The horse’s skeleton is the scaffold to which all his soft tissues attach. The vertebral column, ribs, and sternum stabilize the torso and facilitate flexibility for rapid changes in direction. Long bones connect to each other at joints, which allow limb flexion. How many bones are in a horse’s skeleton? Read more…
Table 1 Variable Horse Donkey Mean Mean Head weight (kg) 22.5 ± 4.9 13.6 ± 3.7 Skull length (cm) 53.6 ± 2.6 46.6 ± 5.0 Cranial length (cm) 23.6 ± 1.4 20.4 ± 2.7 How thick is a horse’s skull? The median skull (including frontal sinus) and tissue thickness at Read more…
Cannon. In the young horse, there are three separate bones in the cannon region of the leg. It is very common for the splint bones to fuse with the cannon. In this example, one splint bone is fused and the other is not. What is the cannon bone in a Read more…
The skeletal system of the horse has three major functions in the body. It protects vital organs, provides framework, and supports soft parts of the body. Horses typically have 205 bones. How does a horses skeleton help it move? The vertebral column, ribs, and sternum stabilize the torso and facilitate Read more…
In Wales, these horse skulls were thought to “dispel the spirits.” In Finnish folklore, the burial of skulls was used as a preventative against witchcraft. In Ireland, horse skulls were considered sonsie that would bring prosperity and good fortune. What is unique about horse skull? A Horse’s Skull Has Twice Read more…
Soft tissue swellings such as bites and allergies are common causes of lumps on horses’ heads. Infections and abscesses from foreign bodies are also encountered frequently. What are the first signs of strangles in horses? What are the clinical signs of strangles? The incubation period for strangles is 3 to Read more…
‘Big Head’ is a calcium deficiency disease induced by a diet with a persistent lack in calcium, excess in phosphorus and/or imbalanced calcium to phosphorus ratio. This disorder has severe effects on horses including difficulty breathing, painful movement and lameness. How do you treat a horse with a big Head? Read more…
Proximal: Meaning closer to the body, or point of attachment. Ie: The knee is proximal to the ankle. Dorsal: The back surface, or topline Ventral: Underneath the belly. Where is the proximal on a horse? In horses, the two proximal sesamoid bones are located just proximal to fetlock joint on Read more…
The proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint is the articulation between the distal aspect of the proximal phalanx and the proximal aspect of the middle phalanx. Collateral ligaments, abaxial and axial ligaments provide stability to the joint. What is Ringbone in a horse? What IS RINGBONE? Ringbone in horses refers to a Read more…
Clegs (horseflies) Concentrated in the northern highlands, these relatively large insects have a vicious bite. You will only feel the bite as the fly disengages to fly off, by which time it is too late. Are there horse flies in Scotland? Horseflies, commonly known as cleggs in Scotland, thrive in Read more…