Horse Hoof Anatomy

The Basics To Ensure Your Horse Has Healthy Hooves

It is very important to take care of your horse`s hooves because neglecting them can lead to pain, disfigurement, discomfort and even lameness. They will also be more prone to infections and diseases.

Things you need to do to care for your horse`s hooves include;  familiarizing yourself with your horse`s feet. Do some research to learn the anatomy of the horse`s feet/hooves. so you will better understand how they should look and how to care for them. At the front of the horse`s hoof, it is usually like a rubber, but while in the horse`s shedding period, it is normal for the frog to look dry or slightly  cracked.

Make sure you pick your horse`s feet regularly. If you see any  foreign objects such as sticks or rocks in the hoof, get them out. Keeping their feet picked out will help you see if a problem,like thrush, develops.

You will want to pick out their feet before riding them as any debris stuck in the hoof could cause soreness and discomfort while riding. Make sure you clean the frog very well and check for cracks or bad smells and/or secretions.  as per  www.articlealley.com

You need to keep your horse`s hooves trimmed whether you put shoes on them or not, to make sure they are level. Make sure, if you do shoe the horse, that the shoes fit right as loose shoes can cause lameness and discomfort. Be  sure the nails are properly fastened to the hoof and nothing is wedged between the shoe and hoof.

You should have a farrier make regular visits, at least every 6 to 8 weeks, to keep them in good shape. If a problem develops, a superb farrier can advise you on how to treat it. If you run barefoot, make sure your farrier is schooled on the barefoot trim as proper trimming is crucial to your horse`s health.

You should research some hoof products to see if you may need to give your horse a hoof supplement, such as Biotin. For more info, you can visit: www.e3liveforhorses.com

Image source  en.wikipedia.

The Erudite Equestrian: Horse Hoof Anatomy For Dummies

Hooves have amazing strength and resilience. A great example of this is the mustang. The wild mustang hoof is known for its hardiness which is in part a result of natural selection and environment.  Thus it is thought that other domestic breeds could develop similar hooves if they are raise under certain similar conditions. Consequently, there has been a recent barefoot faction claiming that strength can be restored to domestic horses through trimming and living in appropriate conditions to the point that horse shoes are no longer necessary. However, this has not been adapted by many equine professionals because of the increased strain placed on hooves in sports such as Jumping, Dressage, and Endurance Riding The hoof is made of an outer layer, the hoof capsule, and an inner part composed of soft tissue and bone. The hoof capsule is made up of varies structures and properties. Its function is to cover, protect, and support the coffin bone, pedal bone, and PIII. The Palmary covers and protects soft tissues such as tendons and ligaments. The upper hoof capsule is the coronet or coronary band. The walls of the hoof originate from the coronet band. The Walls are longer in the front portion of the hoof (the toe) and very short in the palmar portion (the heel). Heels are separated by an elastic structure know as the “frog”. In the palmer part of the foot there is also two oval budges know as the “bulbs.” When Viewed from the bottom of the hoof, the hoof wall encircles most of the hoof.  The frog is triangular in the center area. Lateral to the frog is two groves toward the heel named the “collateral grooves”. At the heels the palmer portion of the walls been inward which form the bars with the collateral grooves. The lower surface of the hoof is covered by a keratin material known as the “sole”. Just below the coronet, the walls are covered by an opaque, periople material. In the palmar part, the periople is thicker and rubbery over the heel and amalgamates with the frog material. Not all horses have the same amount if periople. Dry, cracked hooves usually lack the efficient amount of the substance which can be substituted with hoof dressing.

Horse Hoof Care

Adams' Lameness in Horses

Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals

Anatomy of the horse, an illustrated text

The advocate of veterinary reform and outlines of anatomy and physiology of the horse, also, a general history of ... veterinary science in England, with practical observations on feeding, watering, grooming, shoeing, &c. ...