Horses' Legs

SassyAngel · 05-02-2005, 11:10 AM

What do most perfer for legs?? Benefits come from straight legs and not so straight legs. I know for my reiners, I would like it if the knees were a bit buck kneed to help with the bendin' of the knees. Plus, it's not so much stress on the legs. It would also help if they were a bit sickle hocked, so they can get their legs further under them. So, what does everyone perfer?

Bubba · 05-02-2005, 01:06 PM

The only leg conformation that doesn't immediately create a weak leg is slight cow hocks. Draft horse breeders often prefer slight cow hocks for horses to pull, but buck knees will be weak and stressed, *less* able to run barrels for long, and sickle hocks are the same. It doesn't allow the leg to get further under the horse; it just puts more stress on the back of that leg.

AWerner · 05-02-2005, 07:39 PM

I prefer correct legs, as it is the healthiest option. Even cow hocks can cause interference.

Cowgirl2135 · 05-02-2005, 08:44 PM

I ride reiners and I prefer straight legged

madvoice · 05-03-2005, 06:03 AM

Straight legs through and through

*Psylocke* · 05-03-2005, 06:05 AM

Straight legs all the way

Psy

JumpsxGlory · 05-03-2005, 07:24 AM

Straight legged!

RickB. · 05-03-2005, 07:33 AM

While many humans find certain conformation faults desireable because of the job they want the horse to do, I can pretty much guarantee you that the horse does not find conformation faults desireable.

And, neither does the farrier! 8-(

Rick

I LUV BESS · 05-03-2005, 07:36 AM

i prefur straight, correct legs. others wouldnt take the strain of eventing...

SassyAngel · 05-03-2005, 06:47 PM

While many of you prefer straight legs, even the straight legged horses are completely straight. For instance, I know a few horses' legs are perfectly straight, but their feet are crooked... I don't know how to explain it.. like the inside of the hoof rolls under, b/c the foot is crooked! It's weird, but it doesn't hinder the horse's performance. Plus, that's the problem with ridin' halter horses.. their confirmation is nearly flawless, so they ride rougher than others, and can't handle the ridin' like others.

View Poll Results: How do you perfer the legs?
straight legs	31	96.88%
sickle hocked and buck kneed slightly	1	3.13%
Post legged and bench kneed slightly	0	0%
other	3	9.38%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 32. You may not vote on this poll

05-02-2005, 11:10 AM	#1
SassyAngel Full Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Chase, KS Posts: 264 Images: 3	Horses' Legs What do most perfer for legs?? Benefits come from straight legs and not so straight legs. I know for my reiners, I would like it if the knees were a bit buck kneed to help with the bendin' of the knees. Plus, it's not so much stress on the legs. It would also help if they were a bit sickle hocked, so they can get their legs further under them. So, what does everyone perfer?

05-02-2005, 08:44 PM	#4
Cowgirl2135 Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: California, USA Posts: 3,460 Images: 32	I ride reiners and I prefer straight legged __________________ My Quarter Horse is better than your 4th level dressage horse!

05-03-2005, 06:03 AM	#5
madvoice Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: Humpty Doo, Northern Territory, Australia Posts: 11,257 Images: 281	Straight legs through and through __________________ Sep 1997 - 15 Jan 2006 ~Fry Baby I'll Miss You~ I'm not a complete idiot.. Some parts are missing Owner of a lazy TB This is my shiny thing, and if you try and take it off me, I may have to eat you!

05-03-2005, 06:05 AM	#6
Psylocke Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: I.....AM....CANADIAN! Posts: 5,158 Images: 70 Blog Entries: 32	Straight legs all the way Psy __________________ You just have to consider the possibility that everyone else may be wrong -- Sean Penn I've been snowballed.....twice!

05-02-2005, 01:06 PM	#2
Bubba Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 318	The only leg conformation that doesn't immediately create a weak leg is slight cow hocks. Draft horse breeders often prefer slight cow hocks for horses to pull, but buck knees will be weak and stressed, less able to run barrels for long, and sickle hocks are the same. It doesn't allow the leg to get further under the horse; it just puts more stress on the back of that leg.

05-02-2005, 07:39 PM	#3
AWerner Full Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 90	I prefer correct legs, as it is the healthiest option. Even cow hocks can cause interference.

05-03-2005, 07:24 AM	#7
JumpsxGlory Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 9,406 Images: 1130 Blog Entries: 2	Straight legged! __________________ "Success will only come to the dressage rider who wins the friendship of his/her four-legged partner and turns him into a ally"~Alois Podhajsky 100% D-R-E-S-S-A-G-E Carpe Diem (Ollie) Dressage Gelding

05-03-2005, 07:33 AM	#8
RickB. Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Champaign, Illinois Posts: 3,222	While many humans find certain conformation faults desireable because of the job they want the horse to do, I can pretty much guarantee you that the horse does not find conformation faults desireable. And, neither does the farrier! 8-( Rick __________________ Rick Burten, CJF, CNBBT/F, RMF Je pense, donc je suis; Sarcasm supplied at no additional charge......

05-03-2005, 07:36 AM	#9
I LUV BESS Senior Member+ Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: uhhh... i think its somewhere called england lol Posts: 8,732 Images: 438	i prefur straight, correct legs. others wouldnt take the strain of eventing... __________________ *~Danielle~* ~♥~ Lepicure; Cambridge Paramour; Midnight Dancer; Pure Chance ~♥~ EventingFTW

05-03-2005, 06:47 PM	#10
SassyAngel Full Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Chase, KS Posts: 264 Images: 3	While many of you prefer straight legs, even the straight legged horses are completely straight. For instance, I know a few horses' legs are perfectly straight, but their feet are crooked... I don't know how to explain it.. like the inside of the hoof rolls under, b/c the foot is crooked! It's weird, but it doesn't hinder the horse's performance. Plus, that's the problem with ridin' halter horses.. their confirmation is nearly flawless, so they ride rougher than others, and can't handle the ridin' like others.

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