Horse Anatomy: Fill in the Blanks

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Horses have amazing bodies built for strength, speed, and communication! Use the Answer Bank at the bottom of the page to fill in each blank below.

🐴 Front of the Horse

1. The bony structure that forms the horse's face and protects its brain is called the ________.

2. A horse's ________ are large and can move independently to pick up sounds from different directions.

3. The horse uses its ________ to breathe in and smell its surroundings.

4. The soft, sensitive area around the horse's mouth and lips is called the ________.

5. The long hair that grows along the top of the horse's neck is called the ________.

6. The ________ connects the horse's head to its body and helps it balance while moving.

🐴 Middle of the Horse

7. The highest point of a horse's back, just above the shoulders, is called the ________. This is where a horse's height is measured.

8. The ________ is the front part of the horse's body between the forelegs, housing the heart and lungs.

9. The large, rounded middle section of the horse's body that holds its digestive organs is called the ________.

10. The ________ is the measurement around the horse's body just behind the front legs — it tells us where a saddle sits.

11. The horse's ________ runs along the top of its body from neck to tail and supports its weight.

12. The ________ are curved bones that protect the horse's heart and lungs inside the barrel.

13. The horse's ________ and ________ are located inside the chest; they work together to pump blood and bring in oxygen.

14. The soft area behind the barrel and in front of the hindquarters is called the ________.

🐴 Back of the Horse

15. The rounded, muscular area at the top of the horse's hindquarters is called the ________.

16. The ________ is the wide, powerful area of the horse's hindquarters that gives it pushing power when running or jumping.

17. The horse uses its ________ to swat flies and communicate its mood.

🐴 Legs of the Horse

18. The front legs of a horse are called ________, and the back legs are called ________.

19. The joint on the front leg that looks similar to a human knee is simply called the ________.

20. The ________ is the straight bone between the knee and the fetlock — it takes a lot of impact when the horse moves.

21. The ________ is the small joint just above the hoof that acts as a shock absorber.

22. The short, angled bone between the fetlock and the hoof is called the ________.

23. The hard outer covering at the bottom of each leg that protects the horse's foot is called the ________.

24. The ________ are strong, flexible bands of tissue that connect muscles and bones in the horse's legs, helping it move and supporting its weight.