A Survey on Abnormal Conformation of Horses in Patna District of Bihar

Abstract

A total of 90 horses were screened in the equine survey which included stud of Bihar military police, horses registered for treatment at the clinical complex of Bihar veterinary college Patna and at different veterinary hospitals and villages nearby Patna. Abnormal conformation in the forelimb and hind limb were recorded. The abnormal conformations were detected on the basis of outline of muscles, physical appearance and structures of bones of a horse. The horses were observed from poll to tail and down to gaskin for alignment of the vertebral column, straightness and symmetry. Abnormal conformation wasassessed by viewing the horse from the left side and assessing balance by comparing the head, neck and forelimb with the hind limb and croup. Out of 90 horses screened during the survey, eleven horses were detected with abnormal conformation, which was two toe-out, one toe-in, seven cow-hock and one bow leg. The bad conformations in forelimb were toe-out and toe-in. In toe-out base narrow condition was observed and toes were pointed away from each other which are one of the worst conformations of the forelimb. In toe-in condition, toes were pointed towards one another accompanied by the base narrow condition. The most common abnormal hind limb conformations were cow-hock and bow-leg. In cow-hock, the horses were base narrow up to hock and base-wide from hock downwards whereas in bowlegs the line drawn from tuber ischii did not bisect the legs.