snipnstar wrote:
An upright shoulder decreases the length of stride and can be a really uncomfortable, rough ride. The legs take a beating, too, and depending on the rest of his conformation, a horse with an very steep shoulder could have soundness issues down the road. ( no pun intended image )
. jmo

A more upright shoulder is a requirement in a jumping horse. The scapula has to have somewhere to "go" when the knees come up as it rotates down and back. If the shoulder is already laid back, the horse will not be able to raise his knees enough to make a decent jumper. The shoulder slope alone is not enough to determine stride characteristics. The humerus, length and slope, and the shoulder angle is where stride is determined.


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