The horse's floating ribs are a unique feature that distinguishes horses from all other mammals. Floating ribs are the first 2 pairs of false ribs. The floating ribs are attached to horse’s vertebrae via a special floating rib bone called the floating rib tuberosity, which is part of the floating rib.
The floating rib also connects to horse's diaphragm at another point besides its angled end which attaches to the true rib above it via tendon.
The floating rib tuberosity is located at the end of the floating ribs (where it connects to horse’s vertebrae). This floating rib structure consists of cartilage, not bone. It provides a flexible connection between floating ribs and horse's spine. The floating rib tuberosity is an important structure that allows floating ribs to move with the fluid motion of horse's spine as it runs.
The floating rib tuberosity also helps prevent floating ribs from fracturing by providing a flexible attachment point, which absorbs energy from impact during trauma so bones do not shatter.