ANIMAL SCIENCE Skeletal and Muscular Systems Topic: (3184A) Ms. Nadene Blakeley Equine Anatomy/Physiology

The Light Horse Athletic purposes Athletic purposes Trail riding Trail riding Speed events Speed events Rodeo Rodeo Ranch Ranch Shows Shows Western Western English English

Light Horse Breeds

Quarter Horses Quarter Horses Thoroughbreds Thoroughbreds Arabians Arabians Paint Horses Paint Horses Appaloosas Appaloosas Pintos Pintos Morgans Morgans Saddlebreds Saddlebreds Standardbreds Standardbreds Andalusians Andalusians Hanoverians Hanoverians Walking Horses Walking Horses Mustangs Mustangs Lippizans Lippizans

Conformation

Conformation Relates to performance potential Relates to performance potential Relationship of parts with one another Relationship of parts with one another Determines movements Determines movements Ease, freedom and direction of leg movement Ease, freedom and direction of leg movement Basic conformation desired Basic conformation desired Correctness Correctness Soundness Soundness Personal preference variations Personal preference variations

Balance: A Standard Horse Length of head = neck, shoulder, waste & hip Length of head = neck, shoulder, waste & hip Heart girth = length of legs Heart girth = length of legs Height (at withers) = Length (shoulder to hip) Height (at withers) = Length (shoulder to hip) ((mainly viewed from the side of the horse))

Forelegs Arms- Arms- Short in relation to shoulder Short in relation to shoulder Forearm- Forearm- long with long, lean muscles tie in close to knee long 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- Short (compared to forearm)- stability, centered to knee Short (compared to forearm)- stability, centered to knee Ankle- Ankle- Clean, smooth, free from excess material Clean, smooth, free from excess material Pasterns- Pasterns- Moderately long, sloping (45 degrees) Moderately long, sloping (45 degrees)

Forelegs: (Front View) Ideal Position  Ideal Position  Base Narrow Base Narrow Knock Kneed Knock Kneed Pigeon Toed Pigeon Toed Toes Out Toes Out Bench Kneed Bench Kneed Bow Legged Bow Legged

Forelegs: (Side View) Ideal Position  Ideal Position  Camped Out Camped Out Camped Under Camped Under Buck Kneed Buck Kneed Calf Kneed Calf Kneed

Side View (Equine Profile) Back- Back- preferably short and muscled (strong) preferably short and muscled (strong) Loin- Loin- has no support except vertebral column (well muscled) has no support except vertebral column (well muscled) Chest- Chest- preferably deep and full contains lungs and heart preferably deep and full contains lungs and heart Ribs- Ribs- preferably well sprung, protect vital organs preferably well sprung, protect vital organs

Hindquarters Croup- Croup- long, fairly flat, muscular and good tail set long, fairly flat, muscular and good tail set Hip- Hip- long, strong, angled to point of buttock long, strong, angled to point of buttock Gaskin- Gaskin- moderately sloped from stifle to hock moderately sloped from stifle to hock Hock- Hock- wide, deep, well defined, strong and angled wide, deep, well defined, strong and angled Cannon Bones- Cannon Bones- parallel from rear; from side, line of cannon bones should point to buttock (outer most point) parallel from rear; from side, line of cannon bones should point to buttock (outer most point) Pastern- Pastern- moderately long, at 50 degree slope is ideal moderately long, at 50 degree slope is ideal

Hindquarters: (Side View) Ideal Position  Ideal Position  Sickle Hocked Sickle Hocked Post Legged Post Legged Camped Out Camped Out

Hindquarters: (Rear View) Ideal Position  Ideal Position  Bow Legged Bow Legged Cow Hocked Cow Hocked Stands Close Stands Close Stands Wide Stands Wide

Conclusion Conformation: Important! Conformation: Important! Performance potential Performance potential Determines movements Determines movements Balance: Proportional Balance: Proportional Correctness=Soundness, Strength, Performance Correctness=Soundness, Strength, Performance Faults=Weakness, Instability Faults=Weakness, Instability

Resources MSU Ag Ed Website ( MSU Ag Ed Website ( Horse Learning Laboratory Kit Horse Learning Laboratory Kit (Ohio State University Extension 4-H/Youth Development, 1998) (Ohio State University Extension 4-H/Youth Development, 1998)