Corner At Work


work. We may not notice the areas of stress on the anatomy. And sometimes we are just not looking for such things. The action photos we usually see published don’t clearly depict what a horse has to accomplish for a satisfactory performance. Understandably, eye appeal is an important factor for publications and in advertisements. Jumpers are usually captured sailing over the fence (no feet on the ground) and dressage horses are frequently shown in an extended trot or in a movement that looks balanced in a photo. When we


W


watch a dressage performance, can we really see the strain on the muscles and joints in various areas, depending on the movement being performed? When we watch a horse jump a course, do we focus on the effort before the jump? If these two photos had not caught these moments in time, would we have believed that the hind fetlock is that close to the ground in normal competition circumstances with well-constructed equine athletes?


56 September/October 2016


By Judy Wardrope


hen we watch horses in competition, our eye may not be fast enough to see how they really


Imagine what happens with a poorly constructed horse. These two photos were selected to


compare a dressage horse and a jumper and because both were in canter/gallop strides prior to the moments captured. The dressage horse has just been asked to collect further in preparation for a canter pirouette, which can be seen clearly if one takes into account his actions. He is compressing behind by flexing the joints— notice the stifle has moved nearly into his body and that the supporting hock is bent. His LS is aiding in supporting the forehand as are his abdominal muscles. He has shortened his stride up front by not


Conformation


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