Simple SummaryThe mammalian body plan is like a ‘blueprint’ that supports the survival and procreation of a species. This plan includes specialized bony structures for muscle attachment such as the ventral process of C6, a two-part bony projection divided into cranial and caudal ventral tubercles (CVT). In modern horses, muscles such as thelongus colliattach to the ventral process of C6 and aid in the flexion, stabilization, fixation, and force redirection of cervical vertebrae. Recent studies identified an anomalous variation where the CVT was either unilaterally or bilaterally absent. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine if anomalous variations of the CVTs, as described in modern horses, is a post-domestication congenital abnormality or a normal presentation throughout evolution. For this purpose, the ventral processes of C6 in extinct and extantEquusspecimens in museums and research/educational facilities were examined. The findings revealed the CVT of C6 was present in those extinct and extant specimens examined, and that its absence was only evident in modern horses. This implies that the absent CVT manifested post-domestication. Although the clinical significance is unknown, the relevance might be considered when reporting on diagnostic images of C6, and especially, for potential buyers in pre-purchase cases.AbstractIn this study, we examined the ventral process of C6 in extinct and extantEquus(sister taxa toEquus ferus caballusonly) with the purpose of describing normal morphology and identifying anomalous variations relevant to recent studies describing a congenital malformation inE. ferus caballus. Overall, 83 specimens from 9 museums and 3 research/educational facilities were examined, totalling 71 extinct specimens from 12 species and 12 extant specimens from 5 species. The lateral view revealed that a large convexity exists in the ventral process between the cranial ventral tubercle (CrVT) and the caudal ventral tubercle (CVT) in the earliest ancestor,Hyracotherium grangeri, from 55 mya, which receded throughout the millennia to become a smaller convexity inE. ferus caballusand the sister taxa. The CrVT is visibly shorter and narrower than the CVT, with a constricted section directly ventral to the transverse process, essentially demarcating the CrVT and CVT. No congenital malformations were evident. As the ventral process of C6 is an integral component for muscle attachment in supporting the head/neck during posture and locomotion, this would indicate that the caudal module in the cervical column might be compromised when a partial or complete absence of the CVT is detected via radiographs in modernE. ferus caballus.