Horse Sense Trivia Quiz

A horse's head is divided into two parts - the top part, which consists of the occiput, crown, and forehead, is the neurocranium, and the bottom part, which consists of the muzzle, is called the viscerocranium. The muzzle on a horse includes many body parts, including the mouth, nostrils, chin, lips, and the front of the nose. A horse also has whiskers on its muzzle; because the horse has tunnel vision, the whiskers help sense objects that are directly in front of it.

Located directly behind the ears, the poll is at the top of the horse's skull, and is the highest point on its head. Its prominence is different on different breeds, but it is an area where there are many nerve endings. Because of this the poll is extremely sensitive - so much so that many use it as part of the horse's training regimen.

The bridle and halter pass over the poll when worn correctly, so that riders can use pressure on the area to cause the horse to change its head position. In a process called pinching, the poll area is used to train a horse to lower its head when its time to put on the bridle or halter.

A horse's withers is located at the top of its shoulder; it is where the neck joins with the body, as well as the place of origin of many of the muscles in a horse's back. For that reason, it is important for the withers to be properly shaped. A withers that is too prominent might be prone to being overly rubbed by a saddle, while one that is flat may cause the saddle to move from side to side.

Horses are measured in hands, and it is from the top of the withers that height is measured.

Sometimes called the rump, the croup is the area on a horse that extends from the highest point of the hindquarters to the top of the tail. This region is important to the horse because it contains muscles that, when well developed, will result in a longer stride and a more powerful animal.

The dock on a horse is found at the back of the horse below the croup. The muscles, ligaments, and vertebrae that surround the dock are part of the spine, and work together to move the horse's tail. Of course, it is difficult to see the dock on most horses, as it is covered with the hair of the tail.

But it's important for a horse to be able to move its tail, as it swats away pesky flies and may even move its tail between its legs to keep the underside of its body warm in cold weather.

The flank on a horse is very sensitive because its kidneys are located underneath. This is where owners can check their horse's rate of respiration. Believe it or not, this area can also tell a lot about a horse's overall health and nutrition. For example, if the flank appears to be sunken in more than usual, it could be a sign that the horse is dehydrated.

The largest joint on a horse's back legs is called a hock. It is made up of many bones, however, its angular shape is due to the shape of the largest bone, called the "os calsis". It's important for a horse to have good, strong hocks because they absorb the impact of its movements.

The function of a hock in a horse is sometimes compared to the function of a human ankle.

The fetlock area is extremely sensitive on a horse, and prone to strain or injury. It is a joint that is located between the cannon bone and pastern bone on all four legs, and carries the horse's weight. Sometimes owners place fetlock boots on their horses to prevent injury in this area.

A horse's hooves support its weight, so their care is of utmost importance. The hoof is made up of a strong wall of keratin - just like our fingernails and toenails - as well as a soft tissue in the underneath center, which is called the frog. The frog serves as a shock absorber whenever the horse moves.

It's important to keep the frog healthy, as it is also part of the horse's circulatory system. Horses that do not wear shoes will break off pieces of the hoof wall to keep it shaped properly; horses that wear shoes must have their hooves regularly groomed.

The area between the knee and the elbow on a horse's front legs is called the forearm, and mainly consists of the radius and ulna bones. It is the longest part of the front limbs, and very important as it supports approximately 2/3 of the horse's weight.