The skeletal system is the framework for the horse’s body, it defines the overall shape of the horse. Muscles attach to this framework acts as a system of levers for the muscles to work against.
The skeleton houses the vital internal organs of the horse’s body. There are approximately 205-208 bones in the horse’s body, Arab horse having an extra set of ribs can make it a couple more (205-210). The bones store calcium and phosphorus.
Horses come in all shapes and sizes. Conformation abnormalities effects strain on muscles, tendon and ligaments. For example, a horse with a big head or being long in the pastern joints, will carry a bit more tension there than normal because perfect balance is not quite right. Horses with a short back will have more strength in it than a horse with a long back.
The horses humerus and leg showing ligaments holding the bones together
