Hind leg conformation. Examples of 'straight' and 'good'?

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ever_hopeful

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I feel a bit dumb asking this so bear with me
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I often hear the comment that a horse is "too straight behind", or "its hocks are too straight". Much as I examine different pictures I often can't tell the difference between okay hind limbs and ones that have been deemed to be too straight through the hock (from the side on view). Some horses have dreadful conformation and I can see then what the term means but in other quality horses I just can't see it. I find it most annoying that I'm ignorant in such an important aspect.

Is anyone able to post links or photos to demonstrate the difference? I'm particularly interested to know what a good hind leg looks like.
 
have a look at fhotd.com, there are a few on there with hindlegs so straight that you can't possibly miss them!
i used to have a real problem with what to look for in this area too.
one thing is that hocks need to be big and blocky, so there is room for all the little bones in there (sorry, not very technical!), you don't want small hocks.
if you take a straight line down from the point of buttock, it should touch the back of the hock and the back of the fetlock, but there should be a good curve inwards above the hock.
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DaisyJune08-1.jpg

okay, they're not standing up properly, but it shows what i mean.
a good length from hip to hock is great for jumping.
i've had to have a good hunt about, but this one is a fairly good example of an appalling hind end (on a nice front, shame)
http://bp2.blogger.com/_uT-i4wrm9Ec/SEgDa4K9oKI/AAAAAAAABx4/-lJMcjQWCV4/s400/shittyhindlegs.jpg
hope that helps a bit.
of course, you also have to look from behind, and at length of cannon bones, length of pasterns, angle of pasterns, etc etc.
oh, and you also want the impression of "well let-down hocks", not as if they are stuck up in the air... i suppose length of cannon bone determines this.
 
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kerilli that is a rather amazing pic of the second horse - makes me feel SO much better owning this:
maiden1306200805.jpg

Very straight, but not quite as amazing as the one kerilli posted!
(Please excuse her stupid expression and fat belly
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)
 
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if you take a straight line down from the point of buttock, it should touch the back of the hock and the back of the fetlock

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Ah yes, now I know this and that's easy to see if the horse is standing properly. I'm now guessing it's the positioning of the hip and stifle which ultimately affect the straightness of the angle through the hock. Am I on the right track? So to have 'good' hind legs the horse would have to have a good sized backside with a well positioned hip..... basically???
 
umm, it's the internal angles of the joints, the angle of the gaskin is determined by the angles above, i think. even with a very skinny horse you can tell if it's got a good frame and good hindleg or not, it doesn't need a "good sized backside"... hope that makes sense.
 
YIKES! Now those ARE bad. No missing those straight legs is there? Even I can see those. Cripes, and people plan to breed from these poor animals.
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Thanks that explains it. Yes, that's kind of what I mean to say but you say it a whole lot better
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Not to mean a fat backside, more a decent distance between the hip and say, top of the dock. Some horses have hardly any distance there so I cannot see how these ones could have the desired slop to their gaskin.

Thanks for all the links. They're very helpful
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Now you see, to my inexperienced eye, I wouldn't have said he (or sorry, she?) has anything screamingly wrong at all. Scrutinising, maybe minutely straight? Just a tad? But to be honest, looks fine to me and I wouldn't have picked it out unless you'd mentioned it. This is what I am finding frustrating. I just don't seem to have the eye others have.
 
Its a very masculine mare
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( my fault for naming her Sol )
I'm useless at Confo
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but others on the forum had mentioned she is too straight through the hock , so I was going on that basis
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Someone mentioned about conformation for different disciplines so i thought i'd meantion I've got a book called "conformation for purpose" (can't remember who its by and its in the other room and i'm lazy
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) and its really good and had just about every discipline in it. Although it doesn't explain why gelderlanders havea flat backside and are meant to be good coaching horses.... that makes no sence!
 
Yes, conformation for particular activity is relevant I'm sure. But I am gathering that for dressage and jumping a straight hind limb is not great? Someone said to me before that TB's are often straight(ish) behind so should I assume straightness does not affect speed? Or is the tendancy for their straightness more the result of line breeding and still not desirable in the racehorse?

For what discipline would a straight leg be less of a fault, dressage, showjumping or eventing. Think I know, but what's the right answer?
 
i'm guessing it effects quality of paces and maybe produces more concussion (i know upright fetlocks do anyway, had one with such it extemely that he ended up with degenerative joint disease) so disciplines withouth that.... can't think of any!
 
I know someone breeding Appaloosas and they all have a straight hind leg conformation rather like a QH does, she reckons a straight hind leg is good for a jumper..not sure if she's right though.
 
Mines straight behind, not worryingly so but enough! Ive always had a hang up about them, until i had a well known eventer say what a nice horse he was and with hocks like that he must have alot of jump! So not so bothered now!!
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