Highland Pony Society Talk given by Jane Nixon MRCVS in November 2013 on the topic of Conformation, Breeding and Performance of the Highland Pony

1. HIGHLAND PONY
SOCIETY
STUDY DAY
TH NOVEMBER 2013
9
Jane Nixon MRCVS

2. Conformation
Breeding & Performance

3. We will discuss together
pony evolution
resultant structure and function
conformation and performance
specific conformation problems
how to avoid problems

4. The Horse
Some pertinent evolutionary facts
It is a
• Herd animal
• Galloping animal
– Chased ‘prey’ species. Fright Flight (not fight!)
• Defender rather than an aggressor
• Single limb bone column: on Tip Toe
– Pedal bone in horn capsule, the hoof
•
•
Grazer so requiring
– large head
– long neck
– capacious digestive system
Four legged, one at each corner, with
– no collar bone
– powerful hindquarters

5. The Horse
As a prey animal the wild horse had to be
• Readily aware
• Quick off the mark
• Agile, fast and balanced in asymmetric gaits
• Quick to return to grazing composure
As a domesticated horse the
• Fright and Flight had to be trained (converted) into
• Alertness
• Responsiveness to aids, (biddable)
• Capable in all gaits (increasing speed and agility)
• Not stressed under saddle
• Fit to do and to recover

6. Structure & Function

7. 80% of propulsion comes from the hindquarters
• Hamstring and pelvic muscle power
• Top line muscle power to lift forequarter “come
up in front”
• Good shoulder / pastern line
• Saddle room for shoulder blade sweep
Always view from both sides
Growth to maturity is judged by final height at
withers
• Brisket, ribs, vertebrae & dorsal processes later
• Limb bones to elbow close around 2 years
•
This age of this varies with breed
•
Ponies usually earlier than warm bloods

8. The Horse’s outline - Points are those of the skeleton
•
•
The surface areas – the jargonese description or name of the various parts
The “points”
– The landmarks at protruding parts of bones usually at a joint
– Visible and palpable
– Obesity does not hide the points

9. The skeletal top line and the bird’s eye views show areas
of bone available for optimal muscle attachment. i.e.
•
•
•
•
Flat of ribs
Side of dorsal processes
Lateral processes of lumbars
Flat of upper hind limb bones
– Ham string and thigh muscles “size”

10. Fore Quarters
Hind Quarters
No collar bone
Bony
Attachments

11. Conformation
> Soundness, ability, durability
• Based on underlying, genetically determined skeletal framework (eg
Skeletal “top line”)
• Unalterable after maturity
• Can only be ‘managed’ by breeding

12. Conformation and performance
BALANCE IS PARAMOUNT

13. CONFORMATIONAL FAULTS

14. AT MATURITY
Balanced fore quarter
Balanced Hindquarter

15. A balanced horse at grass
Able to graze without compromise of forelegs

16. Dynamic balance
•
•
•
•
ALL horses and ponies in order to
Survive and evolve
Whatever their discipline
Must have conformation that allows the horse
or pony to maintain dynamic , as well as
static, balance & allow the rider empathy
• Our recent gold medals reflects the increased
understanding and promotion of this basic
principle

17. Dynamic balance
• Must start at DAY 1and continue throughout
the horse or pony’s life

18. Optimising performance
• Conformation to perform
• Body weight and breeding
• Manageable variables

19. THE NECK AND TORSO
• Aim for the lightness of the forehand
• If the neck comes out of the top of the shoulders
• →
easy to carry head and neck with supple topline
• Neck pain may cause forelimb lameness

20. The neck and torso
• LOW SET NECK
• NECK NEEDS TO BE LIFTED TO COME OFF THE FOREHAND
• →
BACK STIFFNESS

21. CONFORMATIONAL FAULTS
•
Does not fill the eye on 1st appearance
– Unbalanced
NECK
• Crest fat
•
laminitis
Hollow in front of withers
– dorsal spinal ligament – weak build
up ventral muscles

22. LONG BACK – More Flexible →SI
Disease

23. ROACH BACK - Unsightly but not
usually a problem

24. SHORT BACK – Kissing Spines

25. “SLACK LOINS” → SI disease

26. SHALLOW GIRTH
POOR LUNG CAPACITY

27. THE FORELEGS
• MAINTENANCE OF RHYTHM IN ALL PACES IS
FUNDAMENTAL
• LONGER LEGS →
•
i
•
ii
GREATER VARIETY IN STRIDE LENGTH
EXTEND MORE EASILY WITHOUT RAISING
FREQUENCY OF STRIDE

28. CONFORMATIONAL FAULTS
SHOULDERS Breed susceptibility to
 Too upright
•
overloading
laminitis
poor saddle fit
Asymmetrical scapular cartilage
difficult to fit saddle

29. The Competition Horse conformational faults
•
ALL rotational and angular limb
deformities out 8/10 rule
•
Overdeveloped muscles
indicate lameness behind

30. NORMAL

31. BACK AT THE KNEE

32. BACK AT THE KNEE
Back at the
Knee
Normal

33. BACK AT THE KNEE

34. FAULTS PREDISPOSING TO SPLINTS
Offset Knees
Bow Legs
Knocked Knees

35. CONFORMATION FAULTS
THE FEET
• SLIGHTLY ODD FRONT FEET
• ESPECIALLY HEEL DEPTH
• NO HEEL SUPPORT
• WEAK HOOF CAPSULES
• SIGN OF LAMINITIS
• UNEVEN HEEL DEPTH → Uneven scapular height →
Asymmetrical Shoulders re: saddle fit

36. THE HINDQUARTERS
• The flatter the pelvis
• → More muscle
• → Greater strength and flexibility
• STRAIGHT HIND LEGS → Unable to come under the horse
• ACUTE HOCK ANGLE → Less able to carry weight
• TARSAL VALGUS → Risk of Pelvic fractures

37. The Competition Horse conformational faults
Quarters width should be parallel with thighs
HINDLEG
NORMAL
HOCK

38. HINDLEG CONFORMATION FAULTS
PREDISPOSED TO HIGH
SUSPENSION DISMITIS
Straight
Hocks
AS SEEN IN ANDULASIAN
AND PASAFINOS

39. HOCK CONFORMATION
Cow Hocks
Pre-dispose to
Pelvic Fractures
Sickle Hocks
Pre-dispose to
Curbs

40. ANATOMY
CURB
APPEARANCE

41. DEFINITION OF A CURB
• COMPLEX OF SOFT TISSUE INJURIES ON BACK OF THE HOCK JOINTS
• CONFORMATIONAL BONY ABNORMALITIES AND/OR INJURIES MAY MIMIC
AND CONTRIBUTE EVENTUALLY TO CURB FORMATION
• CAUSING UNDER PERFORMANCE AND LAMENESS

42. PASTERNS
• SLOPING
• →
• →
OVEREXTENDED FETLOCK
STRAIN UP THE WHOLE OF THE BACK OF THE LEG TO
THE PELVIS AND BACK
• UPRIGHT
• →
JARRING OF JOINTS ESPECIALLY FETLOCK →
WINDGALLS
ARTICULAR AND TENDINOUS

43. DISCIPLINE INDUCED ORTHAPAEDIC
RISK (AHT 2006)
• S.J. ↑ INJURY SOFT BELOW FETLOCK) REPEATED STRAIN ON
•
SOFT FORELEGS
) LANDING OVER HIGH
•
FENCES
• DRESSAGE ↑ HINDLEG HIGH SUSPENSORY ) EXTRAVAGANT
•
DESMITIS
) MOVEMENT AND
•
) COLLECTION
• GOOD CONFORMATION WILL DECREASE THE RISK

44. Conclusion
The good Competition Horse should
– Be well balanced
– “Fill the eye”
– Have conformation that gives the appearance of balance and comfort
– To allow him to express the will and do the job required

45. Optimising performance
• Conformation to perform
• Body weight and breeding
• Manageable variables

46. VETERINARY TIMES JANUARY 25TH 2010
“ANIMAL LOVERS UNABLE TO RECOGNISE PORTLY
EQUINES”
WORLD HORSE WELFARE CHARITY POLL
i) 50% could not recognise pictures of overweight horses
and many did not view condition as a welfare threat
JUDGES:
Go National Hunt racing to see fit horses
ii) Thin horses often the correct weight, but looked thin
compared to overweight field companions

47. LAMINITIS
• LAMINITIS
– CAN START IN UTERO
– CAN AFFECT THE THIN PREVIOUSLY OBESE HORSE
– BUT THE SIGNS ARE OBVIOUS

48. • LAMINITIS
• Laminae – Site
• It is – Inflammation

49. THE SIGNS
OBESITY

50. NECK CREST FAT

51. TAIL HEAD FAT

52. • HORSE WITH GOOD CONFORMATION WILL/SHOULD
• BE EXHIBITED IN CONDITION SUITABLE FOR JOB IN HAND
• THOSE HORSES WITH WEAK CONFORMATION ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE
EXHIBITED TOO FAT IN ORDER TO HIDE FAULTS
• I.E FAT HORSE IS INDICATION OF CONFORMATION PROBLEM

53. JUDGES
• ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY AWARE OF THE CORRECT BODY
WEIGHT TO PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS BUT MUST REMAIN
VIGILANT
• THE OVERWEIGHT HORSE WILL OVERLOAD JOINTS ESPECIALLY ON
HARD GROUND
• ↓ ABILITY TO GALLOP ESPECIALLY IN CHAMPIONSHIPS
• BE PREDISPOSED TO LAMINITIS

54. Manageable variables
• Dental arcade
• Feet balance
• Attention to detail from day1

55. THE FEET
The hoof wall is modified skin (epidermis) thus
•
It is constantly growing down from the
coronary band
•
Coincidentally worn down or trimmed
•
The whole hoof as judged at weight
bearing should be balanced front to
back, side to side, to give level foot fall
•
Should be trimmed to conformation of
the individual limb
•
It is subject to distortion by torque from
action due to poor conformation
and/or foot balance

56. MEDIO- LATERAL INBALANCE

57. LEFT FORE FROM BEHIND
OUTSIDE
OUTSIDE
INSIDE
INSIDE

58. How to assess foot balance, left
and right handed farriers
Well balanced foot
Unbalanced foot

59. HIND FEET BALANCE
•
MORE IMPORTANT THAN FORELEGS BECAUSE HIND LIMBS ATTACHED TO AXIAL
SKELETON AT SI JOINT
•
LONG TOE/LOW HEEL → SLOWS BREAKOVER → PELVIC PAIN
•
MEDIO LATERAL INBALANCE
•
→ HIND LIMB TORQUE
•
→ PELVIC ASYMETRY
•
→ BACK PAIN

60. A P HOOF BALANCE
• A P = antero postero =front to back

61. Back at the knee
predisposes to check ligament strain &
inflammation of the knee joints

62. Management
back at the knee & curbs
•
•
•
•
•
Reduce load ie body weight
Keep toes short and reduce shoeing interval
Extra length at heels for support
Graduated shoes , not calkins
No studs or road nails

64. Manageable variables
• Dental arcade
• Feet balance
• Attention to detail from day1

65. Attention to detail from day!
Producer/Farrier/Vet/Nutritionist

66. Thank you
•
• Any questions please?
• Or please do not
• hesitate to ring
• 07713342416 or
• Email jane@nixonequinevetconsultancy.com
•