The pastern is a part of the horse between the fetlock joint and the hoof, or between the wrist and forepaw of a dog. It is the equivalent to the two largest bones found in the human finger. It was famously mis-defined by Dr Johnson in his dictionary as "the knee of a horse". On this being pointed out to him by a lady, he gave in reply the famous quotation: "Ignorance, madam, pure ignorance."
Anatomy and Importance of the Pastern
The pastern consists of two bones, the uppermost called the "large pastern bone" or proximal phalanx, which is located just under the fetlock, and the lower called the "small pastern bone" or middle phalanx, located between the large pastern bone and the coffin bone (also see Equine forelimb anatomy). The joint between these two bones is aptly called the "pastern joint." This joint has very limited movement, but does help to disperse the concussive forces of the horse's step and also has some influence on the flexion or extension of the entire leg.
The length of the pastern is determined by the length of the first phalanx. The short pastern bone is less a determinant because it is smaller, at 2 inches in length, and part of it is encased in the hoof.
The pastern is vital in shock absorption. When the horse's front leg is grounded, the elbow and knee are locked. Therefore, the fetlock and pastern are responsible for all the absorption of concussive forces of a footfall. Together, they effectively distribute it among both the bones of the leg and the tendons and ligaments.
Matching Angles
Shoulder
The slope of the shoulder is often the same as the slope of the pastern. However, differing angles in these two joints will not affect athletic performance.
Hoof
The pastern angle should always match the angle of the hoof after it is trimmed (the angle will change as the hoof grows and may be off in a few weeks). This keeps the bones of the pastern, the coffin bone, and their joints in proper alignment, with a straight line running through their core. An angle broken forward or back increases the stress on these bones, joints, tendons, and ligaments. If the angle does not match, it is often an indication of poor farrier work.
Conformation
The pastern is evaluated when a horse studied conformationally, as it will effect the gait of the horse and the soundness of the joints above it. Traditionally, the ideal pastern of the front leg has a 45 degree angle. However, this angle has been revised to a slightly steeper angle of 47-55 degrees, as the traditional angle, although it makes for comfortable riding, greatly increases the chance of breakdown.
Because there is less need for shock absorption in the hindleg, its pasterns should be shorter and more upright than those of the front leg, to increase its strength (about 49-59 degrees, and sometimes greater). If the hind pasterns are the same angle as the front, or too sloping in general, then they are likely to break down during the horse's career, especially if the horse in employed in strenuous work.
A nicely-sloped pastern increases the likelihood of a long career. It improves the animal's ability to travel on uneven terrain, helps him withstand the rigors of a competition or race, and makes the gait more comfortable for the rider.
The length of the pastern is also important. The best length for the pastern is 1/2 to 3/4 the length of the cannon bone.
Long, sloping pasterns
Long, sloping pasterns are more than 3/4 the length of the cannon bone. They are sometimes bred for in a riding horse because they increase the shock-absorption ability of the leg, making the horse's gaits smoother and more comfortable for the rider. However, they have the distinct disadvantage of being weaker than more upright pasterns. This is because many of the tendons and ligaments that go down the back of the leg continue under the back of the fetlock joint, and attach to either the pastern bones or the coffin bone. When the horse puts weight on his leg, the fetlock sinks closer to the ground, which is a needed response as it helps to absorb the shock of the footfall. However, when the pasterns are too long or sloping it does not support the fetlock enough, and the fetlock may hyper-extend, possibly to the point where the ergot touches the ground. This stresses the soft tissues that run under the fetlock because they are stretched longer. If stretched too much, they may tear or rupture.
Medical problems that may result from long, upright pasterns include:
- Bowed Tendon
- Sesamoiditis
- A fracture of the sesamoid bones found at the back of the fetlock, should the joint hyperextend to the point where it touches the ground. This is especially likely if the horse is tired, such as at the end of a race.
- Injury to the suspensory ligament
- Ringbone, due to excessive stress on the pastern joint
Long, sloping pasterns are commonly seen in Thoroughbreds, Saddlebreds
Short, upright pasterns
Short, upright pasterns are less than 1/2 the length of the cannon bone. They are beneficial in that they decrease the chance that the horse will suffer from soft-tissue injury. However, upright pasterns increase concussion by transmitting more of the shock of footfalls to the bones rather than the tendons. This not only makes the gaits uncomfortable due to the jarring, but also increases the chance of arthritis and may shorten the animal's career. A short, upright pastern also decreases the stride length of the gait, which again makes the gait more uncomfortable and decreases the efficiency of the horse's movement (since he must take more strides per meter than a longer-strided horse).
Medical problems that may be caused by short, upright pasterns are usually a result of excess concussion. They include:
- Ringbone
- Sidebone
- Splints
- Bucked shins
- Knee injuries that result from concussion, including bucked knees
- Navicular disease
- Windpuffs
Short, upright pasterns are often seen in draft horses. This is because draft horses bred for pulling rather than riding (and so they were not selected for smooth gaits of a saddle horse), and because upright pasterns give more leverage to dig into the ground as the horse pulls a heavy load.
Short, upright pasterns are also commonly seen in Quarter Horses, Warmbloods, and Paint Horses. However, riding horses are more likely to have problems with upright pasterns than draft horses because they tend to work at faster speeds.
Due to the lack of shock absorption, horses that have upright pasterns should be kept off hard surfaces whenever possible.
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