hastening fatigue so that he has less stamina.

Base Narrow in Front: Toed-Out or Toed-In

• The feet are closer together and more under the body than the shoulders
• Fairly common fault
• Base-narrow, toed-out: Stresses the outside structures of the limb, especially the outside of the foot. Causes a winging motion, leading to interfering. Predisposes the horse to plaiting. The horse tends to hit himself more when fatigued.
• Base narrow, toed-in: Excessive strain on the lateral structures of fetlock, pastern, and outside of hoof wall. Causes the horse to paddle.
• The horse is least suited for speed or agility sports.

Base Wide in Front: Toed-In or Toed-Out

• The horse stands with its feet placed wider at the shoulders, often associated with a narrow chest.
• Uncommon fault
• Base wide, toed-out: the horse lands hard on the outside of the hoof wall and places excessive strain on the medial structures of the fetlock and pastern, leading to ringbone or sidebone, & potentially spraining structures of the carpus. The horse will wing in, possibly leading to an interference injury or overload injury of the splint bone.
• Base wide, toed-in: the horse lands hard on the inside hoof wall, placing stress on the medial structures of limb. The horse will also paddle.

Stands Close Behind/Base Narrow Behind

• With a plumb line from the point of buttock, the lower legs & feet are placed more toward the midline than the regions of hips & thigh, with a plumb line falling to the outside of the lower leg from the hock downward. Usually accompanied by bow-legged conformation.
• A fairly common fault, especially in heavily muscled horses like Quarter Horses.
• The hooves tend to wing in, so the horse is more likely to interfere. If the hocks touch, they may also interfere.
• The horse can’t develop speed for rapid acceleration.
• The outside of the hocks, fetlocks, & hooves receive excessive stress & pressure. This leads to DJD, ligament strain, hoof bruising, & quarter cracks.
• The horse is best for non-speed sports & those that don’t require spins, dodges, or tight turns