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Muscling is located on the horse's entire body from the knees
and hocks up. Areas of muscling to evaluate are the chest or
pectoral region, the forearm, shoulder, loin, croup, stifle
and gaskin.
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Long, smooth and deep tying muscle rather than short,
bunchy muscling is most desirable. Don't mistake fat cover
for muscling. Muscle will have definition lines whereas
fat cover will appear large but will not possess definition.
Chest
The pectoral region should have ample muscling that carries
down both sides of the horse's forelegs and ties smoothly
into the knees giving an upside-down "V" shape between
the front legs.
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Example of Desirable Chest
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Forearm
Muscle in the forearm should be bulging, yet long and should
tie down well into the knee.
Shoulder
To provide mobility for forward and lateral movements,
the shoulder requires muscling. Look for definition of
muscling in the shoulder.
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Examples of a desirable shoulder and forearm,
left,
and an undesirable shoulder and forearm, right.
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Loin
The loin should be smooth and strong. Light muscling in the loin,
along with being long in the back, will cause the horse to be
weak and sway backed with age. A condition called "roached back"
is exhibited when a horse's spine is abnormally higher in the
lumbar area.
Croup
Muscling in the croup provides the driving force for the horse's
hindquarters as well as for stopping, jumping and backing. Obese
horses will deposit excess fat over the croup.
Stifle
Stifle muscle is also necessary for jumping and stopping and
manipulation of the rear quarters. When viewing horses from
the rear they should be wider from stifle to stifle than they
are at the top of the hip. Again, a triangle effect.
Gaskin
Power and flexion is the purpose of gaskin muscle on both inside
and outside the horse's hind legs. Gaskin muscle should also
tie smoothly into the hocks.
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