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scott
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Post subject: Conformation not that important??
 Posted: Feb 08, 2011 - 08:38 PM
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Joined: Sep 11, 2009
Posts: 75
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| I was reading a article from a 30 year endurance rider in the USA and he said that conformation, can not make up for drive and forwardness. I personally agree with this, but it was interesting to read that a few experienced riders are letting the cat out of the bag. What do you think? |
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tpal
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Post subject: RE: Conformation not that important??
Posted: Feb 09, 2011 - 02:58 PM
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Joined: Jan 15, 2009
Posts: 125
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| For longevity - conformation is very important! I feel conformation is what makes them forward and gives them drive. I guess the way I look at it - if I wanted to do marathon's and had a hunched back - I'd have the drive to do it and definitely would be forward but don't think I'd last very long before I was completly cripled! |
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dessia
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Post subject: RE: Conformation not that important??
Posted: Feb 11, 2011 - 06:47 PM
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Joined: Dec 08, 2008
Posts: 934
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| Poor conformation means you have to "manage" more, be aware of limiting factors and pick and choose the rides and miles that work best for that particular conformation. There are some conformation issues I can live with and others I won't go near with at ten foot pole. Recongnition and management of said issues is important. I personally will not touch a horse with a poor walk, stride or impulsion. |
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nancyb
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Post subject: RE: Conformation not that important??
Posted: Feb 13, 2011 - 06:46 AM
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Joined: Jan 19, 2009
Posts: 252
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| Oh Boy ! this is MY subject. Scott if you take a short backed horse and your friend takes a long backed horse and you both are at the bottom of a long hill . You start walking (or any pace) up that hill, the short backed horse will get there first with ease. I guarantee. Courtney Hart was the first person I remember who did the measurements of horses that finished Endurance rides well. (His wife was Becky Hart - look up her history) Man Of War and several great race horses when died, their heart was measured and found to be centimeters LARGER then average. Arabian Horses (also Standardbred and Thoroughbred) have more hemogloben than other breeds. Hemogloben carries oxygen to the muscles thru the blood stream. For an average horse to last a long time doing great distances he needs 8 inches of bone measured around the smallest part of the front cannon. 6 inches or less from the bottom of the knee vertically to the top of the ankle. Big joints. You will find the first lameness come to the front ankles. The front leg bone needs to be flat looking from the side to let the tendon be away from the cannon bone. As that tendon heats up from miles of work it will rub on the bone if it has a narrow chanel to live in. This day and age of FLAT endurance courses lets one get away with flatter croups because hills are not a problem. In fact the FEI horses are getting longer from the knee to the elbow and the hock to the stifle. More like greyhounds. I qiut here. Nancy Beacon who could go on and on ......... |
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dane
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Post subject: RE: Conformation not that important??
Posted: Feb 13, 2011 - 09:04 AM
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Joined: Jan 20, 2009
Posts: 198
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| Oh go on and on I'm sure know one minds Nancy........ |
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sandy
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Post subject: RE: Conformation not that important??
Posted: Feb 13, 2011 - 12:42 PM
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Joined: Mar 09, 2009
Posts: 66
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Yes, please go on, Nancy
Sandy |
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jazz
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Post subject: RE: Conformation not that important??
Posted: Feb 14, 2011 - 08:42 AM
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Joined: Apr 16, 2009
Posts: 42
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I agree with the others....go on, Nancy!
In the meantime, allow me to share another aspect....
There is more than one thing to be aware of, however, when dealing with or choosing "short-backed" horses and that is a lesson a good friend of mine is currently struggling with. A little more research into conformation must be done in order to ensure you'll come up with the "right" body shape for success or you're just as apt to wear done or out physically, faster than ever. (She was warned that if his life continued without blanketing, etc. he would probably die from kidney failure implications within the year!)
Her shortbacked horse suffers miserably from cold - MUST be blanketed and stalled at night. His kidneys are MUCH closer to the surface and more dramatically affected by cold. Add to this VERY well-sprung ribs and saddlefitting becomes an expensive nightmare. The weight-bearing capacity and lbs per sq inch dispersal (as in tree vs saddle length) becomes very critical in terms of how the SI joint functions. Treeless saddles are more often than not advised against vs recommended. Heart girth, chest depth, croup style/size/length are also players in this game when it comes to dealing with the cold, being able to stay pain-free and forward moving. Becoming fit enough for trail riding never mind ctr or endurance can be difficult. This NOT my discovery - it came to my friend from an equine specialist vet with aa prominent university. Unfortunately it's also a lineage that never should have been propagated.
The sad part of it is - he is so intelligent and responsive, kind and full of try. Had she not been so well versed in anatomy/physiology and behaviour, she may very well have missed the early warning signs. I know if he'd been mine, and out with my mares, I'm not sure I would have picked up what she did. I feel so bad because I even teased her about babying him....
Ain't life grand! |
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rlsophia
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Post subject: conformation can not always be explained
Posted: Mar 04, 2011 - 12:44 PM
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Joined: Mar 04, 2011
Posts: 2
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| Because who other than Judy can explain the wonders and success of Duke? |
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dessia
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Post subject: RE: conformation can not always be explained
Posted: Mar 04, 2011 - 10:01 PM
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Joined: Dec 08, 2008
Posts: 934
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| Duke and Parker (who is even more extreme than Duke) have lordorsis and as long as your saddle fits, no issues. Just a nightmare dealing with the bridging. Not too many people would put the time and energy into bringing horses along like these two with their wonky backs. |
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scott
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Post subject: RE: conformation can not always be explained
Posted: Mar 05, 2011 - 02:35 AM
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Joined: Sep 11, 2009
Posts: 75
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Let’s look at it from a competitive aspect.
You want to place in the top five or better on the coming 50 mile race.
You have a horse with not so perfect conformation i.e. a bit too long in the back, cannons are only 7 in, and his neck is too long. (Not to mention that he has four white hooves!) (: But... He loves to compete; he has great drive and is quite forward. When you need more he is right there ready to give it. He gives other horses that I can kick your butt so back off, look when they try to pass him on the trail.
Now your other option is the horse of your dreams, when it comes to conformation he hits all 10s! But... this guy enjoys a more leisurely pace on the trail, you have to continually be on him to pick up the pace and when a horse passes him he seems to slow down a bit so that the horse can get in front of him easier. O’ yes and when you look at him in the eyes you swear he is thinking you must be nuts. Thinking that riding 50miles at this pace is anything but fun and if you had any sense at all, you would both be back at the barn with you feeding him apples because he is just sooo good looking!(:
Which horse are you riding? |
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dane
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Post subject: RE: conformation can not always be explained
Posted: Mar 05, 2011 - 04:25 AM
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Joined: Jan 20, 2009
Posts: 198
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| My guess is the not so perfect horse "will' likley break down and the"10" will pass your not so correct horse and last many many more miles. So to answer the question I'm riding the 10! |
Last edited by dane on Mar 06, 2011 - 08:01 PM; edited 1 time in total
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deanna
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Post subject: RE: conformation can not always be explained
Posted: Mar 05, 2011 - 06:47 AM
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Site Admin
Joined: Dec 03, 2008
Posts: 611
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If you do enough conditioning on any horse, no matter how lazy, that horse will get faster and more competitive. We see it all the time with thoroughbreds on the track. Most of us in this sport do not do enough conditioning to get our horses to that point (though the ones who hit the top ten regularly do). A truly fit horse has a completely different personality.
A horse with bad conformation will get worse with a heavy conditioning load, as they become less sound.
That being said... there's conformation and there's conformation. An ugly head, or a low tailset are not issues. Bench knees, badly angulated hocks, weak loins, and undersized joints are. And some confomation flaws are counteracted by other things. My mare has a very long back (she's a Standardbred - it's a breed feature), but she has an exceptionally broad, well-muscled loin. So she has never had a sore back. But she does require regular attention to her way of going so she doesn't hollow out. And there ARE light boned horses (less than 8 inches) who do well. But they are horses who have a good overall balance, well-formed joints, and move well. So they minimize concussion. Thus those horses overcome their conformation issues.
A horse with dangerously bad conformation should not be in endurance though. You are the one who is responsible for choosing a career path for your horse, and it makes you responsible for their breakdown when you put a horse like that into a sport that will break them down sooner or later. Even if you DO win a fifty. |
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nancyb
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Post subject: RE: conformation can not always be explained
Posted: Mar 06, 2011 - 07:52 PM
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Joined: Jan 19, 2009
Posts: 252
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| Well said Deanna thank you Nancy Beacon |
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scott
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Post subject: Re: RE: conformation can not always be explained
Posted: Mar 10, 2011 - 08:32 PM
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Joined: Sep 11, 2009
Posts: 75
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deanna wrote:
A horse with dangerously bad conformation should not be in endurance though. You are the one who is responsible for choosing a career path for your horse.
Good quote. |
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