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Points of a Horse
back: the area where
the saddle goes, begins at the end of the withers, extends to the
last thoracic vertebrae. (Colloquially includes the loin or "coupling,"
though technically incorrect usage)
barrel: the main body
area of the horse, enclosing the rib cage and the major internal organs.
cannon or
cannon bone: The area between the knee or
hock and the fetlock joint, sometimes called the "shin" of the horse, though
technically it is the metacarpal III.
chin groove:
the part of the horse's head behind the lower lip and chin. (the area that
dips down slightly on the lower jaw). Area where the curb chain of certain
bits is fastened.
coupling: see "Loin" below.
coronet
or coronary band:
The ring of soft tissue just above the horny hoof that blends into the skin
of the leg.
crest: the upper
portion of the neck where the mane grows.
croup: the topline of
the horse's hindquarters, beginning at the hip, extending proximate to the
sacral vertebrae and
stopping at the dock of the tail (where the coccygeal vertebrae
begin). Sometimes called "rump."
dock: the point where
the tail connects to the rear of the horse.
elbow:
The joint of the front leg at the point where the belly of the horse meets
the leg. Homologous to the elbow
in humans.
fetlock:
Sometimes called the "ankle"
of the horse, though it is not the same skeletal structure as an ankle in
humans. Known to anatomists as the metacarpophalangeal (front) or
metatarsophalangeal (hind) joint; homologous to the "ball" of the foot or
the metacarpophalangeal joints of the fingers in humans.
flank: Where the hind
legs and the barrel of the horse meet, specifically the area right behind
the rib cage and in front of the stifle joint.
forearm:
the area of the front leg between the knee and elbow. Consists of the fused
radius and ulna, and all the
tissue around these bones. Anatomically the antebrachium.
forelock: the
continuation of the mane, which hangs from between the ears down onto the
forehead of the horse.
frog: the highly
elastic wedge-shaped mass on the underside of the hoof, which normally
makes contact with the ground every stride, supports both the locomotion and
circulation of the horse.
gaskin: the large
muscle on the hind leg, just above the hock, below the stifle. Homologous to
the calf of a human.
girth' orheartgirth:
the area right behind the elbow of the horse, where the girth of the saddle
would go, this area should be where the barrel is at its greatest diameter
in a properly-conditioned horse that is not pregnant or obese.
hindquarters: the
large, muscular area of the hind legs, above the stifle and behind the
barrel of the horse.
hock: The tarsus of the horse (hindlimb
equivalent to the human ankle and heel), the large joint on the hind leg.
hoof:
The foot of the horse. The hoof wall is the tough outside covering of the
hoof that comes into contact with the ground. The hoof wall is, in many
respects, a much larger and stronger version of the human fingernail.
jugular groove:
the line of indentation on the lower portion of the neck, can be seen from
either side, just above the windpipe. Beneath this area run the jugular vein, the
carotid artery and part
of the sympathetic trunk.
knee:
the carpus of the horse
(equivalent to the human wrist), the large joint in the front legs, above
the cannon bone
loin:
the area right behind the saddle, going from the last rib of the horse to
the croup. Anatomically approximate to the lumbar spine.
mane: long and relatively coarse hair
growing from the dorsal ridge of the neck, lying on either the left or right
side of the neck).
muzzle: the chin,
mouth, and nostrils of the horse's face.
pastern: The connection
between the coronet and the fetlock. Made up of the middle and proximal
phalanx.
poll: commonly refers
to the poll joint at the beginning of the horse's neck, immediately behind
the ears, a slight depression at the joint where the atlas (C1) meets the
occipital crest.
Anatomically, the occipital crest itself is the "poll."
splints:
bones found on each of the legs, on either side of the cannon bone (8
total). Partially vestigial, these bones
support the corresponding carpal bones in the forelimb, and the
corresponding tarsal bones in the hindlimb.[1]
Anatomically referred to as Metacarpal/Metatarsal
II (on the medial aspect (inside))
and IV (on the lateral aspect
(outside)).
shoulder:
made up of the scapula and associated
muscles. Runs from the withers to the point of shoulder (the joint at the
front of the chest, i.e. the glenoid). The angle of
the shoulder has a great affect on the horse's movement and jumping ability,
and is an important aspect of equine conformation.
stifle: Corresponds to
the knee of a human, consists of the articulation between femur and tibia,
as well as the articulation between patella and femur.
tail: consists of both
the living part of the tail (which consists of the coccygeal vertebrae,
muscules, and ligaments), as well as the long hairs which grow from the
living part
throatlatch: The point
at which the windpipe meets the head at the underside of the jaw.
withers:
the highest point of the thoracic vertebrae, the point just above the tops
of the shoulder blades. Seen best with horse standing square and head
slightly lowered. The height of the horse is measured at the withers in "hands."
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