Parts of a Horse's Hooves and Their Functions

To many people, a horse’s hoof may look like a solid object, tough and hard all the way through. However, that isn’t the case. The hoof is made up of several different layers and structures, each with a specific function.

Evolution of the Hoof

Horses have evolved from the four-toed, dog-like eohippus into the single-toed creature we know today. Evidence of the vanished toes remains. The chestnut and ergot are cartilage-like protrusions along the inside of the horse’s legs, and on the underside of the pastern joint.

On some horses, they grow rapidly and although no harm is done if they are left to break off naturally, they are sometimes trimmed for a neater appearance. Two bones run down either side of the horse’s front leg between the knee and pastern joint. These two splint bones are believed to be what remains of the former toes.

Inside the Hoof

There are three bones inside the hoof. The longest is the short pastern bone that 

extends down from the long pastern bone in the horse’s leg.

The largest bone within the hoof is the pedal or coffin bone. Within this bone are many minuscule passageways for blood vessels and nerves.

Beneath the junction of the short pastern bone and the coffin bone sits the small navicular bone. Several tendons and ligaments run down from the leg and attach to the bones within the foot.

Surrounding these bones is the sensitive laminae. This is a layer of tissue that carries blood to all the components of the hoof. Beneath the sensitive laminae and bone structures sits the digital cushion. This is a rubbery pad of tissue that forms the heel of the hoof and helps absorb the shock as the horse’s hoof makes contact with the ground.

Visible Parts of the Hoof

Surrounding the sensitive laminae is the horny laminae. This layer is quite hard and has no feeling. It attaches to the outer wall of the hoof in a similar fashion to hook and loop fastener.

The margin where the wall and the horny laminae attach is called the white line, which provides the farrier with a visual indication of how deep he can trim the