There are two main parts to the horses' skeleton, axial and appendicular. The axial skeleton protects the horse's vital parts and consists of the skull, the ribcage, and the backbone. The appendicular skeleton supports the body and consists of the shoulders, forelegs, pelvis and hind legs.

Horses have 205 bones, which are divided into the appendicular skeleton (the legs) and the axial skeleton (the skull, vertebral column, sternum, and ribs). Both pelvic and thoracic limbs contain the same number of bones, 20 bones per limb. Bones are connected to muscles via tendons and other bones via ligaments.