Equine massage therapist Gillian Higgins paints horses' anatomies on their coats, as part of an innovative teaching aid for students.
Anatomy art —
Equine massage therapist Gillian Higgins paints horses' anatomies on their coats, as part of an innovative teaching aid for students.
Courtesy Gillian Higgins www.HorsesInsideOut.com
"It's not just about knowing the names of the bones, it's about understanding exactly what they do," Higgins said.
Hurdling horses —
"It's not just about knowing the names of the bones, it's about understanding exactly what they do," Higgins said.
Courtesy Gillian Higgins www.HorsesInsideOut.com
The carefully painted horses are displayed at races and equine teaching events across Britain, such as this horse by massage therapist Nicole Rossa.
Skilled skeletons —
The carefully painted horses are displayed at races and equine teaching events across Britain, such as this horse by massage therapist Nicole Rossa.
Courtesy Nicole Rossa
Higgins gives a lecture on the equine skeletal system. Each horse has 205 bones, making living models a helpful way to memorize them all.
Massage master class —
Higgins gives a lecture on the equine skeletal system. Each horse has 205 bones, making living models a helpful way to memorize them all.
Courtesy Gillian Higgins www.HorsesInsideOut.com
Higgins spent two years painting all 11 anatomical systems on horses, including the skeletal, digestive, muscular, respiratory and nervous -- as seen in this image.
Nervous nelly —
Higgins spent two years painting all 11 anatomical systems on horses, including the skeletal, digestive, muscular, respiratory and nervous -- as seen in this image.
Courtesy Gillian Higgins www.HorsesInsideOut.com
Horses have more than 700 muscles, and Higgins color-coordinated each one according to its action.
Colorful colt —
Horses have more than 700 muscles, and Higgins color-coordinated each one according to its action.
Courtesy Gillian Higgins www.HorsesInsideOut.com
It usually takes around four hours to paint each thoroughbred, such as this one which Rossa displayed at Royal Ascot race course.
Vibrant model —
It usually takes around four hours to paint each thoroughbred, such as this one which Rossa displayed at Royal Ascot race course.
Copurtesy Nicole Rossa
This remarkable picture shows the horse's reproductive system, including an unborn foal.
Inside out —
This remarkable picture shows the horse's reproductive system, including an unborn foal.
Courtesy Gillian Higgins www.HorsesInsideOut.com
With his gray coloring and placid temperament, Higgins' 15-year-old thoroughbred Freddie Fox is an ideal model. Here he shows off the respiratory system.
Happy horse —
With his gray coloring and placid temperament, Higgins' 15-year-old thoroughbred Freddie Fox is an ideal model. Here he shows off the respiratory system.
Courtesy Gillian Higgins www.HorsesInsideOut.com
Champion British jockey Tony "AP" McCoy dons a matching Christmas jumper for The Jockey Club's unique equine calendar. Race horse Dr. Livingstone was painted by Rossa.
Festive filly —
Champion British jockey Tony "AP" McCoy dons a matching Christmas jumper for The Jockey Club's unique equine calendar. Race horse Dr. Livingstone was painted by Rossa.
Courtesy The Jockey Club
Rossa also painted a thoroughbred in the Union Jack as part of a special photoshoot for the Barbury International Horse Trials in Britain.
Jumping jack —
Rossa also painted a thoroughbred in the Union Jack as part of a special photoshoot for the Barbury International Horse Trials in Britain.
Courtesy Andy Hooper
She used hypoallergenic chalk paint and brown sticky tape to create the straight lines of the flag.
A fine art —
She used hypoallergenic chalk paint and brown sticky tape to create the straight lines of the flag.
Courtesy Andy Hooper