Can someone explain "Flat Bone" to me please?

[Rainbowrider]

What exactly does flat bone mean? I hear people say it all the time, but never quite know what they mean by it?
Does it come with good breeding, good conformation, or something else? Can you make a horse look like it has flat bone, when it doesn't? Can you tell if foals have flat bone?

Sorry for all the questions!

 

[TPO]

Flat Bone is a type of bone in the skeletal structure as far as I am aware

Flat Bone

Hope that helps

 

[EarlGrey]

I'd like it explained too! I hear it a lot with cob showing. Apparently Earl has ' good, flat bone!' I always presumed it meant he had nice clean legs/bone, no splints, bumps etc

 

[TPO]

Sounds like I'm barking up the totally wrong tree then

 

[Rainbowrider]

Oh good, at least I'm not the only one!

 

[EarlGrey]

Well I'm probably completely wrong!

 

[Rainbowrider]

ummm, maybe. It is usually connected to showing, or describing horses. eg as earl said above "he has good flat bone"

 

[TPO]

[ QUOTE ]
ummm, maybe. It is usually connected to showing, or describing horses. eg as earl said above "he has good flat bone"

[/ QUOTE ]

Oops

thought as much! Just had anatomy over load and one track mind

 

[LizzieJ]

I've always thought it is a sign of quality and the wording is a bit of a misnomer, the flexor tendons should be well defined and similar size to the cannon bone giving the impression of 'flat bone' when viewed from the side. I could be totally wrong though

 

[minesadouble]

'Flat Bone', as LizzieJ states refers to bone from knee or hock to fetlocks having a 'flat' rather than a 'rounded' apearance. You will also sometimes hear judges referring to flat joints which is also preferential to joints having a 'rounded' appearance.

 

[PapaFrita]

What minesadouble said

Flat bone refers to nice, big, well-shaped joints (with no puffiness) as opposed to small, 'apply' or round joints. It's quite hard to imagine unless you've seen it and then it makes much more sense.

 

[Rainbowrider]

Thanks for the replies. So, horses with flat bone will usually be well put together with good limbs, and well defined correct joints, and show some quality.

 

[PapaFrita]

Yep

 

[onemoretime]

Flat bone is usually seen on a well bred TB as well as other breeds. If you look from the side its cannon bones should be flat rather than as the others have said, rounded. Round bone is often seen in Warm Blood horses. Flat bone is a sign of quality bone, although TB's dont always have as much bone as other breeds if it is good flat bone below the knee then this is prefered.