horse selection and use | Extension Horses

Parts of the Horse

Ashley Griffin, University of Kentucky Horse breeders strive to breed horses with acceptable conformation because well-conformed horses are typically more athletic and apt to be superior performers. But to use the systematic process you develop, it is important to...

Relating Form to Function: Horse's Rear Legs, Rear View

Horses, Selection and Use

Ashley Griffin, University of Kentucky Ideally, when viewing the horse from the rear for structural correctness, an imaginary line from the point of the buttock through the gaskin, hock, and hoof should equally bisect the leg. This straight column of bone will allow...

Relating Form to Function: Horse's Topline

Horses, Selection and Use

Ashley Griffin, University of Kentucky The topline of the horse includes the withers, back loin (or coupling), and croup. When viewed from the side, the properly balanced horse should be higher at the withers than at the croup. When the withers are higher than the...

Relating Form to Function: Horse's Rear Legs, Side View

Horses, Selection and Use

Ashley Griffin, University of Kentucky Correct hind leg structure when viewed from the side is delineated by a line that extends from the point of the buttocks down to the point of the hock and runs parallel to the cannon bone, ending slightly behind the heel....

Permanent Identification using Hot Iron Branding in horses

Horses, Selection and Use

Ashley Griffin, University of Kentucky Hot iron branding, also called fire branding, is one of the oldest methods of identification and is still utilized in some areas of the country. Hot branding uses an iron that is heated electrically or by fire to burn a brand...

Parts of the Horse

Relating Form to Function: Horse's Rear Legs, Rear View

Relating Form to Function: Horse's Topline

Relating Form to Function: Horse's Rear Legs, Side View

Permanent Identification using Hot Iron Branding in horses

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