Horse health - 30 facts about horses feet.
Remember: No hoof No horse - 30 facts you
should know about your horses feet and hooves.
Horse Hoof and Foot Care
Lameness
Farriers
30 facts about horses feet
The term foot and hoof are often used synonymously. By definition the
hoof is the integument of the foot and the foot is the part of the distal
limb encased by the hoof.
Horse Feet Facts :
The size of your horses feet are relative to the size of your horse.
Your horses feet continue to grow in size until your horse is 6 years
old.
The length of your horses toe is relative to the weight of your horse.
Your horses pastern and dorsal hoof wall should be parallel - the foot
pastern angle should be straight.
Your horses front feet are more circular in shape to allow for expansion
during weight bearing work.
Your horses hind feet are more pointed to allow for traction during propulsion.
Your horses front feet should never be steeper than your horses hind feet.
The angle of your horses heel should be within 5 degrees of the angle
of your horses toe.
Your horses coronary band should form an angle of about 30 degrees with
the ground.
The diameter of your horses coronet band should be approximately equal
to the vertical height of your horses hoof at the toe.
When viewed from the solar surface your horses foot should be as wide
as it is long.
Your horses sole should be concave. A flat sole will impede expansion
of your horses hoof during weight bearing and will be more prone to bruising.
The soles of your horses front feet should be slightly less concave than
those of your horses hind feet.
The width of your horses frog should be 2/3rds (66%) of its length –
any less and your horses feet are considered to be contracted.
The bars should protrude slightly above the level of your horses sole.
They should be about 1cm shorter than the wall to allow for hoof expansion
during weight bearing.
Your horses hoof wall grows an average of 1cm each month and should wear
down by about the same amount.
The parts of your horses feet that bear the most weight will grow the
least.
Your horses feet have several functions;
- Supporting your horses weight
- Absorbing shock
- Resisting wear
- Providing traction
- Pumping blood
- Conducting moisture
The weight on your horses feet increases three fold when your horses is
galloping.
Your horses hoof is flexible enough to absorb 70-80% of the impact during
weight bearing work.
Your horses foot has a landing side and a loading side – the landing
side flares out while the loading side becomes more perpendicular in response
to weight bearing.
The outside wall of your horses hind feet is more slanted than the inside
wall, to aid propulsion.
The centre of gravity of your horses foot is 1cm back from the point of
the frog. In an ideally conformed horse it should be plumb with the centre
of gravity of your horses forelimb.
Your horses hoof quality is directly related to its moisture content which,
can vary in different parts.
Your horses hoof wall is approximately 25% water, the sole 33% and the
frog 50%.
Extremely dry hoof walls (less than 20% moisture) or extremely wet hoof
walls (greater than 30% moisture) are weaker and more susceptible to failure.
Water is natures hoof conditioner. It is the only preparation that has
been consistently shown to have a positive effect on maintaining your
horses hoof moisture balance.
As water is constantly being lost from your horses feet it is important
to replace it on a daily basis.
NOTE: Daily immersion in water for 10-15
minutes is sufficient for healthy feet. Oil or fat based hoof dressings
cannot moisturise your horses hoof wall.
The weight of your horse shoes should be as light as possible –
15 grams at your horses feet becomes 450grams at your horses shoulder.
Your horses feet are the most promiment site of lameness in your horse.
You should always eliminate your horses feet as a cause of lameness
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