Driving and conformation

[Alex]

Are theyere any conformation faults that interfere With driving??? Like if a horse had a long back or cowhocks, would that intefere with its abiity to move?

 

[Kendra]

Actually, in my experience, both those faults can be pretty common in big moving driving horses!

 

[Alex]

I heard that with the drafts they wanted cowhocks... But what I want to know is are theyre any (major or minor) conf. fault that will interfere with driving.Thanks!

 

[Sue_C.]

There is a difference between the "close-set hocks" that the Draft folks admire...and cowhocks.

Close set hocks, is where the hind legs are straight, yet the pasturns and hocks are closer together than the norm. In cow hocks, the hocks alone are close together...and the pasturns are usually much further apart. This does not present a "straight" leg at all, and can cause interferance in the hind, if extreme.

 

[Ferrah]

A horse witha too straight shoulder will be short strided and won't move out as nicely as a horse with a correct or close to correct shoulder angle.

Also any horse without reasonably straight legs may be prone to soundness problems if driven hard or a lot.

 

[Alex]

Thanks Ferrah!!

 

[maestoso]

Some horses have great conformation standing square, but do not track up properly. If the horse interferes anywhere(meaning the left and right legs hit each other during movement) that is obviously not desirable for driving, or anytime for that matter. I forget what it is called when they do that, but its no good.

 

[Fred]

You are mistaken. If a horse has correct conformation he will track up square and not interfere. If the horse is base narrow [or toes in] the horse will most likely interfere. However, there are exceptions and some will widen out with speed.

 

[maestoso]

I am sure you are correct Fred, but now you have me wanting to go take some horses out and study. Ive never actually seen a mini interfere like that, but I have ridden plenty of horses that did, and assume minis can have/have had the same issues. I guess my comment was based on all the horse searching I have done, when looking for eventers, usually TB's. I would look at a horse and they would look alright why they were getting tacked up, and then as soon as I'd watch them move I'd get disappointed. I learned quickly not to expect much from TB's.

 

[tagalong]

Yep - minis, like any other horses, can interfere, forge, wing, paddle, track up, not track etc.

But I think that assuming all TBs move poorly is a bit of a quantum leap in evaluation. Conformation varies within Thoroughbreds the same way it can vary within any other breed...

like minis!

 

[Alex]

Thanks guys!!

 

[hobbyhorse23]

The WAY a set of conformational faults combines can make a big difference on how suitable a particular horse is to drive in my opinion. For instance a horse with a loooong back could have a good loin connection and such powerful hindquarters that they make up for the overly-long back, or a short-backed horse could still have such a tipped up croup that they can't round up and step under themselves despite good proportions. It really depends on the overall picture the horse presents!

The one "overall" fault that I would say makes it very difficult for a horse to drive well is being built downhill. That means their rump is higher than their shoulders and if you combine that with a low neck set the horse is going to have a very difficult time putting their weight on their hindquarters to collect up.

Just my .02!

Leia

 

[Warpony]

There is a difference between the "close-set hocks" that the Draft folks admire...and cowhocks.

Close set hocks, is where the hind legs are straight, yet the pasturns and hocks are closer together than the norm. In cow hocks, the hocks alone are close together...and the pasturns are usually much further apart. This does not present a "straight" leg at all, and can cause interferance in the hind, if extreme.

It always makes me cringe when people say draft horse folks want cow hocks. Cow hocks and a good hock set are two very different things. I think you did a great job describing it, better than I have done in the past.