Horse Anatomy

Every rider should know about Horse Anatomy. You need to know about the major muscle parts in the horse's body, as this is the area we train. A rider should know the skeletal part of the Horse Anatomy, as it will help you to understand the way a horse moves. From a training point of view, it is important to study the muscles of the Horse Anatomy. As the musclus from the dock to the poll of the horse are connected, we need to focus on these muscle groups when we ride our horses round. Also the stretching of the neck has a positive effect on the horse because of the way the muscles are defined.

Horse Anatomy - Skeleton of the Horse: The horse's skeleton is composed of approximately 210 individual bones (excluding those in the tail). The skeleton gives support for the muscles, protection for the internal organs, and possesses the necessary mobility of its parts for the horse to kove at various speeds or lies down or grazes. Varying degrees of mobility are provided by differing types of joints; for example, that between the femur and tibia, forming the "stifle", gives great mobility, while those between two vertebrae in the backbone will all restricted movement only.

The bones forming all joints are capped with cartilage, which is softer than bone and can make good of the effects of wear and tear at the surface. The joint is completed by a capsule which produces synovia (joint oil) to lubricate the joint surfaces, and it is strengthened by ligaments, i.e. fibrous bands connecting the bones on either side of the joint.

The way in which a joint can move is controlled by the shape of the joint surface and the position of the ligaments and other supporting structures which pass over it. The fetlock for example can be flexed further than it can be extended; the knee can only be flexed whereas the stifle joint can be moved, to some extent, in several directions.

The skeleton has several examples of nature's way of adapting structure to meet particular requirements of function of Horse Anatomy. The broad flat surface of the scapula or shoulder blade and the transverse processes of the lumbar vertebrae, provide ample space for the attachment of powerful muscles required to move the fore and hind limbs. The special features of the skull are the relatively elongated face providing space for the teeth and their roots; and the orbits housing the eyes which are placed well above well above ground level when the horse is grazing. These provide it with a greater area of vision to look for impending danger.

Horse Anatomy Facts: Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA)

• Horses have about 175 bones in their body.
• Most horse breeds have 18 ribs
• Most horses have 6 lumbar bones.
• Most horses have 18 tail vertebrae.
• A horse's hoof grows at a rate of about 1 cm per month.
• A full grown horse that weighs about 1,000 pounds contains approximately
• 13.2 gallons of blood.
• Horses can drink up to ten gallons of water a day.
• Horses can see in two directions at once.
• Horses can see everywhere, except directly in front or behind them.
• Horses make 8 basic sounds- snort, squeal, greeting nicker, courtship nicker,
• Maternal nicker, neigh, roar, blow.
• Horses are not fully mature until age 5.

Some of Horse Anatomy terms:

Poll: The poll is located at the very top of the horse's head, in between the ears

Ear: The horse hears things with its ears. The ears are located at the top of the horse's head. They can swivel back and forth in any direction and are a very expressive part of the horse's behavior. If the horse's ears are laid back flat against its head, the horse is angry or upset. If the ears are forward, the horse is interested in something in front of him. When one ear is swiveled back to you and the other forward, it means that the horse is listening to his rider while keeping an ear out for anything that might startle him.

Forelock: The forelock is the lock of hair which falls down the horse's forehead or face from where it grows between the ears. It is often braided for shows, or sometimes left down to fall softly over the bridle's browband.

Forehead: the space between the horse's eyes, extending from the top of the head at the ears down to the top of the horse's nose.

Eye: what the horse sees with. An albino horse can have blue eyes, or one blue eye and one brown, and other horses can have brown, blue, or walleyes. It depends on the horse. The horse's eyes are located on either side of its head. The horse can see almost a full one hundred and eighty degrees with each eye, but cannot see directly behind itself or directly in front. This is why you need to be careful when walking behind or in front of a horse, because they often lash out at what they cannot see. A horse's eyes work independently of each other. Each covers a a wide field of vision over a full semicircle.

Nose: also known as the muzzle, this part of the horse is located at the bottom of its long head. The horse has two nostrils and has a very keen sense of smell. To introduce yourself to a horse, blow gently in its nostrils. That way it will remember you when you come again and knows it can trust you.

Nostril: the nostrils are a part of the horse's nose. It smells with them. The horse's nostrils are very tender and soft, and must be cleaned regularly. This can be done with a damp soft sponge. Wipe gently inside the horse's nostrils so clean out any debris. Smell also enables the horse to detect undesirable items in its food. It is also important in social interactions, when horse greets friends or identifies strangers by touching muzzle to muzzle.

Mouth: The horse's mouth is located underneath its nose. The horse eats with its mouth and often uses it to express what it's feeling. If the horse is very relaxed and sleepy, sometimes it will open its mouth slightly and droop its eyes shut. Horses have very delicate mouths. They can be eating in a patch full of weeds and thistles and still manage to only pick up the good grass with their teeth. They have very sensitive mouths.

Lips: The horse's lips play a large part in the horse's life. Like I said before, they are very sensitive and can choose certain blades of grass over others, and over weeds and other things they don't like. Sometimes the horse looks like he's laughing, because he'll pull his lips back and grin. That's one of their ways of getting a lot of scents from the air.

Cheek: The side of the horse's face

Lower Jaw: Right under the upper jaw. Used for grinding food.