Equine Muscles

Front 1

rhomboid

Back 1

deep, under trapezius

cervical vert.→ upper scapula

raises scapula, moves scapula forward, raises neck

Front 2

rhomboid dysfunction

Back 2

cinchy, sore withers/top of neck, shortened stride, can't pick up/ change leads, low front leg power

Front 3

rhomboid pain causes

Back 3

excessive rein pressure, jump landing, sudden forward movement, poor saddle fit, tie downs

Front 4

cervical serratus

Back 4

deep, under lat. dorsi

cerv. vert.→ top of scapula

Front 5

thoracic serratus

Back 5

deep, under lat. dorsi

ribs→ inside scapula

lifts front leg, arches neck

Front 6

serratus dysfunction

Back 6

cinchy, pain when under saddle

poor saddle fit, Scapula can't move correctly

Front 7

deep pectoral

Back 7

deep

adducts leg

Front 8

deep pectoral dysfunction

Back 8

caused by too tight cinch

Front 9

infraspinatus

Back 9

deep

caudal edge scapula→ humerus

extends shoulder, flexes shoulder joint, abducts, prevents shoulder dislocation

Front 10

infraspinatus dysfunction

Back 10

shortened stride, shoulder lameness

Front 11

longissimus dorsi

Back 11

deep, includes long. cervicis, thoracis, lumboram, spinalis, semispinalis

thoracic & lumbar spinous processes

flexes back horizontally, vertically

Front 12

medial gluteal

Back 12

deep

end of longissimus→ top of femur

moves body forward, extends leg backwards(kicking), allows rearing

Front 13

medial gluteal dysfunction

Back 13

loss of hind end power, unwilling to extend hind leg forward/ backward

Front 14

quadriceps

Back 14

deep

innominate→ top of femur

flexes hip, brings hindleg forward under body

Front 15

gastrocnemius

Back 15

deep

femur lateral head→ calcaneus

extends tarsus, flexes stifle joint

Front 16

splenius

Back 16

superficial

skull mastoid process→ cerv., thoracic vert.

Straightens neck, raises neck, bends neck to the side

Front 17

splenius dysfunction

Back 17

resists turning head, lowered head/ stretching at rest, resist turning to opposite side of pain

Front 18

splenius dysfunction causes

Back 18

pulling back when tied, quick starts, stops, changes in direction, pulling against bit, collecting, flexing head /neck, pulling On reins

Front 19

trapezius

Back 19

superficial

cervical, mid thoracic vert.→ top of scapula

raises scapula, moves scapula forward & back

Front 20

trapezius dysfunction

Back 20

decreased front leg, can't pickup/ change leads, shortened stride, sore withers, cinchy

Front 21

trapezius dysfunction causes

Back 21

bouncing rider, poor saddle fit, quick starts, stops, change in direction, jump landing, gaited horses

Front 22

brachiocephalic

Back 22

superficial

base of skull, CI→ lower humerus

moves front leg forward, adducts front leg, bends head& neck

Front 23

brachiocephalis dysfunction

Back 23

neck stretched to side Or up, difficulty circling, picking up correct lead for affected side

Front 24

brachiocephalis dysfunction causes

Back 24

pulling back when tied, sudden stops, turns, neck/ shoulder twisting, driving, neck collection& flexion

Front 25

deltoid

Back 25

superficial

dorsal edge scapula→ humerus head

flexes shoulder joint

Front 26

triceps

Back 26

superficial

Scapula, olecranon process→ upper humerus

flexes shoulder, extends & locks elbow

Front 27

triceps dysfunction

Back 27

shortened Stride, extended foot lameness, stand with knee bent at rest, gaited horses, sprinting/ eventing horses

Front 28

superficial pectoral

Back 28

superficial

sternum→ end of humerus

adducts front leg, moves forward

Front 29

transverse pectoral

Back 29

superficial

Sternum→ mid humerus

adducts front leg

Front 30

brachialis

Back 30

superficial

head of humerus→ top of radius

flexes elbow

Front 31

extensor carpi radialis

Back 31

superficial, most medial leg extensor

end of humerus→ cannon bone

extends carpus, flexes elbow

Front 32

common digital extensor

Back 32

superficial, lateral side of leg

end of humerus→ distal phalanx in knee

extends the knee

Front 33

latissimus dorsi

Back 33

superficial

thoracic, lumbar vert.→ upper humerus

flexes shoulder joint, retracts leg, rotates inward

Front 34

lat. dorsi dysfunction

Back 34

cinchy, lameness on affected side, shortened stride, jumpers, racehorses

Front 35

superficial gluteal

Back 35

superficial

gluteal fascia→ tensor fascia lata

extends hip, retracts leg, outward rotation

Front 36

tensor fascia lata

Back 36

superficial

pelvis tuber coxae→ femur trochanter/ patella

indirectly flexes hip, extends stifle

Front 37

biceps femoris

Back 37

superficial

ischium of pelvis→ lateral femur, tibia, calcaneus

extends& abducts the leg

Front 38

semitendinosus

Back 38

superficial

ischial tuberosity→ mid tibia

extends hip & hock

Front 39

semitendinosus dysfunction

Back 39

leg doesn't move forward far