Horses Hoof

A horse's hoof is composed of the wall, sole and frog. The wall is simply that part of the hoof that is visible when the horse is standing. It covers the front and sides of the third phalanx, or coffin bone. The wall is made up of the toe (front), quarters (sides) and heel.

When the foot is lifted off the ground, the sole and frog are visible, as well as the bars of the wall and the collateral grooves (see Figure 1).

The wall of the hoof is composed of a horny material that is produced continuously and must be worn off or trimmed off. The hoof wall does not contain blood vessels or nerves. In the front feet, the wall is thickest at the toe; in the hind feet the hoof wall is of a more uniform thickness. The wall, bars and frog are the weight-bearing structures of the foot. Normally the sole does not contact the ground.

Inside the hoof, lateral cartilages extend back and up from the inner and outer sides of the third phalanx (Figure 2a). These cartilages are flexible, but as the horse ages, they are usually ossified and replaced by bone. Between the second and third phalanges and above the deep flexor muscle tendon is a small bone called the navicular bone (Figure 2b). The navicular bone and its associated bursa — a fluid-filled sac that reduces friction between the tendon and the bone — are involved in navicular disease, which is a common cause of lameness.

The digital cushion is a mass of flexible material that contributes to the formation of the heels (see Figure 3). This structure is one of the primary shock absorbers of the foot.

Figure 3. Flexible structures in the horse's hoof expand and contract with each step as weight is transferred from one foot to another.

As weight is placed on the hoof, pressure is transmitted through the phalanges to the wall and onto the digital cushion and frog. The frog, a highly elastic wedge-shaped mass, normally makes contact with the ground first. The frog presses up on the digital cushion, which flattens and is forced outward against the lateral cartilages. The frog also is flattened and tends to push the bars of the wall apart (Figure 3). When the foot is lifted, the frog and other flexible structures of the foot return to their original position.

When the foot is placed on the ground, blood is forced from the foot to the leg by the increase in pressure and by the change in shape of the digital cushion and the frog. The pressure and the change in shape compress the veins in the foot. When the foot is lifted, the compression is relieved and blood flows into the veins again. In this way, the movement of these structures in the hoof acts as a pump. Exercise increases the blood circulation in the foot and favors good hoof growth. Lack of exercise, dryness of the horny wall, and poor nutrition inhibit hoof growth.

Normally, the hoof wall grows at the rate of about three-eighths inch per month. New layers of hoof wall are produced continuously from just below an area called the coronet at the junction of the skin and the hoof wall (see Figure 2c).

The hoof wall is covered with material that prevents evaporation of moisture. When this material is deficient, the hoof wall becomes dry and excessive flaking and cracking may occur. A good hoof paint aids in preventing excessive drying.


	Horses Hoof \| home About Us \| Trail Rides \| Horses for sale \| Tack Shop \| My Horse \| Contact us \| News \| Rodeo \| Buying A Horse \| Horse breeds \| Miniature Horse Facts \| Horse Breed& Color Codes \| Poisonous Plants \| Grooming \| Equine Terminology \| Fitting the Blanket \| Horse Health \| Horse's Vital Signs \| Cribbing \| Coggins Test \| Strangles \| Prevention of Colic \| Common Internal Parasites \| Laminitis \| Equine First Aid Kit \| Vaccination Schedule \| Horse's Teeth \| Teeth/Dental Care \| Horse anatomy \| Organs of the Horse \| Muscles of the Horse \| Horse Colors \| Horses Hoof \| Shoeing your Horse \| Thrush \| Winter Hoof Care \| Trail Riding \| Riding Preparation \| Trailering \| Riding \| Horse Facts \| Horse Tips \| Horse Evolution \| The Horse in History \| The Horse in the Arts \| Feeding your Horse \| Feeding the Older Horse \| Types of Feed \| Broodmare Nutrition \| Foaling Kit \| Bathing Your Horse \| Is your horse winter ready? \| Horsemanship \| Gaits of a Horse \| Horse Behavior \| Parts of a saddle \| Selecting a Saddle \| Styles of Riding \| Haltering and Tying Horses \| How to tie a quick release knot \| Loading your Horse \| Tying a Rope Halter \| Horse treats \| recipes \| Just for Kids \| Horse Drawings \| Kids penpals \| Horse Puzzles \| Sim games links \| Horse trivia \| Caption contest \| Horse polls \| Horses New Year's Resolutions \| What is a Cowboy? \| Cowboy Poetry \| Horse's Prayer \| A Cowboy's Prayer \| A Cowboy's Guide to Life \| Horsey humor \| Horsey quotes \| A Horse by any other name \| Horse Dreams \| Horse Birthdays \| Horse pictures \| Horse Memorial \| My awards-page 1 \| Win my award \| Horse Searches \| Horse links \| Banners \| Link to us \| webrings \| Cool links \| Clipart \| Backgrounds \| Bordered backgrounds \| Bars \| Buttons \| Icons \| Animations \| Screensavers \| Wallpaper \| Greeting cards \| Stationery \| Affiliates \| Free Stuff \| Email \| Chat \| Message board \| My dog "RAGS" Horses Hoof A horse's hoof is composed of the wall, sole and frog. The wall is simply that part of the hoof that is visible when the horse is standing. It covers the front and sides of the third phalanx, or coffin bone. The wall is made up of the toe (front), quarters (sides) and heel. When the foot is lifted off the ground, the sole and frog are visible, as well as the bars of the wall and the collateral grooves (see Figure 1). Figure 1. The wall, bars and frog are the weight-bearing structures of the foot The wall of the hoof is composed of a horny material that is produced continuously and must be worn off or trimmed off. The hoof wall does not contain blood vessels or nerves. In the front feet, the wall is thickest at the toe; in the hind feet the hoof wall is of a more uniform thickness. The wall, bars and frog are the weight-bearing structures of the foot. Normally the sole does not contact the ground. Inside the hoof, lateral cartilages extend back and up from the inner and outer sides of the third phalanx (Figure 2a). These cartilages are flexible, but as the horse ages, they are usually ossified and replaced by bone. Between the second and third phalanges and above the deep flexor muscle tendon is a small bone called the navicular bone (Figure 2b). The navicular bone and its associated bursa — a fluid-filled sac that reduces friction between the tendon and the bone — are involved in navicular disease, which is a common cause of lameness. Figure 2. Internal and external structure of the horse foot. The digital cushion is a mass of flexible material that contributes to the formation of the heels (see Figure 3). This structure is one of the primary shock absorbers of the foot. Figure 3. Flexible structures in the horse's hoof expand and contract with each step as weight is transferred from one foot to another. As weight is placed on the hoof, pressure is transmitted through the phalanges to the wall and onto the digital cushion and frog. The frog, a highly elastic wedge-shaped mass, normally makes contact with the ground first. The frog presses up on the digital cushion, which flattens and is forced outward against the lateral cartilages. The frog also is flattened and tends to push the bars of the wall apart (Figure 3). When the foot is lifted, the frog and other flexible structures of the foot return to their original position. When the foot is placed on the ground, blood is forced from the foot to the leg by the increase in pressure and by the change in shape of the digital cushion and the frog. The pressure and the change in shape compress the veins in the foot. When the foot is lifted, the compression is relieved and blood flows into the veins again. In this way, the movement of these structures in the hoof acts as a pump. Exercise increases the blood circulation in the foot and favors good hoof growth. Lack of exercise, dryness of the horny wall, and poor nutrition inhibit hoof growth. Normally, the hoof wall grows at the rate of about three-eighths inch per month. New layers of hoof wall are produced continuously from just below an area called the coronet at the junction of the skin and the hoof wall (see Figure 2c). The hoof wall is covered with material that prevents evaporation of moisture. When this material is deficient, the hoof wall becomes dry and excessive flaking and cracking may occur. A good hoof paint aids in preventing excessive drying. Copyright 2000 University of Missouri. Published by University Extension, University of Missouri-Columbia. http://muextension.missouri.edu/xplor View My Guestbook Sign My Guestbook