Transcript Parts of a Horse

Parts of a Horse
Main Idea
 What are the proper name for the external parts of a
horse?
Why learn the names?
 To describe conformation
 To judge horses
 To care for horses
 To discuss and use tack
Parts of a Horse
 Ears
 An expressive part of the horse
 Poll
 Bony prominence, highest point on the horse’s body
when head is up
 Forelock
 Lock of hair down the horses face
 Mane
 Long, coarse hair on the top of neck
Poll
Mane
Ears
Forelock
Parts of a Horse
 Crest
 Curved top line of the neck; fuller in male
 Shoulder
 Hard, bony prominence surrounded by heavy muscle
masses
 Should be long, sloping and muscular
 Withers
 Prominent ridge where neck and back join
 Height is measured here
Withers
Crest
Mane
Shoulder
Poll
Ears
Forelock
Parts of a Horse
 Heartgirth
 Circumference around the horse directly behind the front legs and
over the highest part of the withers
 Used to estimate weight
 (Heartgirth X Heartgirth X Body Length)/330 = Estimated horse
weight in pounds
 Back
 From the base of the withers to where the last rib is attached to the
spine
 Concave back – swayback
 Opposite – roachback
 Barrel
 Extends from behind the shoulders to the loins
Withers
Back
Crest
Mane
Barrel
Shoulder
Heartgirth
Poll
Ears
Forelock
Parts of a Horse
 Point of Hip
 First place indicating weight loss
 Loin
 Short area joining the back to rump
 Croup
 Between the loin and the tail
 Highest point in hind quarters
 Flank
 Area below the loin between the last rib and the thigh
Croup
Loin
Point of Hip
Withers
Back
Crest
Mane
Barrel
Shoulder
Flank
Heartgirth
Poll
Ears
Forelock
Parts of a Horse
 Thigh
 Massive muscles attached to and around the femur bone
 Buttock
 Used to determine body length
 Quarter
 AKA hindquarter
 Should be well muscled
 Stifle
 Joint at the end of the thigh
Croup
Loin
Point of Hip
Buttock
Thigh
Quarter
Withers
Back
Crest
Mane
Barrel
Shoulder
Flank
Stifle
Heartgirth
Poll
Ears
Forelock
Parts of a Horse
 Gaskin
 Between the stifle and the hock
 Hock
 Joint between gaskin and cannon bone
 Cannon
 Bone between knee and fetlock
 Pastern
 From the fetlock to the top of the hoof
 Shock absorber
Croup
Loin
Point of Hip
Buttock
Thigh
Withers
Back
Mane
Barrel
Shoulder
Flank
Quarter
Crest
Stifle
Gaskin
Hock
Cannon Bone
Pastern
Heartgirth
Poll
Ears
Forelock
Parts of a Horse
 Coronet
 Band around the top of the hoof where the hoof wall
grows
 Hoof
 Horny wall and sole of the foot
 Fetlock
 Joint between the cannon bone and the pastern
 Elbow
 Bony prominence lying against the chest at the beginning
of the forearm
Croup
Loin
Point of Hip
Buttock
Thigh
Back
Mane
Barrel
Shoulder
Flank
Quarter
Crest
Withers
Stifle
Gaskin
Heartgirth
Elbow
Hock
Cannon Bone
Pastern
Fetlock
Poll
Ears
Forelock
Parts of the Horse
 Chestnuts
 Horny growths on the inside of the horses legs
 Knee
 Joint on the front leg
 Forearm
 Extends from the elbow to the knee
 Arm
 Muscles around and attached to the humerus bone
Croup
Loin
Point of Hip
Buttock
Thigh
Back
Mane
Barrel
Shoulder
Flank
Quarter
Crest
Withers
Stifle
Gaskin
Heartgirth
Arm
Elbow
Forearm
Hock
Knee
Cannon Bone
Pastern
Fetlock
Poll
Ears
Forelock
Parts of a Horse
 Chest/Breast
 Muscle mass between the forelegs
 Neck
 Should be slightly arched
 Blend smoothly and not appear to emerge between the
forelegs
 Throat latch
 Where windpipe, esophagus and blood vessels traverse
from the head to the body
Croup
Loin
Point of Hip
Buttock
Thigh
Back
Barrel
Stifle
Gaskin
Shoulder
Heartgirth
Throat latch
Neck
Chest
Arm
Elbow
Forearm
Hock
Knee
Cannon Bone
Pastern
Poll
Mane
Flank
Quarter
Crest
Withers
Fetlock
Ears
Forelock
Parts of a Horse
 Cheek
 Side of the horse’s face between upper and lower jaw
 Muzzle
 Includes chin, mouth and nostrils
 Face/Forehead
 Space between the horse’s eyes from the top of the head
at the ears down to the top of the nose
Croup
Loin
Point of Hip
Buttock
Thigh
Back
Barrel
Stifle
Gaskin
Shoulder
Heartgirth
Arm
Elbow
Forearm
Knee
Cannon Bone
Fetlock
Ears
Forelock
Forehead
Throat latch
Neck
Cheek
Chest
Hock
Pastern
Poll
Mane
Flank
Quarter
Crest
Withers
Muzzle
Eyes
 Eye colors:
 Albino horse can have blue eyes or one blue and one
brown
 Other horses can have brown, blue or walleyes
 Work independently and can see almost 180 degrees
with each eye
 Cannot see directly behind or in front
 Protected by bony sockets, lids and lashes
Summary
 Various body parts should be in proportion
 Ideal horses possess good balance from
 Aesthetics
 Better coordination
 Smooth ride