Upright pasterns- advice please?

[joben]

I'm looking at a 4yo TB to buy to bring on for eventing. Definately up to novice level and anything more would be a bonus. He's a 16.2hh bay gelding- has been brought from Ireland and is in sl poor condition. He has excellent paces and a good jump but hasn't done anything.
His conformation is good apart from he has very upright pasterns. Is this a real fault and will it cause real problems?
On one hand I'm thinking that any horse with perfect conformation can go and get any injury, on the other hand is it silly to start with something that may be prone to a problem?

 

[vic07]

have a 13 y.o who has gone intermeadiate with very upright conformation. He is sound - touching wood. But doesn't like hard ground and now I try and avoid very droppy courses. Don't know whether this is due to conformation or not. I feel upright comformation is less likely to give rise to ligament and tendon injury, but more likely to cause concussion and bruise related injuries. Think you have to weigh up pros and cons. Good luck.

 

[beaconhorse]

There is research that suggest Upright pasterns cause displacement of the navicular bone and therefore navicular disease.

 

[eohippus]

upright pastern can predispose the horse to concussive stresses to the fetlock, pastern joints and foot. With this in mind and what vic01 has stated about her horse on hard ground and drops then buying something specifically for eventing with the conformation fault would be chancy. I doubt very much that he will pass the vetting for the type of use you want with this either.
hope this helps
Dawn