4 - H H o r s e P r o j e c t M a n u a l - Parts of the Horse

Parts of the Horse

Parts of the Horse
Abdomen or Belly The broad area underneath the horse between the
elbow and the flank.

Back The horses back runs from the withers to the loin. This contains
part of the spinal column.

Barrel The large area below the back in the general vicinity of the rib
cage. This is where the heart, lungs and stomach of the horse are housed.

Brisket The area directly between the forelegs at the front of the
abdomen.

Buttock The muscled area below the dock and above the thigh.

Parts of the Horse

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Cannon Bone The long bone between the knee or hock and the
fetlock joint.

Cheek (Jowls) Distinct rounded bones on the sides of the horses jaw. Chest The muscled area at the front of the horse below the neck
attachment down to the legs. The width, depth and muscling of the chest will influence how well the horse can move. A chest that is too wide produces a labouring, waddling stride and a chest that is too narrow may interfere with the horses travelling.

Chestnut A horny growth on the inside of each leg. They are above
and on the inside of the knee of the front leg and below and on the inside of the hock of the back leg.

Parts of a Horse

Chin Groove The hollow between the chin and the branches of the
jaw.

Coronet/Coronary Band Area at the bottom of the pastern where

hair stops and hoof growth begins.

Crest The top line of the neck. Croup The area at the top of the rump and in front of the tail. It
extends from the highest part of the hip to the tail.

Dock The solid part of the horses tail, containing the tailbone. Ears Two ears located on the top of the horses head. Elbow The joint at the top of the forearm. Eyes Two eyes located on the sides of the skull. Fetlock
The joint between the long pastern bone and the cannon.

Flank The region between the barrel and the hindquarters. Forearm The upper part of the foreleg, between the elbow and the
knee.

Gaskin A muscled area of the hind leg, above the hock and below the
stifle.

Head Includes the area from the muzzle to the poll. Heart Girth A line drawn around the barrel just behind the elbow and
withers.

Hock The joint of the hind leg below the gaskin and above the cannon
bone.

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Parts of the Horse
(continued)

Hoof Wall A horny covering from the coronet band to the ground protecting the sensitive part of the foot. Knee The joint of the front leg below the forearm and above the cannon
bone.

Loin The short muscled area joining the back to the croup. Muzzle Describes the area including the nostrils, chin and mouth. Neck Muscled area from the poll to the withers attaching the head to the
body.

Nostril The part of the muzzle through which the horse breathes. Pastern The area above the coronet band and below the fetlock joint. Point of the Buttock
extreme rear of the animal. Is the highest point of the buttock at the

Point of the Hip The bony point lying just forward and below the
croup.

Point of the Hock The most prominent part of the hock at the back. Point of the Shoulder The bony point at the extreme lower end of the
shoulder blade, just above and to the side of the chest.

Poll A point between the ears at the top of the head where the head joins
the neck.

Shoulder The area of the horses front quarters where the front leg is attached to the body with muscles and tendons. Stifle
Is a joint at the front of the thigh in the flank area.

Thigh The large muscled area below the croup, below and in front of the
buttock and behind the stifle joint.

Throat Latch The area behind the jaw where the head attaches to the
neck.

Upper Arm The area above the elbow to the point of the shoulder. Withers The prominent ridge near the base of the mane where the neck
and back join.

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Anatomy of Skeleton of a Horse

Parts of a Horse

Point o f Elbow

Ulna

Parts of the Hoof

Bars The thickened raised portions of the wall near either side of the
frog.

Bulbs of the Heel The back raised part of the heel. Cleft of the Frog
The central groove of the frog.

Collateral Groove (or commissure) Separates the frog from

the bar and the sole.

Coronary Band (Coronet) The

narrow band of scaly tissue at the hairline, from which the hoof wall grows. It is the junction of the skin and the hoof wall.

Corium The corium is the middle layer

of the hoof wall and is the thickest. It contains the pigment that gives the hoof its color. The hoof will be the same color as the skin above it.

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Frog The frog is a triangular shaped elastic tissue in the sole of the hoof.
The frog has a point (Apex) and a central groove. The frog blends into the bulbs of the heel. The frog distributes pressure as the horse moves and the action of the frog, when it makes contact with the ground, helps circulate blood back up the leg. The frog normally sheds several times a year.

Heel The hind region of the hoof. Laminae (Interior Layer) Parts of the internal layer of the
hoof that blend with the thick middle layer of the hoof.

Periople (Outer Layer) The periople is the waxy outer

coating of the hoof wall. This layer is covered with thin horny scales that reduce the evaporation of moisture from the hoof and protects the hoof from drying out.

Quarter The side to rear region of the hoof behind the

toe, where the hoof begins to curve.

Sole The bottom of the hoof visible when the hoof is lifted from the
ground. The sole is divided into seven parts: the wall, white line, sole, bars, frog, cleft of frog and the heel.

Toe The front of the hoof. Wall The hoof wall is the hard outer portion of the foot. It is not an
even thickness around the foot. It is thickest at the toe, where it is under the most pressure, and thins at the quarters. The hoof wall is made up of three layers: the Periople, the Corium and the Laminae.

White Line (Laminae) The connection between the sole and the wall.

Anatomy and Physiology

Anatomy and Physiology are the sciences of the bodily structure and function of animals. Understanding the relationship of form to function can help us better choose, care for and manage our animals. The following are some terms important to this science:

Ligaments Ligaments are tough, flexible fibers that hold bones together.

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Bones, ligaments and tendons together affect the horses ability to move and to prevent injury.

Tendons Tendons are connective tissue that attach muscle to another body part, usually bone. The tendons may be short (as at the shoulder blade) or long (as in the legs).

The Frontquarters
The front legs of the horse carry 60 to 65 per cent of the weight of the horse. The legs of the horse are interesting because there are no muscles below the knees in the lower leg, only tendons, ligaments and bone. Damage to ligaments and tendons are most likely to occur in the lower leg because they take the most force during movement. All movement of the lower leg is done by ligaments and tendons.

Parts of a Horse

Pastern

The pastern is made up of: A. B. C. D. Long Pastern Bone Short Pastern Bone Suspensory Ligament Superficial Flexor Tendon

The suspensory ligament system is attached to the navicular bone at the back of the foot, runs up the back of the long and short pastern bones and controls extension of the pastern. The suspensory ligament and flexor tendon support the angle of the pastern and together they stretch and contract as the horse moves. The normal working condition of the ligament and tendon are affected by the angle that the hoof is trimmed. Improper trimming can change the hoof angle causing tendons and ligaments to stretch or contract further than normal. If the slope is excessive, the flexor tendon will stretch. If the pastern is too upright the two joints will be under stress. This puts pressure on the cartilage between the bones, increasing the risk of fractures and arthritis. Generally, trim the hoof so that its angle matches the pastern angle. Ligaments in the leg may be pulled. Stretching the flexor tendon and/or the tendon sheath is common in horses with long sloping pasterns, long toes and from work on soft, heavy ground or slippery footing.

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Fetlock
Front View Back View

The fetlock joint is the junction of four bones. It includes the:

Long Pastern Bone Cannon Bone Two Sesamoid Bones Sesamoid Ligament Connects the sesamoid bones to
the cannon and pastern bones.

Superficial Flexor Tendons - are found in a groove

between the sesamoid bones. They connect the pastern to muscles above the knee or hock.

Deep Flexor Tendons - are found in a groove between

the sesamoid bones. They connect the coffin bone to muscles above the knee or hock.
(Pedal)

Collateral Ligament - connects cannon bone to pastern

bone.

Suspensory Ligament - acts like a sling over the other

ligaments. The fetlock joint has many possible injuries. As well as a variety of fractures, there are many types of ligament injuries. The most common are strains, pulls and sesamoid fracture (caused by a ligament pulling free, taking the sesamoid bone with it).

Cannon Bone

The cannon bone is the longest single bone in the lower leg. Splint bones are attached on each side even with the upper end of the cannon bone by interosseous ligaments. These ligaments eventually ossify (turn into bone) with age, joining the cannon and splint bones. 46

Cannon Bone

4 - H H o r s e P r o j e c t M a n u a l - Parts of the Horse

The suspensory ligament continues up the back of the leg. Horses can sleep standing up because of the check ligament at the back of the knee. While the horse is awake, a muscle holds the knee straight. When the horse goes to sleep, this muscle relaxes and the check ligament keeps the knee from buckling forward because it is attached to the deep flexor tendons. The lower leg area is subject to a variety of stress injuries. Splint bones are easily injured because they are not firmly attached at both ends. The most common injuries are caused by strain from exercise or poorly aligned knees. This puts extra pressure, or force, on the splint bones causing them to break or become inflamed. They may also be caused from hitting the splint bone with the opposite hoof.

Parts of a Horse

Knee

The knee is made up of seven carpal bones located between the cannon bone and the radius. These bones are joined together by short collateral ligaments. These keep the carpal bones from separating. Longer ligaments are located on the sides to keep the layers of bones from separating. The suspensory ligament from the cannon bones is attached to the third and fourth carpal bones. To move the knee, there are two carpal extensor tendons, two digital extensor tendons and two digital flexor tendons. Most knee injuries are caused by poor lower leg conformation. If the cannon bone is not centered below the carpal bones, there will be excess pressure on the carpal bones. This can cause fractures or arthritis.

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Upper Leg and Elbow
The upper leg and elbow are made up of the: A. B. C. Radius Ulna Humerous

In the upper leg, we finally see muscle. If you look at the forearm muscle, it looks short. It is longer than it appears because it does a three quarter wrap around the bone as it goes toward the body of the horse. The muscles are interesting because they can move the body forward when the horse stands on the leg or moves the leg forward when there is no weight on the leg. This area is important to the stride of the horse. The length of the humerus affects how far the leg can swing forward and upward.

Shoulder

The shoulder is made up of the scapula bone. This bone is unique in that it is not attached to the leg and body with ligaments. Instead, it depends on a large ball joint (between the scapula and humerus) and heavy muscle layers to keep it in place. The muscle connects it to the chest, spine and ribs. The scapula is covered by strong muscles. There is no attachment to the bones of the body of the horse. Movement of the shoulder and upper leg are caused by muscles, as is all movement. These muscles allow the shoulder to flex from a 45 to an 80 angle.

The Skull

The head of the horse is made up of bones and cartilage. Unlike other bones in the body, these bones are nonmoveable and not held in place by ligaments. The shape and length of the skull are important breed characteristics. The size and depth of the orbit (eye socket) is affected by the breed of the horse.

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Spine The spine is made of vertebrae that are held together by short ligaments.
It is divided into groups of vertebrae. These are: A. B. C. D. E. Cervical Vertebrae - neck Thoracic Vertebrae - withers, back Lumbar Vertebrae - from last rib to croup (covers loin area, but goes back further than the loin) Sacral Vertebrae - croup to dock Coccygeal Vertebrae - tailbone
Parts of a Horse

The flexibility of the spine is varied. Most of the movement is in the neck. It can be moved almost 180 horizontally and can be raised and lowered. As the cervical vertebrae are lowered the thoracic vertebrae move upward, rounding the back. This is what we ask the horse to do when we ride it in a collected manner. This is called longitudinal flexion. Most of the rest of the spine has very limited flexibility.

The Hindquarters

The hindquarters carry less percentage of the weight of a horse than the front. However, they are the source of power to give the horse impulsion for moving forward or backward. The hindquarters are the area from the flank to the tail and down the hindleg.

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Hock
The hock is made up of six tarsal bones attached to the tibia, the cannon bone and the splint bones. Ligaments found in the hock include: Collateral ligament like in the knee, these hold the tarsal bones in place, including the tibia, cannon bone and splint bones. They keep the leg bones lined up. Plantar ligament is part of the stay apparatus of the hind limb. It helps the check ligament to lock the joint so the horse can stand even when relaxed or sleeping. Most tendons that flex the joint in the hock are located in the front. This is because the hind leg flexes forward and extends behind the body.

Gaskin and Stifle

The gaskin and stifle area are located above the hock in the hind leg. They are made up of the tibia, a cartilage disc, patella and femur. The stifle flexes forward. The muscles attached in this area allow for the drive off the hind quarters needed for running and jumping. While more muscle gives an increase in strength, fatigue happens more quickly in bulky muscles.

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Hip
The hip area is made up of the: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Lumbar Vertebrae (goes from the last rib to the point of the hip and covers the loin) Sacral Vertebrae (croup) Coccygeal Vertebrae (tail) Ilium Ischium (point of buttock) Pubis Femur
Parts of a Horse

These bones form the pelvic area. It slopes away from the spine at a 60 angle. The ilium is attached to the spine by ligaments. The length of the pelvis varies with the breed, but length and width are necessary to any breed. The longer the pelvis, the longer the muscling.

Muscular System

The muscles are the largest tissue mass in the horses body.

Muscles are classified as:

smooth muscle - this muscle type is

involuntary (automatic) and is active in the digestive tract, respiratory and urinary and reproductive systems.

cardiac (heart) muscle - this muscle

type is involuntary (automatic) and is active in the circulatory system.

skeletal muscle - this muscle type is

voluntary and functions in the movement of the horse.

Muscles of the Front Leg *note the lack of muscles in the lower legs of the horse.

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Muscular System
(continued)

Muscles work by contracting (shortening of muscle fibers) and relaxing (lengthening of muscle fibers). Skeletal muscles tend to work in pairs because muscles can only pull, not push. One muscle group flexes (bends a joint) and another extends (straightens). In the leg of the horse are a group of muscles that cause flexion of a joint (flexor muscles) and an opposing group that extends or straightens the joint (extensor muscles).

Flexion - The shortening (flexing) of a muscle to bend a joint. Extension - The lengthening (extending) of a muscle to straighten a joint.
The contractive process is a chemical reaction within the muscle that produces heat in addition to performing work. The heat of contraction and recovery is important in body temperature regulation. This is why, in cold weather, horses shiver to produce heat to help them maintain body temperature.

Training and Muscles

Muscle is an extremely adaptable tissue. A horses muscles adapt in relation to the specific type of training it receives.

Training for quick bursts of high-intensity exercise involves training for strength. This involves increasing muscle mass through high-intensity exercises for short periods of time to increase strength.

Training for endurance, three-day eventing, cattle drives or combined driving etc. involves building up the muscles over a period of time where the work load on the muscles is progressively increased.

Overexertion of a muscle, without adequate conditioning, will lead to muscle fatigue. A careful conditioning program, combined with proper nutrition, will prevent muscle disorders.

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Other Body Systems of Horses
The respiratory system includes the lungs and air passages. Its primary function is to oxygenate the blood so that oxygen can be carried to the tissues. The movement of air into and out of the lungs is referred to as respiration. This system adapts well to function during exercise, as respiration rates are related to exercise intensity (the higher the intensity of activity, the higher the horses respiration rate will be). The circulatory (cardiovascular) system includes the heart and vessels and functions to pass blood through the tissues of the body. The digestive system includes the gastro-intestinal tract and the urinary system. This system is discussed in relation to feed, in the chapter on Feed. The nervous system includes the brain, spinal cord, associated nerves and special senses. It can perceive and immediately react to changes in the external and internal environment of an animal. The nervous system also stores and associates sensations in the memory for future use. The endocrine system includes a number of ductless glands of the body that secrete hormones, which are transported through the circulatory system, for chemical control of the body. The reproductive system includes the ovaries, testicles and associated organs. The integumentary system includes the skin and hair that covers the horses body and forms the boundary between the animal and its environment.
Parts of a Horse

Teeth

The front biting teeth of the horse are called Incisors. Incisors are broken down to central incisors, corner incisors and lateral incisors. The rear, grinding teeth of the horse are called Molars. Between the molars and incisors, there is a gap called the interdental space or bars.
s

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On a mature horse, behind this space are 6 molars on each side that are used for grinding feed. The front molars are called premolars. The molars grind feed by lateral movement of the lower jaw against the upper jaw. These are all commonly used terms to describe the smaller teeth that grow about half way between the premolars and the incisors in the interdental space. Geldings and stallions most commonly develop these teeth at about four years of age. They are not removed, but they may require occasional trimming to keep them shorter than the incisors so that they do not interfere with bridling. Mares do not usually get bridle teeth.

Canines (Tushes or Bridle) Teeth

Wolf Teeth - Wolf teeth are very

small rudimentary teeth that sometimes develop in front of the premolars. They usually grow in at one to two years of age and both colts and fillies can have them. They are more commonly found on the upper jaw but can develop on the lower jaw as well. They should be removed because they can easily break and cause problems with bridling.

Wolf Tooth

Number of Teeth - Some identifications can be made by the number of

teeth a horse has:

Foal: 12 molars 12 incisors _________ 24 Teeth

Mature 24 molars Mare 12 incisors ________ 36 Teeth

Mature 24 molars Stallion/ 12 incisors Gelding: 4 canines 40 Teeth

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Teeth and Age
Teeth can be used to determine the age of a horse. In time the teeth of the horse change according to a known pattern. The method is reasonably accurate but it may be affected by the type of feed the horse eats and the habit of cribbing. When a foal is born, it has no incisors. The first two central incisors (upper and lower) appear within 10 days. The next incisor (corner) on each side will appear up to six weeks later. The lateral incisors grow in when the horse is six to ten months of age. In a young horse, it is easy to identify baby teeth and permanent teeth. Baby teeth are round, white and have a narrow base. Permanent teeth are yellow and are an even width from top to bottom.
Parts of a Horse

Eruption of Teeth

First Period
This period covers the growth of the baby teeth to 24 months. The baby teeth all appear and are being used by 2 years. Temporary baby teeth are replaced with permanent teeth.

Foal To Two And A Half Years

Birth - 10 days: Central incisors appear 4-6 weeks: Corner incisors appear

9 months: Lateral incisors appear

2 years: All incisors in wear 2 1/2 years: Central temporary incisors shed, central permanent incisors appear

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4 - H H o r s e P r o j e c t M a n u a l - Parts of the Horse Second Period

After two and a-half years the temporary central incisors loosen and the permanent central incisors erupt. Three and one-half to four years, the permanent corner incisors erupt. Four and one-half to five years, the permanent lateral incisors erupt.

Corners (middle)

Appearance And Wear Of Permanent Teeth

3 years: Permanent centrals in wear; permanent corners appear

4 years: Permanent corners in wear; permanent laterals appear

5 years: Full mouth; all permanent teeth in wear

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4 - H H o r s e P r o j e c t M a n u a l - Parts of the Horse Third Period Third Period

This is the period noted by the wearing of the lower incisors and the disappearance of the cup. Six years of age is estimated by the size, shape and disappearance of the cup of the central teeth. The cup will be gone by the time the horse is 10-12 years old. The cup does not disappear from all of the incisors at the same time. At age six, the cup disappears from the lower central incisors. By eight, the cups have disappeared from the central, corner and lateral incisors of the bottom jaw. 7 years: Cups gone in lower corners, hook on upper lateral All the cups of the top and bottom incisors will be gone by the time the horse is 10-12 years old.
Parts of a Horse

6 years: Cups gone in lower central incisors

8 years: Cups gone in all lower incisors; dental star appears

9 years: Cups gone in upper centrals; dental stars present

10 years: Cups gone in upper corners; Galvaynes groove appears

11-12 years: All cups gone; smooth mouth 57

4 - H H o r s e P r o j e c t M a n u a l - Parts of the Horse Fourth Period

This period is noted by further wearing of the teeth, including the upper incisors and the angle of the teeth. After nine years it is difficult to age a horse accurately by its teeth. The most noticeable change is in the tooth angle, which slants outward further as the horse ages. By 12 years of age, the dental cup disappears in the upper incisors and the horse has what is called a smooth mouth. At 15 years the dental star is smaller, but centered and clearer. After 20 years of age, the teeth may become shorter. Space between the incisors may increase. The angle of the tooth from the gum to the crown slants further.

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Other Clues To A Horses Age
As a horse uses its front teeth, they wear. The diagram shows how, after 5, 9, 15, and 20 years, the crown, cup and dental star wear down.

Galvaynes Groove

Starts at 9-10 years.

Parts of a Horse

Halfway down at 15 years.

Full length at twenty years.

Begin to recede from gum line at 20 years.

Changes in the Upper Corner Incisors

Halfway gone at 25 years.

7 Year Hook
At seven years of age, a hook appears on the edge of the upper corner incisor. This hook disappears by 8 or 9 years of age.

Completely gone at 30 years.

Galvaynes Groove
Is a groove that appears on the outer surface of the upper lateral incisor teeth. It appears at about 9-10 years of age at the top of these teeth and develops down the tooth more as the horse ages. At 15 years it will have developed more than a half of the way down the upper lateral incisors. By 20 years it reaches the bottom of the lateral incisor teeth. After 20 years old the Galvaynes groove gradually disappears from the top down and cannot be seen in a thirty year-old horse. 59