Parts of a Horse
1) Poll. The poll is the bony prominence lying
between the ears. Except for the ears, it is the highest point on horse’s body
when it is standing with its head up.
2) Crest. Moderately lean in mares, but inclined to be
fuller in stallions. Curved topline
of the neck.
3) Forehead.
The forehead should be broad, full and flat.
4) Nostrils.
The nostrils should be capable of wide dilation to permit
the maximum inhalation of air, yet be rather fine.
5) Muzzle. The head should taper to a small muzzle, the
lips should be firm and the lower lip should not have the tendency to sag.
6) Point of Shoulder. The point of shoulder is a hard,
bony prominence surrounded by heavy muscle masses.
7) Breast. The Breast is a muscle mass between the
forelegs, covering the front of the chest.
8) Chest. An ideal chest is deep and contains the space
necessary for vital organs. A narrow chest can lead to interference with the
front legs. Chest muscles should be well developed and form an inverted
"V". The prominence of chest muscling depends on the breed.
9) Forearm. The forearm should be well muscled, it
extends from the elbow to the knee.
10)
Knee. The knee is the
joint between the forearm and the cannon bone.
11)
Coronet.
The coronet is the band around the top of the hoof from which the hoof
wall grows.
12)
Hoof. The hoof refers to
the horny wall and the sole of the foot. The foot includes the horny structure
and the pedal bones and navicular bones, as well as
other connective tissue.
13)
Pastern. The pastern
extends from the fetlock to the top of the hoof.
14)
Sesamoid.
15)
Flexor Tendons. The flexor tendons run from the knee to the
fetlock and can be seen prominently lying behind the cannon bone, when it runs
parallel to the cannon bone it constitutes the desired "flat bone
16)
Fetlock.
The fetlock is the joint between the cannon bone and the pastern. The
fetlock joint should be large and clean.
17)
Cannon. The cannon bone
lies between the knee and fetlock joint, and is
visible from the front of the leg. It should be straight.
18)
Underline.
19)
Hock. The hock
is the joint between the gaskin and the cannon bone, in the rear leg. The bony
protuberance at the back of the hock is called the point of hock.
20)
Gaskin. The gaskin is the
region between the stifle and the hock.
21)
Stifle. The stifle is the joint at the end of the
thigh corresponding to the human knee.
22)
Flank. The flank is the
area below the loin, between the last rib and the massive muscles of the thigh.
23)
Croup. The croup (rump)
lies between the loin and the tail. When one is looking from the side or back,
it is highest point of hindquarters.
24)
Loin. The loin or
coupling is the short area joining the back to the powerful muscular croup
(rump).
25)
Back. The back extends
from the base of the withers to where the last rib is attached
26)
Withers. The withers is the
prominent ridge where the neck and the back join. At the withers, powerful
muscles of the neck and shoulders attach to the elongated spines of the second
to sixth thoracic vertebrae. The height of a horse is measured vertically from
the withers to the ground, because the withers is the
horse's highest constant point.
27)
Throat Latch. The neck should be fine at the throat latch to
allow the horse ease of flexation.
28)
Neck. Lightweight horses
should have reasonably long necks for good appearance and proper balance. It
should blend smoothly into the withers and the shoulders and not appear to
emerge between the front legs.
29)
Shoulder. Shoulders should be overlain with lean, flat
muscle and blend well into the withers.
30)
Barrel. The barrel should be narrower at the shoulders and widen
at the point of coupling (loins).
31)
Girth. This is the point
that a horse should be measured to determine the heart girth which can be used
to determine the horse’s weight.
32)
Elbow. The elbow is a
bony prominence lying against the chest at the beginning of the forearm.
33)
Hindquarters. The
hindquarters give power to the horse. They should be well muscled when viewed
from the side and rear.