Limb conformation of Indian Sporting Horse for Tent Pegging Sport

Rajkumar Gadpayle¹*, V. N. Khune², Rupal Pathak³, Yashwant Atbhaiya⁴, Ramchandra Ramteke⁵, Dhananjay Jolhe⁶, Shivesh Deshmukh⁷, Shabir Kumar Anant⁸*, Ashutosh Tiwari⁹

¹Krishi Vigyan Kendra Anjora, 

Dau Shri Vasudev Chandrakar Kamdhenu Vishwavidyalaya, Durg- 491001 CG, India.

²Associate Professor, Livestock Production Management Department, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Anjora, Dau Shri Vasudev Chandrakar Kamdhenu Vishwavidyalaya, Durg- 491001 CG, India.

³Assistant Professor, Instructional Livestock Farm Complex, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Anjora, Dau Shri Vasudev Chandrakar Kamdhenu Vishwavidyalaya, Durg- 491001 CG, India.

⁴Technical Officer, Director Research Services,

Dau Shri Vasudev Chandrakar Kamdhenu Vishwavidyalaya, Durg- 491001 CG, India.

⁵Assistant Professor, Animal Nutrition Department of ILFC, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Anjora, Dau Shri Vasudev Chandrakar Kamdhenu Vishwavidyalaya, Durg- 491001 CG, India.

⁶Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Anjora, Dau Shri Vasudev Chandrakar Kamdhenu Vishwavidyalaya, Durg- 491001 CG, India.

⁷Assistant Professor,  Veterinary Anatomy,  College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Anjora

Dau Shri Vasudev Chandrakar Kamdhenu Vishwavidyalaya, Durg- 491001 CG, India.

⁸Sports Officer, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Anjora,

Dau Shri Vasudev Chandrakar Kamdhenu Vishwavidyalaya, Durg- 491001 CG, India.

⁹Associate Professor , Veterianry Biochemistry , College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Anjora

Dau Shri Vasudev Chandrakar Kamdhenu Vishwavidyalaya, Durg- 491001 CG, India.

*Corresponding Author E-mail: dr.raj1606@gmail.com, shabiranant@gmail.com

ABSTRACT:

Tent Pegging is the cavalry sport in which the horse with rider has to cross an 80-meter strip in 7 seconds so speed is an important criteria for these horses but meager data are available about limb conformation traits of Tent Pegging horses, therefore this study was carried out to characterize baseline measurements of length of bones and angle in the limbs of 20 Indian Sporting Horses of Tent Pegging category. The length and angle of bones and joints were measured with the help of tape-meter and Goniometer by locating the anatomical reference points on the limb of Indian Sporting Horses. The measurement of the bone length and angle of joints were obtained which are specific for the Tent Pegging category of Indian Sporting Horses of Indian Army. The study revealed that the arm length represented 63.65% of shoulder length. Arm length was 82.30% of fore - arm length. Fore cannon length was 59.01% of fore - arm length. Thigh length was 95.89% of pelvis length and 80.60% of gaskin length. Fore cannon length was 76.51% of hind cannon length. Conclusively, the results provide guidelines of limb conformation for selecting Indian Sporting Horses for better performance in racing as well as Tent Pegging.

KEYWORDS: Tent Pegging, Indian Sporting Horses, conformation, traits, measurements.

INTRODUCTION: 

Conformation of Tent Pegging horse is one of the most important factors to consider before buying. The value of athletics sport horse depends mainly on its performance which is a combination of conformation, physiological and behavioral traits. It is the arrangement of muscle, bones, tissue, and overall body structure, body parts of the horse and how well they fit together visually and physically to create a high-performing, talented Tent Pegging horse.

These traits are divided into scored or subjective^1,2 and measured or objective traits^3,4,5,6,7. Conformation is the indicator of performance and orthopedic health of athletic horses since 360 BC⁸.

Earlier, measurements for conformation were performed with tape meter and Goniometer which is eventually replaced by photography, x-ray and computers or video recorded images⁹. Recently digital photography was used by⁶.

Subjective methods and Objective methods^2,7,10 were carried out for evaluation of horse conformation. Such measurements were evaluated over a live horse from photographs with determined anatomical reference points. Besides these, there is very little information regarding the objective methods for evaluation of conformation in Indian Sporting Horses of Tent Pegging category. Therefore the aim of the present study was to generate data for conformation in Tent Pegging Indian Sporting Horses.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

The study was carried out on 9 sporting horses (geldings) ranging from 5-15 years and body weight from about 350-500 kg. All horses were kept under similar management conditions, training courses, and almost join the same number of sporting events in a year.

Subjective evaluations of body conformations were carried out as described by. Objective evaluations were designed as the methods described by^2,7. Morphometric measurements were taken with a flexible tape as described by¹¹.

Subjective conformational trait evaluations

Animal stance: The horses were made to walk 4-5 strides normally on even surface and then made to stand relaxed looking forward with normal neck. The measurements of limbs were taken from the left side and front side while animal bearing its weight equally on all limbs.

Fore limb evaluation: The fore limb measurement was taken by an imaginary line (plumb line) from the point of the shoulder joint to the fetlock and dropped from the tuber spinae of the scapula should centrally bisect the limb down to the fetlock and end at the heel bulbs.

Hind limb evaluation: line from the point of buttock to the ground touching the hock and ending slightly behind the bulbs of the heels (Plumb line).

Objective evaluation of conformation:

The objective evaluations were carried out as described by^12,7. The lengths and angles were measured using tape meter and Goniometer.

Fig 1. Reference points and length measured laterally in Tent Pegging horses.

1: Shoulder length, 2: Arm length, 3: Forearm length, 4: Fore cannon length, 5: Thigh length, 6: Gaskin length, 7: Hind cannon length.

A: Point of shoulder, B: Point of elbow, C: Point of carpus, D: Point of fore fetlock, E: Point of hip, F: Point of stifle, G: Point of hock, H: Point of hind fetlock

Fig 2. Angles measured in lateral views in Tent Pegging Indian Sporting horses.

1: Angle between shoulder and back, 2: Shoulder joint angle, 3: Elbow joint angle, 4: Carpus joint angle, 5: Fore fetlock joint angle, 6: Croup angle, 7: Hip joint angle, 8: Stifle joint angle, 9: Tarsal joint angle, 10: Hind fetlock joint angle

Fig 3. Reference points, lengths and angles from dorsal view.

A: Right and left dorsal shoulder joints, B: Dorsal elbow joint, C: Carpus joint, D: Fore fetlock joint.

1: Breast width, 2: Arm length, 3: Forearm length, 4: Fore cannon length

The length of Shoulder, Arm, Forearm, Fore cannon, Thigh, Gaskin, Hind cannon were measured laterally (Fig. 1) and Arm, Forearm, Fore cannon, Thigh, Gaskin, Hind cannon were measured from front side also (Fig. 2). The angle of Point of shoulder, Point of elbow, Point of carpus, Point of fore fetlock, Point of hip, Point of stifle, Point of hock, Point of hind fetlock were measured laterally (Fig. 1). Front angle of point of shoulder, Point of elbow, Point of carpus, Point of fore fetlock were also measured⁶. (Fig. 3)

Statistical analysis:

The collected data for length and angles from the horses were tabulated as per standard statistical methods ¹³. The tabulated data were analyzed by various suitable techniques in IBM SPSS.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

Scientific investigations of relationships between conformation and performance have been established which reveals that the key factors in an equine athlete are performance and soundness regardless of whether the horse is used for sport, work or leisure. Routinely, the judging is carried out by experts in the field of equestrian sports¹⁴. Additionally judging is used for breeders, trainers and buyers to avoid horses of limited potential due to faulty conformation¹⁵, on the other hand, undocumented or poorly defined conformation evaluation makes judging very difficult. The baseline data of Indian sporting horses were collected to define conformation of horses of tent pegging category. The mean, with standard deviation, maximum, minimum along with confidence interval of the length of limbs examined in Tent Pegging Indian Sporting Horses were collected in tables.

Tent Pegging horses in the study have body weight and height that is 1% and 0.1 % less than jumping horses. The study revealed that the Tent Pegging horses are lower in height than jumping horses which is supported by¹⁶ they have researched that Crioulo horses in Brazil have shown tendency to decrease their height over the generations and this was further contradicted by¹⁷ that sport horses are becoming larger in height. Height is taken into account in sport horses but the actual performance of the animal is most important as shown by¹⁸. The selection by weight could obtain gains in height¹⁹.  The neck is 3% longer than the back in the present study which is supported by²⁰. Saddle position takes into account the shape and size of the withers, orientation of the shoulder and underline of the trunk at the level of the elbows.

The mean value of shoulder length was 57.95±1.75cm, mean of arm length was 36.89±2.37cm, mean of the forearm length was found as 44.82±2.42cm and mean of fore cannon length was 26.45±1.54cm, the values are with 95% confidence interval. Anteriorly forelimb displayed mean arm length 19.25±2.13 cm and mean forearm length as 45.75±2.46cm.  The mean of fore cannon length anteriorly was 26.40±1.72cm.with 95% confidence interval. (Table 1)

Withers should be prominent enough to prevent the saddle from slipping side-to-side, but should not interfere with the front of the saddle.  A more sloping shoulder will help position the saddle further back to help shift balance away from the forelimbs.  To evaluate overall saddle position, the point in the horse’s back where the withers join into the flat portion of the back is checked.  In an ideal situation, the saddle should sit flat, with the girth naturally placed in a vertical position well behind her elbows. If the natural girth line is very close to the elbows, comes to a very sharp “V”, or sits in a position where it causes the girth to slip forward and can make saddle fitting challenging, and chronic girth sores can occur²¹.

The mean shoulder joint angle laterally was 95.96±11.20^º; mean shoulder joint angle (front) was 104.94±4.06^º. Mean elbow joint angle laterally was 125.27±4.39^º, while mean elbow joint angle (front) was 136.14±17.10^º. Carpus joint angle laterally was 176.33±2.85 ^º. Mean Carpus joint angle (front) was 177.33±2.94^º. Mean fetlock joint angle laterally and Mean fetlock joint angle (front) was 143.40±2.85^º and 177.01±1.44^ºrespectively. (Table 2)

The study revealed that the shoulder length is 63.65% of arm length; arm length represented 63.65% of shoulder length and 82.30% of fore - arm length. It has been suggested that the length of the shoulder is also important²⁰ and as it is linked to lung capacity- allowing for a deeper rib cage. The findings in shoulder joint angles either lateral or dorsal measurements had differences in values and this could be explained to methods of measurements, which support the lower shoulder angle in Tent Pegging horses as compare to jumping and trooper horses in the present study. The shoulder can be an accurate indicator of a horse's performance as sloping shoulders enables complete flexibility of the humerus, leading to longer strides and greater speed²⁰. Horses with straighter shoulders and pastern angles tend to have shorter strides (Conformation of the horse, University of Minnesota extension). An open shoulder joint will be present with an upright scapula and more vertically oriented humerus. This conformation not only places the forelimb more in front of the horse’s body to shift balance to the forehand, but also leads to restricted forelimb movement due to decreased range of motion.  A more closed shoulder joint will be present with a more sloping shoulder and horizontally oriented humerus.  This would shift the balance back, allow for greater movement and increase the freedom of the forelimbs²¹.

The head should be connected to the neck to provide sufficient strength and stretch without affecting the air¹⁷. The underline of the neck should be straight and should sit high on the shoulder so that the chest appears vertical. Muscling in the neck should be long and lean. The forearm should be longer than the cannon bone, and the knee should not turn forward or backward when viewed from the side.

In the present finding the forearm is 18.37% longer than fore cannon bone as supported by²⁰. Fore cannon length was 59.01% of fore - arm length. Fore cannon length was 76.51% of hind cannon length. The cannon bone and body length were suggested to have an effect on earnings per race in 2-year-old male horses. In terms of body conformation, Banei draft racehorses are generally larger, have better balance, and tend to perform at a higher level. Freedom can be affected by the length and orientation of the scapula and humerus²².  If the elbow is place high against the thorax, it may be more restricted.  If it is low, it will have more freedom to move²¹.

Below the elbow, the carpus should be straight “like a pillar” to support the horse’s weight.  Ideally, the pastern inclination will match that of the shoulder with pasterns that are too long or weak, not too short and lacking shock absorption capabilities. The pastern/hoof axis should be straight when viewed from a line drawn through the middle of the pastern and the hoof (180 degrees) ²¹. In Horizontal balance refers to the height of the hind quarters relative to the height of the withers.

A croup that is too high will cause the saddle to extend beyond the withers. Long hind legs give the rider more propulsion with each stride, making riding more comfortable²³.

The mean thigh length laterally was 44.35±1.33cm. Mean of gaskin length was 55.02±4.03cm and means of hind cannon length was 34.57±1.86cm (Table 3). The horse’s hindquarters length and slope of the pelvis is an important area to evaluate, as this segment of the body functions as the horse’s “motor” to propel the body forward.  One can visualize the functional length of the pelvis as the segment between the tuber coxae (commonly called the “point of the hip”) and the location of the hip joint itself.  This should not be confused with the croup, a term that refers to the topline of the hindquarters to the top of the tail.  It is possible for a horse to have a long pelvis with a short croup or short pelvis with a long croup depending on the orientation of the sacrum, and the set of the tail²¹. The sacral inclination (slope) allows the horse to extend its hind legs and run faster²². This data led to the conclusion that thoroughbred horses have a larger sacrum angle than Arabians²⁴.

Pelvis length is 55.48% of Neck length and 95.89% of Thigh Length. Thigh length was 95.89% of pelvis length and 80.60% of gaskin length. The hind legs provide the propulsion forward and the front legs support most of the galloping horse's weight. With this in mind, there are special provisions in the hind and front legs for optimum propulsion and weight support. Furthermore, theses requirements will ultimately blend with one another and the rest of the horse’s body as a fully functioning system that keeps the horse’s limbs safe while running long and hard distances²⁰.

Shoulder, arm, fore arm, gaskin and hind cannon length showed increase in jumping as compare to Tent Pegging horses. Pasterns and hooves should be flat and aligned with the shoulder at the same angle to the ground. Additionally, the pasterns should be no longer than twice the length of the hooves²⁰. Arabian horses have short hind legs in the middle and high angle values will shorten their steps and make them risky²⁴.

The Measured joint angle of hindlimb laterally displayed mean croup hip joint angle as 104.88±4.50. Mean stifle joint angle as 111.45±5.94^º. Mean hind fetlock joint angle as 155.18±4.10 ^º. (Table 4)

A horse's speed and agility are greatly affected by the angle of its hindquarters. Horses with sharp angles and long swings of the legs are characterized by more movement and are generally faster. Its wide angle and short path often allowed it to pass horses without much effort²².

Principle component analyses were applied to investigate the effect of body conformation on racing performance in terms of earnings and the time on the performance test. Performance was significantly related to the principle components of general body size and weight of the horses²³. Medial or lateral deviations in the Carpus joint angle can cause lameness and splinting in horses⁹. Furthermore, a long tarsal (gaskin) and short cannon and low-set hocks are sign of an ideal horse²⁵. Though hind and fore fetlock joint angle and carpus joint angle were found significantly (P< 0.05) higher in the jumping category of horses. Thigh lengths and stifle joint angles showed significant (P< 0.05) increase in jumping, dressage, eventing group, than other groups²⁶. The femur is the most individual conformational detail in sport horses²⁷. Both authors agreed that long and forward- sloping femur makes it easier for the horse to balance, as it places the hind limbs under the horse, closer to the center of gravity.

The development of the hind legs is different from the front legs, so there are two rules regarding their angle. The hock cannot be too straight or too crooked; as revealed in the present study, it should be able to draw a straight line of the gaskin bone and to the point of the hip. When viewed from behind, the gaskin bone (between the stifle and the hock) should be slightly inward, but the hock should not be turned inward. The present findings also revealed that the cannon bone should be shorter than the gaskin bone and align straight up with the point of the butt²⁰. The findings of the present study revealed fetlock angle as 143.40. The angles determine smoothness, springiness and disperse concussion¹⁷.

On other hand, the better performing horses have straighter stifle angles²⁸. Furthermore, the most interesting observation in the present study is that pelvis and thigh lengths all had almost equal lengths in Indian Sporting Horses of tent pegging category.

Table 1 Descriptive statistics of fore limb lengths in Tent Pegging category of Indian Sporting Horses

Parameters	Mean	Std. Deviation	Std. Error	95% Confidence Interval for Mean		Mini- mum	Maxi-mum
				Lower Bound	Upper Bound
Height	158.13±3.14^b	3.14	0.702	156.66	159.60	149.50	164.00
Weight	351.95±30.80^b	30.80	6.88	337.53	366.36	308.00	420.00
Neck length	83.35±3.46^b	3.46	0.773	81.73	84.97	72.00	89.00
Back length	80.25±3.30^b	3.30	0.739	78.70	81.79	73.00	86.00
Pelvis length	46.25±2.54^b	2.54	0.569	45.05	47.44	38.00	51.00
Breast width	31.02±1.91^b	1.91	0.428	30.12	31.92	27.00	32.50
Shoulder Length	57.95±1.75^b	1.75	0.392	57.12	58.77	52.00	61.00
Arm lateral	36.89±2.37^b	2.37	0.531	35.77	38.00	27.80	39.00
Arm length front	19.25±2.13^b	2.13	0.476	18.25	20.24	12.00	23.00
Fore arm Lateral	44.82±2.42^b	2.42	0.542	43.69	45.95	36.50	47.00
Fore arm Front	45.75±2.46^b	2.46	0.550	44.59	46.90	37.50	48.00
Fore Cannon Lateral	26.45±1.54^b	1.54	0.345	25.72	27.17	20.50	28.00
Fore Cannon front	26.40±1.72^b	1.72	0.384	25.59	27.20	20.00	28.50

Table 2 Descriptive statistics of the forelimb angles in Tent Pegging category of Indian Sporting Horses

Parameter	Mean	Std. Deviation	Std. Error	95% Confidence Interval for Mean		Mini-mum	Maxi-mum
				Lower Bound	Upper Bound
Shoulder joint angle (lateral view)	95.96±11.20^b	11.20	2.50	90.72	101.20	54.30	109.40
Shoulder joint angle (front view)	104.94±4.06^b	4.06	0.908	103.04	106.84	96.30	115.00
Elbow joint angle (lateral view)	125.27±4.39^b	4.39	0.983	123.21	127.32	112.90	132.30
Elbow joint angle front view)	136.14±17.10^b	17.10	3.82	128.13	144.14	100.00	148.90
Carpus joint angle (lateral view)	176.33±2.85^b	2.85	0.639	174.99	177.67	172.20	182.40
Carpus joint angle (front view)	177.33±2.94^b	2.94	0.658	175.95	178.70	173.20	182.20
Fore fetlock joint angle (lateral view)	143.40±2.85^b	2.85	0.638	142.06	144.74	137.80	145.70
Fore fetlock joint angle (front view)	177.01±1.44^b	1.44	0.322	176.33	177.68	174.10	179.40

Table 3 Descriptive statistics of Hind limb lengths in Tent Pegging category of Indian Sporting Horses

Parameters	Mean	Std. Deviation	Std. Error	95% Confidence Interval for  Mean		Mini-mum	Maxi-mum
				Lower Bound	Upper Bound
Thigh length	44.35±1.33^b	1.33	0.299	43.72	44.97	41.00	47.00
Gaskin length	55.02±4.03^b	4.03	0.901	53.13	56.91	46.00	60.00
Hind cannon length	34.57±1.86^b	1.86	0.417	33.70	35.44	29.50	37.00

Table 4 Descriptive statistics of the Hind limb angles in Tent Pegging category of Indian Sporting Horses

Parameters	Mean	Std. Deviation	Std. Error	95% Confidence Interval for Mean		Mini-mum	Maxi-mum
				Lower Bound	Upper Bound
Croup Angle	136.55±4.02^b	4.02	0.900	134.66	138.44	133.50	145.10
Croup hip joint angle	104.88±4.50^b	4.50	1.00	102.77	106.98	100.40	114.60
Hip joint angle	83.65±4.86^b	4.86	1.08	81.37	85.93	80.10	94.40
Stifle joint angle	111.45±5.94^b	5.94	1.32	108.67	114.23	104.70	124.70
Tarsal joint angle	147.18±6.90^b	6.90	1.54	143.95	150.41	139.90	161.10
Hind fetlock joint angle (lateral)	155.18±4.10^b	4.10	0.916	153.26	157.09	142.90	160.70

CONCLUSION

In conclusion the Indian Sporting Horses are used in different sports depending on their ability to excel in racing which intern is affected by morphometric types of a horse. The horses after attaining maturity are trained for different games and as per their excellence they are selected for a particular format, this being a time consuming and tedious routine, the need for selection on the basis of conformation for a game can be a training, time friendly and cost-cutting process. The obtained measurement of limb parameter in the present evaluation provided a database for selection of Indian Sporting Horses with better racing performance and further studies are recommended for refining these parameter for performance and abnormalities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

The authors wish to acknowledge the help of Director General, Remount Veterinary Services, New Delhi, Remount Training School and Depot, Saharanpur (U.P.)India, 1 CGR&V REGT., NCC, Anjora, Durg (C.G.) India, 1 UP R&V SQN., NCC, Mathura(U.P.) for providing permission for the work  and essential contributions to the research. 

AUTHOR’S CONTRIBUTION:

R. G. and V.N.K. conceived and designed the study and acquisition of data. R.P. and J.S. Determined the reference point, visualization and, Final approval of the version to be submitted. Y.A. and R.R. entered the data and applied SPSS to the developed models and interpretation of the data. D.J. assisted in the writing of the manuscript S.K.A. carried the correspondence for the article.

DECLARATIONS:

Ethical approval All animal procedures in the study were reviewed and approved by Dte Gen Remount Veterinary Services Quartermaster General’s Branch Integrated HQ of MoD (Army) West Block 3, RK Puram New Delhi – 110066, letter no. 83206/Q/RV-3 dated 20 May 2022.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:

Not applicable. The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interests to declare.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT:

The Data that supports the finding of the study are available upon reasonable request from corresponding author.

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Received on 04.12.2024      Revised on 10.03.2025

Accepted on 17.05.2025 Published on 01.07.2025

Available online from July 05, 2025

Research J. Pharmacy and Technology. 2025;18(7):3345-3351.

DOI: 10.52711/0974-360X.2025.00484

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