Round and Flat Bone the difference

[frederick]

Out of interest could you good people - give me a definition of the difference between round and flat bone on ponies.?

Most breed standards say that the animal should have good flat bone - my question is what constitutes 'good flat bone?'

[thecremellosociety]

OK possibly make myself look a complete numpty but heres my understanding

Its about the shape of the cannon bones. Flat-boned means that when you view the horse from the side, the cannon appears flat from that view. If you were to cut the cannon bone say below the knee and look at a cross section of it, it would have an oval shape that some people liken to the shape of an axe handle.

In contrast, a round boned horse looks round like a brush handle from any view.

Thats what i was told xxx Maybe im wrong but person who told me that is well respected breeder x

[sometime]

dense flat on the sides with a greater surface area on the side of the cannon bones than when viewed from directly in front, A pony with round bone will look to have the same amount of bone on the cannon bone from whichever angle you look at it. As with everything there are degrees of roundness

[chocoholic]

Why is flat bone better than round bone?

[sometime]

It is stronger and less porous and dynamically it is like and egg and we all know how strong eggs are. Tendons and ligaments run straighter and attach correctly as this is how the leg has evolved

[dawnie]

Sept 20, 2010 13:47:25 GMT chocoholic said:

Why is flat bone better than round bone?

I so wish you hadn't asked that question lol. I have just boggled my brain cells.

I find a horse with flat bone very appealing to look at and it just looks "right" to me, the overall picture says power and strenght. However, that would not have been a particularly constructive answer so went off for a goole-mooch .... I now know far too much about bones and dont know where to begin saying why flat is better than round as it is all quite complex but really very interesting. Try googling "flat bone round bone" ... how far you get with it depends on how much you really want to know ... I have been reading for a good hour on various things as I found one paper talking bone structure types reactions to substances and heat and its uses in treatment (I had digressed to human bones by this time but still interesting)

[frederick]

I was interested to read all of your comments - as all breeders tend to say that the pony has good flat bone, its just intersesting to read everyones take on it.

I have always been taught it is stronger and more powerful and round bone is a sign of weakness?

I am off to google now as well ;D

[enpassant]

Round bone looks quite broad below the cannon when viewed from the front of the horse, move to the side and it doesn't look any broader.

Flat bone looks broad from the front but when viewed from the side is substantially wider.....

if you mentally cut a cross section of 'flat bone' and view it from above it would look something like the shape of a tear drop (tapering gradually from front to back).....do the same with a more round boned animal and it will look just that - round ;D

Put your hand around the bone below the knee on several different types of horse, slide your hand down, this will help you to distinguish the difference too....

If that doesn't make sense I do have some pics in my archive that might help explain it a bit better, pm me for details

[quince]

I do hope some of the modern day welsh cob 'experts' who have come in to the breed over the last few years are reading this, the trend for carthorse round bone and feather below the knee is worrying, I heard one of these experts at nps champs on a forsaid carthorse telling a young lady on a lovely young mare with the most beautiful limbs, 'shame she hasnt got more bone' hadnt got time to point out his error and tell him to read his breed description unfortunately.

[overtired]

Sept 20, 2010 16:19:15 GMT enpassant said:

Round bone looks quite broad below the cannon when viewed from the front of the horse, move to the side and it doesn't look any broader.

Flat bone looks broad from the front but when viewed from the side is substantially wider.....

if you mentally cut a cross section of 'flat bone' and view it from above it would look something like the shape of a tear drop (tapering gradually from front to back).....do the same with a more round boned animal and it will look just that - round ;D

Put your hand around the bone below the knee on several different types of horse, slide your hand down, this will help you to distinguish the difference too....

If that doesn't make sense I do have some pics in my archive that might help explain it a bit better, pm me for details

Superb explanation!!
I also have to agree with the other point raised quality bone seems to be giving way to loads of bone

[foxylady]

I totally agree , I would always prefer good flat bone on a pony , I have heard lots of people comment that some ponies lack bone when they actually have very good bone . My 17 yr old pony has fanatastic legs no lumps , splints , filled legs etc , I remember a very old judge telling me he had very good hard flinty bone with well defined tendons I now understand why
that is important . I think the old adage quality over quantity holds true !!

[nomdeac]

Round bone is one of my pet hates. I always think it looks like they have drainpipes for legs!

[nickiop]

Having attended the last two WPCS judges conferences, the vet who has talked for the last two years (apologies cannot remember his name) superbly described the subject of flat bone on both occaisions, by saying all cannon bones are the same shape, flat bone and round bone is determined by the lie of the suspensory ligaments etc lying beind the cannon, good flat bone should lie against the palm of your hand and in the likes of a section B etc with less feather etc there is likely to be some definition in the ligaments in good flat bone. I found the talks very informative on both occaisions xxxxx

[robertparkerjones]

Yes I agree the talk was very interesting........ its what I'd always thought but sometimes its hard to describe and put into words!!

[thecremellosociety]

It is hard to describe sometimes what you see in front of you, you know what you mean and what is right and wrong but putting it into words and with the many phrases out their used by people from all over the country many with different variations of sayings, its sometimes very hard.

I know when i see lumps and bumps and conformation faults but sometimes dont have the confidence to say oh thats a curb, a throughpin or a spavin etc etc but do know what they look like but wouldnt like to make the mistake on a small technicalty about getting the wrong one in the wrong place

[nickiop]

Very much enjoyed your talk too RPJ, and having the ponies there to demonstrate was excelllant!.....sorry for going off topic. Very much enjoyed all of the speakers at the conference and always learn something new to take away for the future. I dont envy the speakers must be a daunting task but most appreciated I'm sure by all who attended...thank you xxx

[jtwills]

Does anyone have pictures of the difference between round and flat bone please

[clobo121082]

Sept 20, 2010 17:33:40 GMT quince said:

I do hope some of the modern day welsh cob 'experts' who have come in to the breed over the last few years are reading this, the trend for carthorse round bone and feather below the knee is worrying, I heard one of these experts at nps champs on a forsaid carthorse telling a young lady on a lovely young mare with the most beautiful limbs, 'shame she hasnt got more bone' hadnt got time to point out his error and tell him to read his breed description unfortunately.

Totally agree! A pet hate of mine is ponies getting good conformation marks because judges see lots of bone even though it isn't correct. Lots of limb doesn't mean it is correct.