Foot and Hoof Care

A quote that I came across recently is “No foot, no horse.”  That quote pretty much sums up the importance of the horse’s foot.  They are the foundation of any animal and care must be taken to reduce problems.  Each foot supports weight, resists wear, absorbs shock, provides traction, conducts moisture and helps pump blood.  Here are some diagrams from Wayne Loch, Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Missouri from the article Care of Your Horse's Feet.

Figure 1  Anatomy of the horse's foot.

Figure 2  Parts of the ground surface of the horse's foot.

 

Here is a video by Nate Allen, of Allen Farrier Service-Juanita, NE and Central Community Technical College-Hastings NE, that helps viewers understand how the equine hoof functions and gives suggestions for managing horses' hooves to maintain long term soundness.

You can also view other Videos on the Equine Hoof .   Resources on hoof care and laminitis are located My Horse University - Equine Laminitis:Cause, Treatment and Prevention.