page_title: Equine conformation
section_title: Conformation of the front and hind legs
hierarchical_section_title: Equine conformation / Conformation of the front and hind legs
context_page_description: Equine conformation evaluates the degree of correctness of a horse's bone structure, musculature, and its body proportions in relation to each other. Undesirable conformation can limit the ability to perform a specific task. Although there are several faults with universal disadvantages, a horse's conformation is usually judged by what its intended use may be. Thus "form to function" is one of the first set of traits considered in judging conformation. A horse with poor form for a Grand Prix show jumper could have excellent conformation for a World Champion cutting horse, or to be a champion draft horse. Every horse has good and bad points of its conformation and many horses excel even with conformation faults.
context_section_description: Long Cannon Bone 
  The cannon is long between the knee and fetlock, making the knees appear high relative to the overall balance of the horse
  Reduces the muscular pull of the tendons on the lower leg.
  Uneven terrain or unlevel foot balance will magnify the stress on the carpus since lengthy tendons are not as stabilizing to the lower limb as shorter ones
  Increases the weight on the end of the limb, contributing to less efficient and less stable movement. Added weight to front legs increases the muscular effort needed in picking up a limb, leading to hastened fatigue.
  Increase in tendon/ligament injury, especially when the horse is also tied-in above the knee.
  Horses with long cannons are best for flat racing short distances.
  Short Cannon Bone
  Cannon is relatively short from fetlock to knee as compared to knee to elbow
  This conformation is desirable in any performance horse
  A short cannon bone improves the ease and power of the force generated by the muscles of a long forearm or gaskin. Enables an efficient pull of the tendons across the back of the knee or point of hock to move the limb forward and back.
  Also reduces the weight of the lower leg so less muscular effort is needed to move the limb, which contributes to speed, stamina, soundness, and jumping ability.
  Rotated Cannon Bone 
  The cannon rotates to the outside of the knee so it appears twisted in its axis relative to knee. May still be correct and straight in alignment of joint, but more often associated with appearance of carpus valgus.
  Places excess strain on the inside of the knee and lower joints of the leg, potentially leading to soundness issues, although this is not common.
  Bench or Offset Knees/ Offset Cannons
  The cannons are set to the outside of the knee so an imaginary plumb line does not fall through middle.
  Causes excessive strain on the lateral surfaces of the joints from the knee down and on the outside portions of the hoof.
  There is an exaggerated amount of weight supported by the medial splint bone, leading to splints.
  The horse is most suited for non-speed activities like pleasure riding, driving, and equitation.
  Tied-in Below the Knee
  The cannon, just below the knee, appears “cut out” with a decreased tendon diameter. Rather than parallel with cannon, tendons are narrower than the circumference measured just above the fetlock.
  Affects speed event (racing, polo) and concussion events (steeplechase, jumping, eventing, endurance).
  Limits the strength of the flexor tendons that are needed to absorb the concussion and diffusion of impact through the legs, making the horse more prone to tendon injuries, especially at the midpoint of the cannon or just above.
  The leverage of muscle pull is decreased as the tendons pull against the back of knee rather than a straight line down back of leg. This reduces power and speed.
  Associated with a reduced size in the accessory carpal bone on back of knee over which the tendons pass. The small joints are prone to injury and don't provide adequate support for the column of leg while under weight-bearing stress.
  Horse is most suited for sports that shift the animal's weight to the rear or that don't depend on perfect forelimb conformation (dressage, driving, cutting).
  The Front Legs- The Knee
  Medial Carpal Deviation/ Carpus Valgus/ Knock-Kneed  
  One or both knees deviate inward toward each other, with the lower leg angles out, resulting in a toed-out stance. Occurs because of an unequal development of the growth plate of distal radius, with the outside growth plate growing faster than inside. The bottom of the forearm seems to incline inward.
  Any horse can inherit this, but it may also be acquired from imbalanced nutrition leading to developmental orthopedic disease (DOD) or a traumatic injury to growth plate.
  The horse is most suited for pleasure riding, low-impact, and low speed events * The medial supporting ligaments of the carpus will be under excess tension. May cause soundness problems in the carpals or supporting ligaments. Horse also tends to toe-out, causing those related problems.
  Some research is beginning
caption: Even in his statue, Seabiscuit was visibly over at the knees
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