Parts of the Horse EQS 110

Instructions This is an interactive presentation on common parts of the horse. You will use the following image to learn common terminology and location of each part. To utilize this lecture as designed, do not use your mouse or arrow keys to move through the lecture. Instead, click each “?” presented to explore the horse and use button to go back to the main selection screen. “X” out of the presentation when finished. There are 30 parts to learn. Pair this lecture with the worksheet provided on the course website for further review.

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The crest is the upper part of the neck where the mane grows

The poll references the point immediately behind or right between the ears – it is one of the most mobile joints of the horse’s neck

The top of the neck runs from the top of the poll to the withers while the bottom runs from the throatlatch to the shoulder

The muzzle is part of the horse’s face – it includes the mouth and nostrils

The throatlatch is where the horse’s head and its windpipe (trachea) meet

The jugular groove is a line of indentation just above the horse’s windpipe (trachea) – it contains the jugular vein and carotid artery

The withers is located behind the neck – it makes up the highest point of the horse’s back

The shoulder consists of powerful muscles that allow for movement

The point of shoulder is a hard, bony prominence found towards the front of the shoulder

The chest is found towards the front of the horse, from the bottom end of the neck to the top of the front legs

The elbow is a bony prominence lying at the back of the forearm

The forearm extends from the elbow to the knee

The knee is a joint located between the forearm and cannon bone

The cannon bone is located between the knee (on a front leg) or hock (on a back leg) and the fetlock

The fetlock, sometimes referred to as the ankle, is located between the cannon and pastern bone

The pastern extends from the fetlock to the top of the hoof

The coronary band is where the hairline meets the hoof

The hoof is the foot of the horse

The back extends from the base of the withers to the last rib

The barrel, also sometimes referred to as the ribs, is the middle portion of a horse

The loin is the short area joining the back to the croup

The croup is the highest point of the hindquarters, located between the loin and tail

The dock is the base of the horse’s tail

The point of hip is a hard, bony prominence found on each side of the horse’s hindquarters

The hindquarters consist of large muscles that power movement

The point of buttock is a hard, bony prominence found on the rounded edge of a horse’s hindquarter

The flank is the area where the hind legs meet the barrel

The stifle is a joint that functions similar to the human knee – it is located above the gaskin

The gaskin is a muscular region between the stifle and hock

The hock is a joint located between the gaskin and cannon bone in the rear leg