Corner The Humerus
he bone connecting the elbow and the scapula is known as the humerus, and it plays a much more important role in front end movement than most people are aware. In fact, many horse people focus on the length and angle of the scapula without considering the humerus at all. However, since everything from the top of the scapula to the knee operates as one apparatus, simply judging the scapula is tantamount to ignoring an integral part of foreleg functionality. Imagine in your mind’s eye several horses with
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identical scapula characteristics but with varying lengths and angles of humerus. Will they all move the same, have the same form over fences or be similar in lightness of the forehand? Logic and physics would dictate that they would not. As the top of the scapula moves rearward, the
point of shoulder rises and the elbow and the forearm move. No part moves in isolation. This can be seen on
Jumper
By Judy Wardrope
the photos (at right) of the skeleton and the bay horse in motion. The humerus plays a major role in determining
range of motion of the foreleg, length of stride, degree of extension, height of knees in motion and form over fences as well as lightness of the forehand. To add further importance to the humerus, it is
important to note that different lengths (point of shoulder to elbow) and different angles (rise from elbow to point of shoulder when standing) can be either helpful or detrimental for various disciplines. Our sample jumper shows the shortest and
steepest humerus. He also has the most knee action on the flat and is the quickest plus highest with his knees over a fence. He does not have the most extension, though. But, he was more than capable of competing at the grand prix level in his discipline. Our sample eventer also shows a steep rise from elbow to point of shoulder, but he has a longer
Eventer Dressage
84 March/April 2016
Conformation
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