Last Updated on March 12, 2022
If you ride or own a horse, it is important to understand the different parts of a horse. This will give you a better understanding of how a horse moves and what all the parts mean. In addition, it is important to know all the parts of a horse in case your horse is injured or hurt, so you can describe the problem to your vet.
There are a lot of parts to a horse, so it can take a bit to learn them all. However, it is good to familiarize yourself with all the parts to better understand your horse. Knowing the parts of a horse is an important aspect of their care.
Different Parts Of A Horse
From the withers to the croup, there are many parts of the horse. To make it easier to understand the different parts, they are normally broken down into sections: Head and neck, body and legs.
Using a horse body parts diagram can help you get a visual understanding of a horse’s build. Learning all the parts can give you a better understanding of how horses move and how their health works.
Parts Of The Head And Neck
The exact shape of a horse’s head and neck will vary by breed and individual horse. However, all the parts will remain the same, no matter what horse.
Muzzle
The muzzle of a horse includes the mouth, nostrils, chin, and lips of a horse. Horses will grow whiskers on their muzzles, allowing horses to sense their environment. Muzzles also tend to be more sensitive than other areas.
Poll
The poll is the area right behind the horse’s ears. It is the area where the top of a bridle or halter sits.
Ears – Parts Of A Horse
Horse’s have very mobile ears that sit on the top of their heads. They are able to move them in different directions as a way to communicate.
Throatlatch
The throatlatch is where the head connects to the neck. It is the area behind the cheeks.
Cheek
The cheeks are located on the sides of a horse’s head. They are large, flat areas.
Eyes
The eyes are located on the side of a horse’s head. This gives them binocular and monocular vision, which allows them to watch out for predators.
Jaw
The jaw is located on the underside of a horse’s head. It is between the chin and throatlatch.
Neck
The neck is what connects a horse’s head to its body. The upper part of the neck is the crest, which is where the mane grows.
Parts Of The Body
Depending on the breed, a horse’s body may be built differently. However, all the parts of the body remain the same for all breeds.
Whithers
The whithers are located just above a horse’s shoulders. They are at where the neck meets the body.
Barrel
The barrel is the middle of the horse where the rib cage is located.
Croup
The croup is the highest part of a horse’s rump or buttock.
Dock
The dock is the part of the horse where the tail connects to the body.
Chest
The chest is the front portion of the body, located between the shoulders.
Shoulders
Located in front of the barrel, the shoulder includes the scapula and associated muscles. The angle of the shoulder varies by certain breeds and affects the length of a horse’s stride.
Flank
The flank is the area where the hind legs met the barrel of the horse.
Back
The back of the horse begins at the whithers and extends to the last thoracic vertebrae. The back of the horse is where the saddle sits.
Loin
The loin is the area behind the back and in front of the croup. It is the area right behind where a saddle sits.
Buttocks
The part of a horse’s behind that is located below the tail.
Point Of Hip
You can find the point of hip on a horse in the area that is below where the loin and croup meet.
Parts Of The Leg
The health of a horse’s legs is very important as they enable the movement of the horse and support its weight. Bone structure and size can vary by breed, but all the parts of the legs are the same.
Forearm
The forearm of a horse is the area that is between the knee and the elbow.
Stifle – Parts Of A Horse
The stifle is the area on a horse that corresponds with a person’s knee, located on a horse’s hind legs.
Gaskin
The gaskin is the area on a horse’s leg below the stifle and above the hock.
Knee
The knee is a large joint on the front legs. The knee on a horse is the equivalent of a human’s wrist.
Cannon Bones
The cannon bone is the area between the knee on the front leg or the hock on the back leg and the fetlock joint.
Fetlock
Below the cannon bone is the fetlock. It is sometimes called the ankle bone of the horse but it is not equivalent to the ankle bone on a human.
Hock
The hock is a joint on the back leg below the gaskin and above the cannon bone. It is the equivalent to an ankle bone on a human.
Pastern – Parts Of A Horse
The pastern is the area below the fetlock and above the hoof.
Chestnut
Chestnuts appear on the front and back legs of a horse. They are a flat, horn-like growth.
Ergot
Ergots are horn-like growths that appear below the fetlocks.
Hoof
The hoof is the foot of the horse.
Understanding Horse Anatomy By Using A Diagram Of A Horse
Horses are complex creatures and they are made up of many parts. Understanding the parts of the horse will give you a better understanding of these amazing animals.
Do you have any questions regarding the parts of a horse? If so, please ask any questions regarding the anatomy of horses in the comment section.
