The links within the text will take you to various images of equine anatomy. Use the back key within your browser to return to this page after each image. Our presentation of equine anatomy will begin with the general parts of the horse . Be sure that you can identify the muzzle, throatlatch, shoulder, forearm, elbow, knee, cannon, pastern, fetlock, coronet, hoof, stifle, flank, gaskin, hock, withers, and loin. The horse needs to have good conformation of the feet and legs in order to remain sound and not exhibit acute or chronic lamness.
First lets examine the structure of the hoof .
The hoof is important as it bears the weight of the animal during each step. It must absorb large amounts of shock during equine activities. The hoof can be divided into the heel, quater and toe sections. When looking from the bottom, the hoof wall, white line, sole, bar and frog can be seen. When the internal anatomy of the hoof and bottom part of the leg are examined, the long pastern bone, short pastern bone and coffin bone are alinged in a straight line with the navicular bone to the rear.