I am really getting into horse shopping for my next stock horse but I am seeing SO VERY many with long backs. My vet has really cautioned me against this because she sees some with back issues. Any comments?
My gelding has a bit of a long back, but it’s actually more a long loin than his actual back. By working hard at working correctly his loin is now more muscled than it used to be, but it’s just something I try to be aware of.
A long back is a serious conformation defect that I would avoid.
Not only is the weight carrying structure weak, but it makes it harder for the horse to engage himself correctly in athletic maneuvers
I have a long backed horse. I ride English though. She’s 11 and has no back problems but cannot track up at the trot. I’m never getting rid of her now but if I could go back I wouldn’t have bought her in the first place.
I’d also avoid it if you can find another horse with better conformation.
We have a gelding here with a fairly long back, and I’m not a fan.
Getting him round and using his motor properly is extra difficult, and it definitely affects his lope, even when he’s goofing around in the pasture.
He’s the least coordinated/handy at high speed because his butt always seems to be trying desperately to catch up to his front.
In any discipline, a close coupled horse with a strong loin/lumbar region is going to be at lower risk for issues.
I really, really dislike long backs. I find them unsightly. I have seen some horses that look like they need an articulation in the middle, ala a long tractor. If you can fit a second person or three behind the saddle…eesh.
I would look at the loin & where it is relative to the stifle.
It’s commonly known that long backed horses are easier to ride. They may have more difficulty stepping underneath themselves but a long back is better than a too short back. The nicest horses I’ve ever ridden have been long backed, the most uncomfortable were short backed.
Fastest horse I ever owned had a long back.
He looks a little funky but dang he could run.
My best mare, a world champion producer, is long backed. Her foals have generally been short backed, although her oldest was a bit long.
I also owned a multiple world champion paint/qh (trail, WH,WP) who had a long back, although not horribly. I had another who was 3rd in the world in WP and on the National Honor Rolll, #1 in his region english and western.
I actually find slightly long backs to not be a bad thing. Some of the shorter backed horses that I’ve owned don’t track up as well and have a slightly shorter stride. The only thing with long back horses is that they are a little harder to get collected as their stride can be longer, too.
I owned a mare for 29 years that was a bit long in the back and never had an issue doing many, many different things. Really, in my experience you have to look at the pluses and minuses and take your best shot. They all have some flaw, are the good things so good you will take the chance?
