“Beneath the Surface: Fascinating Facts About Your Horse’s Body – Help Us Spread The Word” – Email 27

Hi lovely,

With the exciting start of the Online Horse Psychology Course and the build-up to the Horses Inside Out Conference next month, I seem to have Gillian Higgins and ‘all things anatomy’ on the brain at the moment.

As a vet physio, I never get bored of the equine body — but revisiting Gillian’s work this week really reminded me just how extraordinary horses are beneath the skin. It got me thinking… ‘what are some of the most fascinating facts about the equine body that really help us understand our horses better?’

If you find the facts below interesting, keep reading to the end for an opportunity not to be missed and an exclusive discount code, or click here to find out more! 

#1 Did You Know Horses Actually Have Fewer Bones Than We Do?

An adult horse has around 205 bones — one fewer than the average human. The missing one? The clavicle (collarbone).

Unlike us, a horse’s forelimbs aren’t attached to the skeleton by bone at all. Instead, they’re suspended by muscles, tendons and ligaments in what’s often called the thoracic sling. In effect, the horse’s front legs are floating from the body.

This is what allows that beautiful freedom of movement through the shoulder and forelimb — but it’s also why posture, balance, farriery, correct training and muscular support matter so much. When the thoracic sling isn’t working well, the knock-on effects can travel through the whole body.

#2 “Your Horse Has a Big Heart” — and Yes, I Mean That Literally

You might think I’m being soft when I say ‘your horse has a big heart’  but… anatomically, it’s absolutely true.

A horse’s heart weighs roughly 1% of their body weight. For a 500 kg horse, that’s about a 5 kg heart working incredibly hard to fuel movement and performance. During intense exercise, the heart rate can rise from around 30–40 beats per minute to well over 200, pumping astonishing volumes of blood with every beat.

But such a powerful system also deserves careful understanding. Subtle changes in heart function do matter — which is why I can’t recommend highly enough the recording of our recent webinar with Professor Gunther van Loon, one of the world’s leading equine cardiologists. It’s genuinely one of the most valuable webinars we’ve hosted. Watch it here!

#3 Brain vs Brawn: Small But Mighty 

Compared to that huge heart, the horse’s brain is surprisingly small — around 0.1% of body weight, compared with roughly 2% in humans.

But size isn’t the whole story…. Horses have evolved as prey animals, with brains wired for sensory awareness, movement and rapid decision-making rather than abstract reasoning. They’re exceptional at co-ordinating movement, forming habits (for better or worse), reading subtle cues, and responding to tiny changes in posture, breath and tension.

This is why horses can learn to respond to the lightest aids — and why they can also pick up unwanted patterns just as quickly. Fascinatingly , subtle signs like blink rate, could give us clues into the horses brain, temperament and maybe even performance potential, something Dr Andrew Hemmings explores beautifully in our Equine Brain webinar recording that is also a must watch. Find it here.

#4 Is Your Horse Left- or Right-“Handed”?

Just like people, horses are not naturally symmetrical. Research consistently shows left–right differences in the skeleton — one shoulder slightly higher, one hoof shaped differently, even a preferred grazing leg. Most horses naturally prefer to bend to one side, and that’s completely normal, but can be a precursor of injury. 

What’s interesting, though, is that elite performance horses tend to be more symmetrical. Work by Dr Kirsty Lésniak (one of the Horses Inside Out experts) shows that horses with exceptional athletic ability often display greater structural symmetry.

The good news? This means that through thoughtful training, conditioning and correct management, we can help horses improve balance, coordination and muscle development – nudging them closer to symmetry and potentially reducing injury risk along the way.

I’m so looking forward to hearing what the experts have to say about symmetry at the conference next month — catching up with Kelly, spending time with some of our brilliant IH Trainers, and hopefully even meeting a few of you too…

P.S. If these snippets have sparked your curiosity, and you have any anatomy based questions of your own, why not ask the experts? see below!… 

Horses Inside Out Anatomy Exhibition

If you’re passionate about equine soundness, symmetry, anatomy and performance, the Horses Inside Out Anatomy Exhibition is an opportunity not to miss.

This year also marks 20 years of Horses Inside Out, making it a particularly special event. Even if you’re not attending the full conference, an Exhibition-Only ticket gives you a full day immersed in anatomy, science and inspiration, including: 

Scientific Poster Presentations

Sixteen research posters covering biomechanics, movement, training methods and more — with opportunities to meet the authors and discuss how this science applies in the real world.

Hands-On Anatomy Zones (at times throughout the day) 

Explore real skeletons, specimens and anatomical models, guided by leading experts:

• Interactive Zone – Dr Kirsty Lésniak
• Skeleton Zone – Dr Sue Dyson
• Head Zone – Dr Chris Pearce
• Hoof & Leg Zone – Mark Johnson

This is rare, three-dimensional learning at its very best, with the opportunity to get your questions answered! 

Equine Anatomy-Inspired Art

Gillian Higgins’ anatomical artwork beautifully blends science and artistry, capturing the power, balance and elegance of the horse in a truly unique way.

Celebrating 20 Years of Horses Inside Out

A special exhibition charting two decades of innovation, education and impact — with photos, videos and behind-the-scenes moments from Gillian’s journey.

📍 Where: Holywell Park Conference Centre, Loughborough University

📅 When: Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd February 2026

🕘 Time: 9am–5pm (pop-up café on site)

If you love learning, understanding your horse better, and seeing beneath the surface — this really is an anatomy-lover’s dream.

👉 Find out more and book your exhibition ticket here

And we even have a members exclusive discount code to use at checkout: IHCONF26 

Hope to see many of you there.

Until next time,

Abi

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ENTER By January 31st.

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