eqs 370 equine evaluation and selection lecture 3
TRANSCRIPT
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 1/41
Chest and Back
Lesson 3
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 2/41
Objectives Define and discuss conformational ideals
and faults of the chest and back
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 3/41
Thorax/Body Function
Houses vital organs of the body
Spine on dorsal (top)
Ribs on lateral (sides)
Cartilage and breastbone on ventral
(bottom)
Need abundance of room for lungs
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 4/41
Thorax/Body
A horse that is 14.2 hh tall should have a
girth of 72 inches
An increase of one inch, increases ability
of horse to intake air (more lung space for
expansion)
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 5/41
Thorax/Body
To appraise visually:
Look at floor of body at the girth to the ground
Look at the floor of the body to the top of thewithers
These two distances should be the same
From the front look for ³spring of rib´
Look at chest width and depth
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 6/41
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 7/41
Anatomy Review Ribs are attached at back to the vertebrae
Attached to sternum²creates floor of
chest cavity
Chest = breast
Oval
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 8/41
Anatomy Review Ribs = 17 to 19
Sternal ribs attach to breast bone
Floating ribs²last one or two pairs
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 9/41
Chest Shape Varies
Wide, Narrow, Deep, Shallow
Ideally: from front²wider on bottom than
top
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 10/41
Ideal ³Spring to ribs´ Front view and side view
Largest part of barrel just caudal to girth
Favorable characteristic
Promote breathing/air intake
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 11/41
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 12/41
Slab-sided Side and front view
Lack of spring to the rib
Flat across entire barrel
Ribs are adequate in length
Common fault Less room for lungs to expand
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 13/41
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 14/41
Objectives Define and discuss conformational ideals
and faults of the chest and back
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 15/41
Function of Chest Shape Related to lung function
Shape = angle of rib + degree of curve +
point at which curve is most pronounced
Two shapes = efficiency for breathing
Affects stamina
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 16/41
Barrel Chest Efficient conformation
Round
Symmetrical from both sides
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 17/41
Deep Chest Should be symmetrical
Deep top to bottom
Flatter on sides but NOT lacking in spring
of rib!
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 18/41
Narrow Chest²fault Narrow in front
Lacks shoulder development
Difficult to carry rider weight
Evaluate at the breast!
Harder to condition Other faults
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 19/41
Too-wide chest²fault
³Bulldog look´
Restricted at elbow and scapula
Different from well-sprung rib
Decreased speed/agility
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 20/41
Chest muscling Inverted ³V´
Slight bulge
Breed specific
Hard to view w/o front limbs
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 21/41
Back Conformation
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 22/41
Back Conformation Withstands stress
Driven or ridden
Support +25% of own body weight
Relatively inflexible from withers to tail(dorsally to ventrally)
Fusions common result of stress in lumbar region
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 23/41
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 24/41
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 25/41
Back Conformation²ideal Medium in length
Relatively flat
Well muscled
Wide enough for saddle fit
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 26/41
Withers Thoracic vertebrae
Point of attachment
Should be visible, well-muscled and blend
into the back and neck
Several faults are due to muscling or bone
structure
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 27/41
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 28/41
Prominent or High Withers Withers (8th to 12th thoracic vertebrate) are
excessively long and angle backward
Bones slant toward rear/high
Mostly TB, SB and some warmblood
Often accompanies a sloping shoulder
Not a fault if balanced, and well-muscled
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 29/41
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 30/41
Mutton Withers
Flat and wide withers created by shortspine processes of vertebrate
Appearance of no withers Common
Horse is less able to lift the back and
withers Difficult to hold a saddle
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 31/41
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 32/41
Hollow behind withers
³Shelf ́ or hollow caudal to the withers
Common fault
Often causes saddle-related soreness
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 33/41
Back Conformation
Measured from the peak of withers to the
peak of the croup
Should be ~1/3 of overall body
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 34/41
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 35/41
Depth of Back
Evaluated from the lowest point of the
horse¶s back to the abdomen
Can vary along with musculature
Don¶t confuse with obesity!
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 36/41
Long Back
Exceeds 1/3 of total body length
Common fault
Often gaited horses and TB
Flexible, but difficult to elevate
Loins are often weak and sight of soreness
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 37/41
Short Back
Less than 1/3 of total body length
Common fault
More common in QH, Arabian, Warmblood
Can lack flexibility, but is often more agile
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 38/41
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 39/41
Tucked up, lady waisted, herring
gutted, wasp-waisted Side view
Waist (beneath flanks)
Angular, narrow, tucked up
Limited contraction of abdominals (both
training and conformational fault)
8/8/2019 EQS 370 Equine Evaluation and Selection Lecture 3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/eqs-370-equine-evaluation-and-selection-lecture-3 40/41
Sway backed, hollow backed,
Down in the back Back dips noticeably lower in the center of
the back
Generally results in high head carriage,neck stiffness
Develops because of :
Age Poor musculature/riding
Genetics
Breeding/Broodmares