Time for the next step in knowing your horse's anatomy. I posted a vlog on my You Tube channel about
the points of a horse - to see that click here. The next step is to know about the basic
skeleton of a horse (which you will need for a BHS Stage 2 exam).
Obviously a horses skeleton has a key influence over how
they move and what they are capable of, some understanding of this will really
improve your understanding of the horse and its movement!
Horses have approximately 205 bones in their skeleton, we
will cover some now and then more detail in a future blog. The skeleton is split into 2 sections; the
AXIAL and the APPENDICULAR.
·
- The AXIAL skeleton comprises the skull, spine, sternum and ribs.
- The APPENDICULAR skeleton comprises the fore and hind limbs.
Compare this photo of Basil with the image below as you
learn the bones!
Appendicular Skeleton
I hope you can read the numbers, Blogger makes the pictures small.
Using the handwritten numbers: -
- Cranium
- Orbit
- Maxilla
- Nasal Bone
- Mandible
- Atlas (the 1st cervical vertebra)
- Axis (the 2nd cervical vertebra)
- Cervical Vertebrae (7)
- Thoracic Vertebrae (18)
- Lumbar Vertebrae (6)
- Sacral Vertebrae (5)
- Coccygeal Vertebrae (15 - 21)
- Sternum
- True Ribs (8)
- False Ribs (10)
Each of the 18 Ribs are attached to a Thoracic vertebra at
the top. The 8 True Ribs are attached to
the Sternum, the False Ribs are attached to cartilage.
Using the handwritten numbers:-
- Scapula
- Humerus
- Ulna
- Radius
- Carpal Bones (7or8)
- Cannon Bone (3rd Metatarsal)
- Fetlock Joint
- Pastern Joint
- Coffin Joint
- Coffin (Pedal) Bone
- Short Pastern (2nd Phalanx)
- Long Pastern (1st Phalanx)
- Sesamoid Bones
- Splint Bone
- Pisiform Bone
- Pelvis
- Ischium
- Hip Joint
- Femur
- Stifle Joint
- Fibula
- Tibia
- Os Calcis
- Hock Joint (Tarsus)
- Long Pastern
- Short Pastern
- Patella
The horse's foot is made up of the Pedal bone, the Navicular
Bone (a small bone in the centre) and half of the Short Pastern bone. I talked about the foot in more detail in my 'Shoes
and Shoeing' blog in January.
To really appreciate how the skeleton influences movement
try and get to one of Gillian Higgins' lectures or demonstrations 'Horses
Inside Out' - they are amazing. See her
website here.
NB: I've used an old book for the pictures 'Horse Anatomy'
by Peter C. Goody which goes into a lot more detail.
Have you seen Day 2 of my 'One Weekend in January' vlog.
Please check it out and SUBSCRIBE.
You can also follow me on Facebook for updates on Chesney, Basil, Fidget and Daisy.
Until next time!
Jo
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