Equine Conformation - Conformation of The Hindquarters and Hips

Conformation of The Hindquarters and Hips

The Hindquarters

Short Hindquarters

• Measured from the point of hip to the point of buttock, the hindquarters should be ideally at least 30% of length of overall horse. Anything less is considered short. Most horses are between 29-33%; 33% is typically "Ideal," Thoroughbreds may have a length reaching 35%.
• Insufficient length minimizes the length of the muscles needed for powerful and rapid muscular contraction. Thus, its reduces speed over distance, stamina, sprint power, and staying ability.
• Tends to reduce the horse's ability to fully engage the hindquarters need for collection or to break in a sliding stop
• Horse is most suited for pleasure sports that don’t require speed or power
• Often associated with too steep angles causing Goose Rump
• The point of croup is behind the point of hips, thus making a weaker loin and coupling
• May also cause horse to be sickle-hocked with the hind foot being too far under the body

Steep-Rumped

• Viewed form the side, the pelvis assumes a steep, downward slope.
• Uncommon, except in draft horses, but seen in some Warmbloods.
• A steep slant of the pelvis lowers the point of buttock bringing it closer to the ground & shortening the length of muscles from the point of buttock & the gaskin. Shortens the backward swing of the leg because of reduced extension & rotation of hip joint. A horse needs a good range of hip to get a good galloping speed and mechanical efficiency of hip and croup for power & thrust. Therefore, a goose-rumped horse is not good at flat racing or sprinting.
• Harder for a horse to “get under” and engage the hindquarters. Causes the loins and lower back to work harder, predisposing them to injury.
• A goose-rump is valuable in sports with rapid turns & spins (reining, cutting). The horse is able to generate power for short, slow steps (good for draft work).
• Horse is most suited for stock horse work, slow power events (draft in harness), low speed events (equitation, pleasure, trail)

Goose-Rumped

• Viewed from the side, the pelvis has a relatively flat, but sloping profile of adequate length, but the flatness does not extend to the dock of the tail as in a Flat-Crouped horse.
• The croup is exceptionally high and exhibits a sloping quarter and low tail connection, also with a sharp, sloping rump
• The pelvis is too far downward and too short
• Creates a low point of buttocks, making it closer to the ground, thus making the hindquarters less strong & inhibiting the stifle's movement
• Common in some Warmbloods and may be considered a desirable trait in some breeds.
• Often seen in Arabian breed due to the high tail placement; may exhibit levelness
• This conformation allows good engagement of the hindquarters, while giving the long stride and speed of Flat-Crouped conformation.
• A horse that is goose-rumped does not have enough swing and power in the hindlegs and would not be suitable for speed and endurance events
• Often associated with good jumping performance.
• Note that the term Goose-Rumped is sometimes used as a synonym for Steep-Rumped, potentially causing confusion, as the two conformations imply rather different qualities in the horse's performance.
• Horses with goose-rump also are more prone to hindquarter injuries
• Often associated with "Cat-Hammed" horses
• Does not severely affect draft breeds because of their short, slow steps

Cat-Hammed/Frog’s Thighs

• The horse exhibits long, thin thighs and gaskins with insufficient muscling
• The horse has poor development in the hindquarters, especially the quadriceps and thighs. Associated with goosed-rumps & sickle hocks.
• Uncommon, most usually seen in Gaited horses. Can develop from years in confinement.
• The horse lacks the development needed for speed and power, so the horse is not fast or strong. Thus it is not advantageous for flat racing, polo, eventing, jumping, steeplechase, and harness racing.
• The horse's gait tends to be more ambling than driving at the trot, so the horse often develops a stiff torso & back, making the ride rigid.
• This fault can also be attributed to poor nutrition and conditioning

Thighs

• The thighs are the muscled area over the femur bone.
• The femur and tibia bones should be about the same lengths, thus allowing for more room for longer thigh muscles; this allows for greater speed and power and for a longer stride
• Thighs should be well-muscled, long and deep.
• The inner thighs should be full and give a square or oblong look to the hindquarters when viewed from the rear
• The back of the thighs or the "hams" should be thick enough that they touch each other until they split.