Dr. Stuart Brown DVM from Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington Kentucky generously wrote this article on colic in foals following a number of inquiries and questions. This in-depth overview comes from his expertise in broodmare reproduction and routine primary care. Learn more about h...
Read MoreAnatomy / Pedigree
Photo courtesy of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
Conformation is the overall shape and structure of a horse evaluated by looking at the horse's bone structure, muscles, and body proportions.
Good conformation starts with the bones - 205 bones make up the equine skeleton.
The horse skeletal structure is held together with ligaments, tendons, and muscles.
The hocks on the back legs of a horse are similar to the ankle joint on a human skeleton. The hocks are essential for propelling a horse forward.
Its hind quarters can propel a horse forward 40 miles an hour in six strides.
Horses have a range of vision that covers a combined 330 degrees. In comparison, human range of vision is a combined 120 degrees.
Photo courtesy of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
Every thoroughbred's ancestry can be traced back to three foundation stallions imported to England in the 17th and 18th centuries: the Darley Arabian, the Byerly Turk, and the Godolphin Arabian. These stallions are the forefathers of Thoroughbred horses.