American Quarter Horses… Inside and Out

American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame and Museum

The Conformation of a Quarter Horse is different than that of any other breed.

is a word used to describe

the way all of the horses parts

pull together as a whole.

Conformation

The American Quarter Horse is designed to be a versatile horse that can perform on the race track,

on the ranch, and in the show ring.

It’s unique combination of

size, muscle, and organ systems Help the Quarter Horse to perform.

Knowing the names of the parts of your horse and how they work is

important.

•It can help you register

your horse with AQHA

•It can also help

you explain

Problems your horse

has to

a vet or an adult.

Here are a few good parts to learn to get you started…

Muscles It is good to know the names of the muscles

your horse uses.

Muscle: Produces movement by lengthening and shortening.

Muscles

Pectorals deep,

also commonly

known as “Pecs”

Deltoid

Pectorals superficial

Biceps

brachii

Biceps femoris

Muscles Pectorals, deep and superficial

• Pectoral Muscles, or commonly known as Pecs, are used to pull the horse forward.

• Pecs are located at the point of the horses shoulder and underneath his front legs.

• They work by moving the upper end of the shoulder blade forward and pulling the upper bone in his front leg back.

Pecs

Pecs

Muscles Biceps, brachii and femoris

Biceps, brachii, help the front leg to extend at the joint

The Biceps, brachii, work by Flexing the elbow and extending the shoulder.

The Biceps, femoris are in the rear and allow for extending the hind leg.

Biceps

Biceps brachii Biceps femoris

Muscles Deltoids

The Deltoid Muscle lets the shoulder joint extend during walking or

running.

The Deltoid works by shortening to bring the shoulder in and

lengthening to let the shoulder out.

Deltoid Deltoid

Deltoid

Organs

Organ: Part of the body which perform a specific function

To aid life systems.

Organs help Quarter Horses do a number of Things which help them to live.

Organs

Esophagus

Lung (right)

Stomach

Intestine

Heart

Organs Esophagus

• The esophagus is a muscular tube that starts in the back of the mouth and ends in the stomach.

• The esophagus is about 50-60 inches long depending on the size of the horse.

• The esophagus is the start of the digestive system.

Esophagus

Esophagus

Organs Lungs

• An average horse’s lung measure’s 2 feet wide and 3 feet long.

• The lungs main function is to bring air into the body by pulling the air in and then pushing the air out. At a full gallop they take in 5 gallons of air a second.

Lungs

Right Lung

Organs Stomach

• Horses have incredibly small stomachs compared to their overall size. Their stomach is about the size of a 5 quart ice cream bucket.

• After your horse has chewed and broken it’s food into smaller pieces, it goes through the esophagus and into the stomach.

Stomach

Stomach

Organs Intestine

• Upon leaving the stomach the food enters the small intestine, which is best described as a 70-foot-long tube-like organ, where digestion continues.

Intestine

Intestine

Organs Heart

• The horse’s heart is used to pump blood throughout the horse’s body.

• Can be checked behind the horses elbow and you should hear 30-40 beats per minute.

Heart Heart

Skeleton

Skeleton: The internal structure made of bone and cartilage that protects And supports the soft organs, tissues, and other parts

The Horse’s skeleton is its support.

Skeleton

Nasal

Cervical

Vertebrae

Ribs (18)

Femur

Skeleton Nasal

• The Nasal Bone is what makes the horse’s nose structure.

Nasal Nasal

Skeleton Cervical Vertebrate

• The Cervical Vertebrate Supports the neck and protects the esophagus and other organs and tissues inside the neck.

Vertebrate

C. Vertebrate

Skeleton Ribs

• Ribs pull together the structure of the chest of the horse and protect the organs in the horse’s upper body such as the heart, lungs, and several other vital organs. Horse’s have 18 ribs.

Ribs

Ribs

Skeleton Femur

• The Femur is the largest bone in the body. It supports the muscles which control the rear legs.

Femur

Femur

Feet Horses feet are much different than human feet,

they are called Hooves.

Forefoot

Toe

Quarter

Heel

Wall-similar to a

fingernail

And is constantly

growing.

Sole- a cupped

sole allows the

foot clearance

from any rough

Or rocky ground.

Bulbs-Allows the

foot to expand

When running or

jumping. important

For blood

circulation and

provides a shock

absorber for the

foot.

Hindfoot Compared to Front

Toe

Quarter

Heel

The Hindfoot is much narrower than the front.

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