ConFORMation 3.1.pptx

7/30/2019 ConFORMation 3.1.pptx

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ConFORMationThe Head

Breed Standards frequently cite:

Large eyes

Broad forehead

Large nostrils

Short mouth, thin lipsSize, placement of ears


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Forehead

A broad forehead provides increased sinus

capacity, thus there is more room for air

exchange through the air passages, and a large

surface area for facial muscles that assist in

opening the nostrils for good air flow.

Jibbah Arabians, slightly bulged.


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General Shape of the Head

Concave (Arab)

Straight

Convex (Roman nose)


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Ears

Well set, allowing for freedom of mvmt,

rotation (average range is 170 degrees)

Mare ears

Also used in Field IQ testing, ie: guide horsesEar Reflex Index- alert horses with a high degree of ear motility tend to be

more intelligent. A measure of the ERI can discern intelligence quotient.


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The Equine Brain

Horses are right and left brained

Linked by the corpus colossum (neurologic

connective tissue)

2 hemispheres (sides) dont interact well

(usually one side at a time )Impact on training?

Transfer time can be indicative of intelligence


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Eyes

Large- can see more!

Sclera- not unless indicative of breed

Pig eyes- aesthetic, but linked to stubbornness,nervousness, probably due a limited field of vision!


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Brain, continued

Size- grapefruit, walnut

Divided into 3 areas: Forebrain:Pituitary, hypothalamus, etc. , olfactory, emotions andLEARNING

Midbrain:

Visual, auditory reflexes and voluntary movement

Hindbrain: non-volition (involuntary) activityHeart rate, breathing rhythm, coughing, blood pressure, etc.


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Nostrils

Two Schools of Thought

Respiration during exercise lung and breath

capacity


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Throatlatch

More telling of respiratory intakecapacity

Windpipe, esophagus, blood supply,etc.

Mitbeh Arabian


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Mouth

Ideal is short, shallow

Malocclusions:

Parrot Mouth

Monkey Mouth


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con-FORM-ation

Blemish deformity - lameness


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Pasterns


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Weak Pastern


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Steep Pastern

* Does not absorb shock

* Produces a shorter stride, rougher gait

* Can contribute to unsoundness caused byconcussion

Ringbone

SideboneNavicular


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Ringbone

An osteoarthritis on between or on the small

and great pastern bones


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Sidebone

Ossification of the collateral cartilages of the

coffin bone


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Inside Look


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Navicular Syndrome

An inflammation or degeneration of thenavicular bone and the surrounding tissues.

Long toe, low heel

because of upright conformation

means pressure and concussion all the time

which leads to

contracted heels

which squish the navicular bone even more!


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Contracted heels


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Club Foot

Shortening of the deep digital flexor

tendon


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Coon footed

Angle of the hoof doesnt match thepastern

Stresses tendons and ligaments


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Long toe, low heel

Excessive strain on ligaments and tendons


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Balanced Hoof


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Front Leg Ideal and Faults


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Side View, Front Leg


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Buck Knees


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Hind View


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Hind Legs, Side View


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Sickle Hock


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Post Legged- not enough angulation


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Camping


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Chart


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Side Chart


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Rear Chart


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Differences.

Deformity Unsoundness/lameness

Blemish

Soft tissue or bone issue?Typically, soft tissue issues can be managed or treated usually giving animmediate lameness, but receding with healing though evidence seen in life long

blemishes

Can create a higher reoccurrence ratio or general lack of stability of area- neverunderestimate that a soft tissue issue might be indicative of more severe damage

ie: bog spavin might infer bone spavin as a result of degenerating joint

Temporary or lifelong?Osteoarthritis or ossification, however, in some cases may be damage to thebones causing the horse to lay down more bone, but does not impair the

horse long term- though the blemish remains ie: splints


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Limb Deformities

ANGULAR

Valgus- lateral (outward)Cow hocked, knock kneed

Varus- medial (inward)Bench kneed


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Growth Plates

Bones begin as cartilage and then hardened

by a process called ossification

Growth plates close or convert from

cartilage to bone fusing the bone end

(epiphysis) to the bone shaft (diaphysis)

Sometimes the outer part will grow faster

forcing pressure and causing deformity


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Forelimb Plate Closure

Pastern Joint 6-9 months

Fetlock joint 8-12 months

Uper Forearm 14-20 monthsShoulder 6-12 months

Lower Shoulder 13-20 months

Shoulder 6 months - 12 months

Upper Shoulder 18 months - 2.5 years

Point of Shoulder 2-3 years

Upper Elbow 2-3 years

Knee 2-2.5 years


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Hind limb

Heel 2-7 months

Pastern Joint 6-9 months

Fetlock 9-13 months

Hock 16 months -2 years

Stifle 2-2.5 years


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Rotational

Toed in or out


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Rotational (2)

Toed out


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Flexural Deformity

Contractural- can be congenital or acquired

i.e. over at the knee, club footedIf acquired, usually resultant from uneven weight bearing, injury, uneven

growth b/c of nutritional deficiencies

Ligamentous laxity- down in pasterns, etc.(some can self correct)


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Flexural Deformity5 month old foal, 7 days after treatment


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The Back

Average total of 18 thoracic vertebra (5

located in the withers)

Each thoracic vertebra is also associated with

a rib.

Average, six lumbar vertebrae

The Arabian will sometimes, but not always,

have five lumbar vertebrae and 17 thoracic

vertebrae


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Swayed Back

With age

Conformational

S ili D f ti


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Sacro-iliac Dysfunction

SIJC (sacro-iliac joint complex)

Ligaments & tendinous attachment of muscles topelvis and sacrum (croup) suffer strain & tears

(soft tissue)

Overstretching during falls, flipping over

Intensive exertion

Cast in a stall

Subluxation- partial dislocation or slight vertebralmisalignment

(skeletal)

Recovery?


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Symptoms

Asymmetric mvmt of pelvis

Uneven hind leg stride length

Roached Back


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Roached Back

Sacro-iliac stress tearing

Injury or predisposition relative to

conformation


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More on Roached Backs

This ventral constriction/flexion of the sacralwings will create stress tearing damage to thedeeper sacroiliac ligaments which attach to

dorsal wings of the sacrum and ventral wingsof the Ilium. This deep seated ligament pain(which is literally a major pain in the ass) willresult in restricted movement of the joint (any

collected work, which relies on suppleness &flexibility at the LS joint) and constant pain ata deep level.


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Hip

Down in the hip, knocked down

Affects gait symmetry, power


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Atrophy

Muscle Wasting


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Hunters Bump

Hunters Bump


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Hunters Bump

Sacroiliac Subluxation Dislocation of sacroiliac joint between vertebral column and pelvis caused

by torn ligament


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Wry Tail, Tail Carried to One Side

Indicative of a SIJC issue


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Goose Rumped


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Neck Conformation


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Sweeney

Caused by trauma


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Head Bobbing Inferring Lameness

Foreleg- head up when lame foot hits ground,

head down when sound foot hits

Hindleg- head downward when lame foot hits,

head up when sound leg hits


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Basic signs of lameness

"Head Bobbing" - When in motion, a horse will bob its head downwardsat the time of pain. If the front left hoof is injured, the head will "bob" andthe horse will compensate in the way it moves its body.

Sluggish and Unwilling to Move - Sometimes a horse will just be lazy, butit's important to note that if a horse is normally very active and suddenlyappears to be stubborn about performing as usual - a sharp eye shouldkeep watch for further signals.

"Flexion" - When picking up your horses hooves, feel for how well thehorse can move the leg without resistance - if there is stiffness and

noticeable pain when moved to normally bearable limits, this is anindication of what could just be "set-in" arthritis - or possibly an injury. It isimportant to note that horses that cannot stretch out as well as they usedto are not always classified as "Lame".


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Lameness stances

Improper Stance Depending on the nature of the lameness, a horse will often standdifferently then when "sound" simply to compensate for the pain and make itself ascomfortable as possible - just as humans do. Here is a few common stances and what theymay mean:

- Laminitic Stance - With laminitis the stance is usually one of front hooves forward morethan usual and leaning backwards

- Resting one hoof/leg - if trauma has occurred in one leg or hoof, a horse will often keep thehoof that is injured at rest, putting more pressure on the other three legs.

- Navicular Stance - A horse with Navicular has chronic pain at the back part of the hoof. Thisresults in the front hooves usually being placed well underneath the horse(backward ofwhere the leg would normally be placed) to help reduce the load applied to that painful area.

- Back Pain Stance - Often when a horse has injured its back, the back legs end up beingforward of where they used to be while at rest.. Back pain can be devastating to a horse -there is much to be said for the advances of equine chiropractic knowledge.


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SPLINTS

Medial vs. lateral?

Blind Splints

CAUSES:

Injury

Conformation i.e. benched knee

Overloading, strain, or concussion- this is the most common

cause, often seen in young horses


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Bog Spavin

Inner Hock

Synovitis

Could be indicative of other

joint/ bone issues i.e. DJD

* Long term blemish


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Thoroughpin

Both medial and lateral

Synovitis of tendon sheath,

involvement of suspensory

ligament

Indicative of strain


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Bone or Jack Spavin

DJD

Cartilage compression and erosion or destruction of the joint cartilage

Osteoarthritis or bone spur

Predisposing factors:

conformation faults i.e. cowhocks or sickle hockshigh speed, fast turns


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Blind or Occult Spavin

Invisible to see initially

Flex test will show it


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Capped Hock

Inflammatory swelling of the bursae (bursitis)

Blemish

Due to trauma


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Capped Elbow or Shoe Boil

Blemish

Soft when new, fibrous when old

Can wear a donut


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Stocking Up

Various causes

Accumulation of fluids (edema or cellulitis)

Poor or decreased circulation

Some cases indicative of kidney failure

Overfeeding of high protein can contribute


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Bowed Tendons

Tendinitis

Partial rupture of deep or superficial flexor tendon and sheath

Tearing of tendon fibers causes hemorrhage, which collects edema (fluid)

Discussion


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Discussion

Thermocautery aka pinfiring-Now outdated theory, antiquated, not endorsed

In my day we frequently saw horses w/ evidence of pin firing, as such noted

on vet checks

Rather, how might we (currently) manage or treat sudden bowed tendons?

(poultice wrapping, anti inflamms, adjustment of working schedule,

conditions, rest)

Long term blemish

Severe cases may have some lasting effects


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Windgalls or Windpuffs

Blemish, indicative of excessive strain

Rounded swelling around fetlock joint due to filling of synovial fluid


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Sesamoiditis

Not visible from the exterior

Affects fetlock joint

Painful inflammation of flexor

tendon sheath

f d


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View of Sesamoid Bones

Bones in back of fetlock

h l


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Stringhalt

Neuropathy, not mechanical lameness

C


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CausesSometimes if just on one side the nerve controlling

the lateral digital extensor muscle probably isdamaged. This muscle lies on the outside of the

hind leg, just above the hock, so a kick to this area

is the most likely culprit. For horses with bilateral

stringhalt--both hind legs are affected--a more

central location of nerve damage, either in the

spinal cord or brain, is likely.

Poison

U d Fi i f P ll


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Upward Fixation of Patella

High level of reoccurrence

Conformational predisposition

Th h


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Thrush

Foul odor

Black gooey substance

Bacteria

Soreness

Chronic lameness

S d T


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Seedy Toe

S d C k


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Sand Crack

Quarter

Heel

Toe

Quarter and Heel are more

serious as they may affect

sensitive laminae

C k t t t d i


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Cracks can start top down or vice versa

S l B i


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Sole Bruises

Aka stone bruises, contusions

Predisposing factor flat feet

Ab


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Abscesses

Documents

ConFORMation 3.1.pptx