Basic Anatomy
These three types of muscles--skeletal, cardiac, and smooth--make up this system.
What is the muscular system?
These muscles are responsible for raising the horse's jaw when eating.
What are the masseter muscles?
Muscles that work without conscious effort, such as those that move food through the digestive tract.
What are involuntary muscles?
This is the main action of the muscle known as the triceps brachii.
What is extending the elbow?
While horses have about 700 muscles, they have 10 of these on each side to rotate their ears independently up to 180 degrees.
What are ear muscles?
This is the study of muscles.
What is myology?
This main superficial muscle in the horse's head helps them move thier nostrils.
What is the levator nasolabialis?
This muscle in the eyelid is responsible for closing the eye.
What is orbicularis oculi?
A horse's tail is moved by muscles to accomplish this action, protecting them from pests.
What is swatting flies?
These muscles, located on the underside of the horse, act as a muscular sling to support the weight of the torso between the front legs.
What are pectorals?
Unlike humans, horses lack this specific bony prominence on their shoulder blades, resulting in a unique muscle structure.
What is an acromion?
This major muscle group, located in the hindquarters, is crucial for propelling the horse forward.
What are the gluteals?
This large, V-shaped muscle on the chest helps pull the front legs back and forward.
What is the pectoral muscle?
The number of muscles a horse has in each ear allows for independent movement.
What is 10?
These massive muscles of the hindquarters are essential for propulsion and power, essential for jumping and fast acceleration.
What are the gluteal muscles?
Muscles in the horse's ears that allow them to turn 180 degrees to identify sound.
What is 10?
This muscle group is located on the back of the hind leg, often called the "hamstrings".
What is the biceps femoris?
This tendon and muscle group in the lower leg is a common site of injury in performance horses.
What are the flexor tendons?
This is the primary function of the superficial gluteal muscle.
What is extending the hip joint?
These include the abdominal muscles, the thoracic sling, pelvic stabilisers, the deep vertebral muscles as well as the lateral stabilisers of the limbs.
What are the core muscles?
This V-shaped, soft pad on the bottom of the hoof acts as a shock absorber.
What is the frog?
This is the approximate percentage of a horse's total body mass that is composed of muscle.
What is 50%?
This muscular structure runs along the top of the neck, directly under the mane.
What is the crest?
A castrated male horse.
What is a gelding?
This renowned horseman and clinician, often called a real-life "horse whisperer," was the subject of a 2011 documentary and advised Robert Redford on a 1998 film.
Who is Buck Brannaman?