This is a class of yearling performance fillies, so I judge them for how they fit the needs of their
prospective careers. Over the years, I have seen several horses overcome conformation flaws to perform well, but even though flawed conformation may be overcome from time to time, that horse will have to work much harder to be successful than will a horse with better balance and structure. A horse that is high in the hocks as a yearling will remain high in the hocks for life. Horses with hocks that
sit higher than their knees will struggle to be able to lift their front ends up and reach underneath themselves with their hind legs. They may be able to do it but will work much harder than a horse that’s level from knees to hocks. That high-hocked conformation may also predispose them to lameness down
the road.
prospective careers. Over the years, I have seen several horses overcome conformation flaws to perform well, but even though flawed conformation may be overcome from time to time, that horse will have to work much harder to be successful than will a horse with better balance and structure. A horse that is high in the hocks as a yearling will remain high in the hocks for life. Horses with hocks that
sit higher than their knees will struggle to be able to lift their front ends up and reach underneath themselves with their hind legs. They may be able to do it but will work much harder than a horse that’s level from knees to hocks. That high-hocked conformation may also predispose them to lameness down
the road.
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