HORSE

ANATOMY
By Kylie Hogue

SIGNS OF PAIN IN A HORSE

stiffness
not going forward
grinding the teeth
going against the bit
sweating
rearing
bucking
resignation
going off food
aggression against humans or other horses
muscle twitching/moving the skin on or before contact
unwillingness to be touched
moodiness

THE SKELETAL SYSTEM

THE SKELETAL SYSTEM

NOTES
The equine skeleton has about 210 bones, nearly the same as a human.
The horse has around 54 vertebrae that form the horses spine.
The 7 cervical vertebrae form the neck, which has great flexibility.
The 18 thoracic vertebrae, that form the wither and the part behind it have long processes. They can be
up to 30 cm long
The 6 lumbar vertebrae have spinal and transverse processes (wings).
The 5 sacral vertebrae are fused to the sacrum. The sacroiliac joins the spine at the sacrum to the
pelvis. There is only very little movement possible in the sacroiliac joint
The 15-21 caudal vertebrae form the tail of the horse.
There is no joint between the horses forelimb and the rump. It is only attached with muscles and
ligaments which give the horse the flexibility e.g. to jump.
The horse carries about 60% of his weight on the forehand
The horses hind legs propel the horse forward. They are the "engine" of the horse.

THE HOOF

THE EQUINE DISTAL LIMB

LIGAMENTS
Nerves stimulate the muscle to contract and move the bones they are

attached to. If a muscle contracts, its antagonist has to stretch.

They allow for locomotion, balance and carry part of the bodyweight. They

also support the function of organs like e.g. the lung.

A muscle is attached to bone through a tendon, which is part of the muscle.

Tendons are less elastic and have less blood circulation.

Horse ligaments stabilize a joint and hold it together. They are not attached
to a muscle.
In a horse there are no muscles below the knee or the hock, only tendons
and ligaments.

THE MAKE-UP OF THE BONE

OF THE HORSE
1. Bone
2. Connective tissue
3. Blood vessel
4. Muscle fiber
5. bundle of muscle fibers
6. Connective tissue (sheath)
7. Muscle body
8. Tendon