Conformation Clinic-Construction of a Horse

When evaluating conformation, consider 5 major areas: 

1. Balance
2. Structural correctness
3. Refinement
4. Breed character
5. Muscling

Balance and structural correctness receive the most priority, as they directly affect performance.  Adequate muscling supports bones, tendons, and ligaments.  When coupled with structural correctness, muscling directly impacts soundness and longevity-especially important for performance horses.  Breed character and refinement are critical for breeding animals and should receive more emphasis when evaluating stallions and mares.A balanced horse viewed from the side can be divided into 3 equally proportional areas:

1. In front of the girth
2. Between the girth and rear flank
3. Behind the rear flank

A level, short back and coupling (the area joining the back and hindquarters) should be paired with a long underline.  The neck should tie in high to a long, sloping shoulder.  The angles in the pasterns and from the stifle to the hock should be similar to the angles of the shoulder and hip.  Superimposing a trapezoid over the horse's profile can help assess balance. (See conformation charts).

The column of leg bone should be in straight alignment and the hocks and knees should be set relatively close to the ground..  Muscling should be adwquately proportioned in the fore-and hindquarters, with enough volume to support the horse's frame.


Muscling varies between breeds, as does breed character.

Is Your Horse Choking? Learn How to Identify-and Handle-A Choke Emergency

Your horse shows no interest in food. He's coughing, heaving, and stretching his neck downward. What's up?  he may be suffering from "Choke", a condition in which his esophagus is blocked, usually by feed material.  He can't cough up the wad, nor can he swallow it.  (He can breathe, but he can't swallow). 



Signs of Choke
You may see one or several of these symptoms:

• Coughing and/or retching
• Drooling/Salivating
• Feed material coming out of nostrils.
• Head/neck stretched, generally downward; rarely, you may see a bulge on the neck's left side (where the esophagus is located).
• No interest in food.
• Distress, such as a worried look, pawing, and/or head shaking; choke can appear almost Colic-like.

What To Do

• Call your veterinarian Immediately-choke is a 9-1-1 Emergency!
• Ask your vet if they would like you to administer Banamine (to reduce inflammation) and a sedative (to encourage your horse to drop his head, reducing the risk of him aspirating feed into his lungs). And DO discuss with your vet-BEFORE an emergency occurs-whether you should keep such meds on hand and how to administer them.
• Don't try to feed your horse anything.  Remove feed and hay, so he can't inadvertently add to the blockage.
• Don't panic, which could panic your horse. Take a deep breath and focus on keeping him quiet, such as in a darkened stall, until your vet arrives.

What Your Vet Will Do
Your veterinarian will likely:

• Examine, then sedate your horse (if you haven't already), give him Banamine (if you haven't), plus an antispasmodic, such as butylscopolamine.  The latter will relax the esophagus and may enable your horse to resolve the choke on his own, by coughing up the food wad or swallowing it.
• If the antispasmodic doesn't resolve the problem, your vet will probably pass a stomach tube through your horse's nostril to physically push the wad down into your horse's stomach.
• If the wad still won't bodge, your vet may try to soften and break it up by gently flowing a stream of water on it (called "lavage"), taking care to keep the horse's head lowered so any back flush exits the horse's nostrils, rather than seeping into his lungs, which could cause aspiration pneumonia.
• In rare cases, a choke may require surgery (such as when an entire apple is swallowed and can't be budged via typical means).

Aftercare
Your vet will likely prescribe drugs such as a broad-spectrum antibiotic to protect your horse from pneumonia, as well as an anti-inflammatory to soothe his esophagus.  You'll be instructed to soak your horse's feed for several days to soften it, making it easier for him to swallow.


What Causes Choke?

• Lack of dental care (and/or missing teeth), especially in senior horses, which can result in improper chewing.
• Feeding whole apples or hay cubes, which can lodge in the esophagus
• Bolting Feed
• Dehydration
• Lack of water near feed source
• Intravenous injections in which drugs have leached out of the vein, causing scarring/narrowing of the esophagus (located on the left side of a horse's neck, near his jugular).
• Injury to the esophageal area that causes swelling/difficulty swallowing

Prevention

• Provide regular dental care (at least anually-you may need bi-annual care in growing and senior horses)
• Consider a complete feed if your horse has problems chewing. (Avoid feeding hay cubes in such cases).
• Feed 3 to 4 small meals per day, if possible, to reduce quantity at each feeding.
• Put a salt block or a brick in your horse's feeder to slow down his eating.
• Soak hay and feed before feeding to make it softer and easier for him to swallow.  And make sure your horse has clean, fresh water near his feed.
• Check your feed's expiration date.  Old feed may get dry and crumbly, even moldy.  If your horse lacks nearby water and/or has dental problems, old feed may cause blockage.
• If you feed in a herd setting, and your horse bolts his feed for fear he'll lose it to a more dominant horse, feed him (or the dominant horse) separately.