From page 38
HOOF CARE
allow the animal its range of
motion.
The structure of the equine
foot is very similar to the
cloven-footed hoof anatomy
described above, but there
are a few differences. Firstly,
the hoof of the horse consists
of one continuous structure.
The outer wall is the same as
that of a cow or sheep.
However, the sole is
slightly different. In the
middle of a horse's sole is
a V-shaped cleft, called
the frog. This frog serves
as a cushion, weight
bearing surface that
absorbs shock and aids in
pumping blood throughout the hoof and up the
leg. On either side of the
V there are deep clefts,
followed by ridges called
the bars. The bars are a
continuation of the hoof
wall from the heel. The
general
bone structure of
Donkey’s hoof with injury
a horse's hoof is like that
be more flexible as the
of a cow, except that the
animal moves. The front
horse only has one set of
region of the sole is called the bones, as opposed to the two
toe, and the two bulbs at the claws of a bovine hoof.
opposite end of the foot are
A well-maintained routine of
referred to as the heel bulbs. cleaning and trimming
Inside the hoof, there are
animals' feet will lead to a far
bones that play a key role not lower incidence of discomonly in forming the shape of
fort and lameness in the
the hoof, but also in serving
animals. Nutrition also plays
as a support structure for the a key role in hoof health and
leg and the rest of the body.
maintaining proper growth
However, the bones in the
rate.
hoof do not entirely formuBy keeping an animal well
late the movement of the foot fed with the proper nutrients
and the leg. Several tendons
Continued on page 40
makes up the sole is produced by the corium of the
sole, and is suppler than the
horn of the hoof wall. The
point where the hoof wall is
bound to the sole is called
the white line. The white line
is a somewhat flexible
junction between the sole
and wall, allowing the hoof to
Sheep’s forehooves
39
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