Conformational Defects in the Limbs of Menorca Purebred Horses and Their Relationship to Functionality.
Authors: Ripollés-Lobo Maria, Perdomo-González Davinia I, Valera Mercedes, Gómez María D
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Limb Conformation and Functionality in Menorca Purebred Horses Conformational defects in equine limbs are known to compromise performance and welfare, yet breed-specific data on their genetic architecture remain limited. Ripollés-Lobo and colleagues examined 1,120 records from 509 Menorca Purebred horses (average age ~10 months), scoring 14 limb-conformation defects on a three-class scale and estimating heritability and genetic correlations using Bayesian methods. Splay-footed forelimbs and closed hocks dominated the prevalence data (67.2% and 62.5% respectively), and any detected defect was associated with significantly depressed gait scores in both walk and trot. Heritability ranged from 0.12 for closed hocks to 0.30 for base-narrow conformation, demonstrating meaningful genetic influence, whilst notably strong genetic correlations emerged between hind-limb divergence and forelimb defects (camped-under: −0.69; camped-out: 0.70), suggesting that selective breeding decisions targeting one trait may inadvertently affect distant conformational characteristics. For practitioners managing young stock and breeding programmes, these findings underscore the need for systematic appraisal alongside genomic awareness, particularly given the pleiotropic nature of limb conformation and its direct impact on measurable locomotor function.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Limb conformation defects directly compromise performance (reduced walk and trot scores), making early identification and breeding decisions critical for functional horses
- •With heritability estimates of 0.12–0.30, selective breeding can reduce prevalence of these defects; focus stud selection on animals free from high-prevalence defects like splay foot and closed hocks
- •The strong genetic correlations between hind and forelimb defects suggest assessment must consider the whole limb; compensatory defects in one limb may indicate predisposition to defects in others
Key Findings
- •Splay-footed forelimb and closed hocks were the most prevalent defects in Menorca Purebred horses (67.20% and 62.53% respectively)
- •All 14 limb-conformation defects analyzed resulted in significantly lower gait scores for both walk and trot
- •Heritability estimates ranged from 0.12 for closed hock to 0.30 for base narrow, confirming genetic influences on limb conformation defects
- •Divergent hind limb defects showed high genetic correlations with forelimb defects (camped under −0.69, camped out 0.70), indicating complex relationships between defect types