ANIMAL SCIENCEANIMAL SCIENCE

Skeletal and Muscular SystemsSkeletal and Muscular Systems

Topic: (3184A) Topic: (3184A)

Ms. Nadene Blakeley

Equine Anatomy/Physiology

The Light HorseThe Light Horse

AthleticAthletic purposes purposes Trail ridingTrail riding Speed eventsSpeed events RodeoRodeo Ranch Ranch ShowsShows

WesternWestern EnglishEnglish

Light Horse BreedsLight Horse Breeds

Light Horse BreedsLight Horse Breeds

Quarter HorsesQuarter Horses ThoroughbredsThoroughbreds ArabiansArabians Paint HorsesPaint Horses AppaloosasAppaloosas PintosPintos MorgansMorgans

SaddlebredsSaddlebreds StandardbredsStandardbreds AndalusiansAndalusians HanoveriansHanoverians Walking HorsesWalking Horses MustangsMustangs LippizansLippizans

ConformationConformation

ConformationConformation

Relates to Relates to performanceperformance potential potential Relationship of parts with one anotherRelationship of parts with one another Determines movementsDetermines movements

Ease, freedom and direction of leg movementEase, freedom and direction of leg movement Basic conformation desiredBasic conformation desired

CorrectnessCorrectness SoundnessSoundness Personal preference variationsPersonal preference variations

Balance: A Standard HorseBalance: A Standard Horse

Length of Length of headhead = neck, shoulder, waste & hip = neck, shoulder, waste & hip

Heart girth = length of legsHeart girth = length of legs

Height (at withers) = Length (shoulder to hip)Height (at withers) = Length (shoulder to hip)

((mainly viewed from the ((mainly viewed from the sideside of the horse)) of the horse))

ForelegsForelegs Arms- Arms-

Short in relation to shoulderShort in relation to shoulder Forearm-Forearm-

longlong with long, lean muscles tie in close to knee with long, lean muscles tie in close to knee Knees-Knees-

Wide, flat, smooth, clean-cut (centered on radius)Wide, flat, smooth, clean-cut (centered on radius) Cannon Bones-Cannon Bones-

ShortShort (compared to forearm)- stability, centered to knee (compared to forearm)- stability, centered to knee Ankle- Ankle-

Clean, smooth, free from excess materialClean, smooth, free from excess material Pasterns-Pasterns-

Moderately long, sloping (Moderately long, sloping (4545 degrees) degrees)

Forelegs: (Front View)Forelegs: (Front View)

Ideal Position Ideal Position Base NarrowBase Narrow Knock KneedKnock Kneed Pigeon ToedPigeon Toed Toes OutToes Out Bench KneedBench Kneed Bow LeggedBow Legged

Forelegs: (Side View)Forelegs: (Side View)

Ideal Position Ideal Position Camped OutCamped Out Camped UnderCamped Under Buck KneedBuck Kneed Calf KneedCalf Kneed

Side View (Equine Profile)Side View (Equine Profile)

Back-Back- preferably preferably shortshort and muscled (strong) and muscled (strong)

Loin-Loin- has no support except vertebral column (well has no support except vertebral column (well

muscled)muscled) Chest-Chest-

preferably deep and full contains lungs and heartpreferably deep and full contains lungs and heart Ribs-Ribs-

preferably well preferably well sprungsprung, protect vital organs, protect vital organs

HindquartersHindquarters Croup-Croup-

long, fairly flat, muscular and good tail setlong, fairly flat, muscular and good tail set Hip-Hip-

long, strong, angled to point of buttocklong, strong, angled to point of buttock Gaskin-Gaskin-

moderately sloped from stifle to hockmoderately sloped from stifle to hock Hock-Hock-

wide, deep, well defined, strong and angledwide, deep, well defined, strong and angled Cannon Bones-Cannon Bones-

parallel from rear; from side, line of cannon bones should parallel from rear; from side, line of cannon bones should point to buttock (outer most point)point to buttock (outer most point)

Pastern-Pastern- moderately long, at moderately long, at 5050 degree slope is ideal degree slope is ideal

Hindquarters: (Side View)Hindquarters: (Side View)

Ideal Position Ideal Position Sickle HockedSickle Hocked Post LeggedPost Legged Camped OutCamped Out

Hindquarters: (Rear View)Hindquarters: (Rear View)

Ideal Position Ideal Position Bow LeggedBow Legged Cow HockedCow Hocked Stands CloseStands Close Stands WideStands Wide

ConclusionConclusion

ConformationConformation: Important!: Important! Performance potentialPerformance potential Determines Determines movementsmovements

Balance: Balance: ProportionalProportional

CorrectnessCorrectness=Soundness, Strength, Performance=Soundness, Strength, Performance FaultsFaults=Weakness, Instability=Weakness, Instability

ResourcesResources

MSU Ag Ed Website (MSU Ag Ed Website (www.agriscience.msu.eduwww.agriscience.msu.edu) )

Horse Learning Laboratory KitHorse Learning Laboratory Kit (Ohio State University Extension 4-H/Youth (Ohio State University Extension 4-H/Youth

Development, 1998)Development, 1998)