Dear Zooarch List -- I have a book just out entitled "Conformation: Basic
Skills" -- it is primarily intended for "horse people" who care to learn
correct methods for the analysis of conformation in domestic horses.
However, it might also be helpful to some of you who teach anatomy --
using the horse as "exemplar", the book teaches:
(1) Principles of kinetic analysis, i.e. how to place the analytical
points with reasonable accuracy on joint centers;
(2) Relationship of skeleton to body outline and 3D shape, and how to
determine this without needing a whole-body XRay;
(3) Topological (i.e. surface) anatomy, i.e. name/location of bodyparts
that can be palpated just under the skin;
(4) How to take photos that will be useful for analysis;
(5) How to use photos for analysis with reasonable accuracy, enabling
analysis from the office rather than having to go out and measure the live
animals.
The "Conformation: Basic Skills" volume also contains basic information
with very clear drawings concerning the equine dentition. For more
information on this particular topic, see also the most recent issue of
EQUUS Magazine (www.equusmagazine.com), that article being the 2nd in a
4-part series on "CSI/Forensic analysis" of four famous historical
stallions -- readers have liked this series a lot and you will, too, as it
is a good bit of fun.
If interested, "Conformation: Basic Skills" is currently on sale for only
$35; please go to http://esiforum.mywowbb.com/forum1/2237.html
for directions and how to order. -- Deb Bennett
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