What are your thoughts on a sloping croup?

A steep croup means shorter muscles between the point of the buttock and the gaskin. This limits range of motion and reduces the mechanical power and thrust of the haunches. It is more difficult for the horse to engage the haunches, which makes the loins and lower back muscles work harder and be more prone to injury. It can be an advantage for spinning and sharp turns, as in reining horse competitionn. And for short, slow steps needed in draft horse work when pulling a load, it can be an advantage. It isn't an advantage in jumping.

Add...A long gently sloping croup is ideal...I'm only referring to a steeply angled croup.

Hello. I know exactly what you mean. I see alot of them at my higher level horse shows and heck even see some on the olympics. People may call them jumper croups. Its what they get when they are a jumper you know do tight turns all the time. The croup should be slightly sloped. Ive read that in many books and internet. You dont want a horse with a short croup. You want there to be enough muscle there. A short steep croup is not good for jumping however. http://www.georgiangrande.com/Breed%20Standard.htm... And my friend has a friend whove i met. She has a horse with a slightly sloped croup. Table top croups dont look good at all.http://www.cowboyshowcase.com/images/glossary/glos... This example isnt the best example but its close. It really all depends on the horse how it carries itselfe and if it works for him or her. I tend to like horses with a nice soft slopeing croup.

Croup Horse

The croup should be long and gently sloping. This adds to the stride as well as adds dimension and muscling to the hindquarter. There are breed differences in the shape of croups. Stock horse breeds (Quarter Horses, Paints, etc.) will have a more sloping croup than the pleasure horse breeds (Arabians, Saddlebreds, etc.).

I found this on a website...But since quarter horses and paints usually aren't your top jumpers I would guess that a long, sloping croup is not ideal

Actually I know for at least trail horses that a sloping croup is more desirable than a flat one because it allows the hind feet to get under the horse for going down hills and things. I think that it would probably be the same for doing other things.

According to my reference (http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/eb1613/eb16...

"The slope of the croup has a strong correlation with the horse’s function. Long distance or endurance horses have a level croup. Short distance, speed horses have a slightly sloping croup. A very short, steep croup is associated with straight hind legs (post-legged; Figure 9g) and predisposes the horse to concussion injury in the hock."

"Croup should be long, uniform in width, muscular, and evenly turned over the top. Muscle length is associated with speed and endurance; width is associated with strength or power. Measure length of croup from the point of the hip to the point of the buttocks (Figure 1)."

Hope this helps!

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I don't know TOO much about conformation but I have heard that a sloping croup is desired.

it all really just depends on the horse. there are two horses at the barn, one of them has more power, but the other one doesnt just because she is old. good luck in horse biz!