1. The Importance of Anatomy in Performance Horses
Ashley Mount

2. Horses Horses have been used for centuries as transportation and work
There are over 300 breeds of horses ranging in size and shape

3. Anatomy and Judging
The anatomy of a horse is vital to their ability to perform the way you want them to
A horses skeletal structure is key to the way a horse moves
The most important structure on a horse is their hooves and legs

4. Feet and Legs
The “slope of the shoulder” is important to the how far a horse can reach with his front feet
The hock is important to the flexibility of the leg and allows the horse to take longer, more fluid strides
The pastern of a horse is the shock absorber of the horse

5. How a Horse Moves
A horse needs to be able to move freely in all his joints at the walk, trot, and canter
As a horse moves they use the power in their hock to drive their hind end underneath him to propel him forward
When we ride we teach our horse to “collect” themselves so there back is “rounded” like a banana so it’s easier for them to carry weight on their backs and get their hind end underneath themselves

6. Saddles came about when people realized that by riding bareback their horses backs would be causing them pain because their spines weren’t meant to have added weight
Saddle Fit

7. Eventing This includes dressage, jumping, and cross- country phases
Horses in eventing have to be able to jump over 5 feet and be fluid in all their movements

8. Reining
In reining a horse is expected to do some pretty aggressive movements that puts stress on the pasterns and hocks
A horse that is weak in either the pasterns or hocks will likely be more prone to injury