Feet Flashcards
What shape are the front feet
circle
what shape are the hind feet
ovals
what are the 5 main parts of the hoof
- hoof wall
- coronet band
- sole
- frog
- internal structures
what is the hoof wall made of
hard substance of parallel fibers
what angle should to hoof wall be continuous with
pasturn
what are the 3 functions of the hoof wall
- provide weight bearing surface
- protect the internal parts of foot
- maintain moisture in foot (periople)
what is the coronet band protected by
hair and skin
how much does healthy feet grow per month
1/4 inch
what feet grow faster
hind feet, also feet with no shoes
what 4 things does foot growth depend on
- nutrition
- exercise
- injury
- illness
what is the purpose of the sole
to protect the internal parts of the foot
what shape is the sole
slightly concave
what shape sole causes horses to be more injury prone
flat soled
how do you prevent injury and thrush
keep sole clean
what texture is the frog
spongy and flexible pad
what are the 2 functions of the frog
- blood circulation
- shock absorption
what are the 4 internal structures of the hoof
- coffin bone
- digital cushion
- navicular bone
- laminae
what gives the foot angle and shape
coffin bone
what is crucial to hoof soundness
angle of coffin bone
how does the digital cushion move
expands and contracts
what are the 2 functions of the digital cushion
- pump blood back to heart
- acts as shock absorber
what acts as a lever of deep flexor tendon
navicular
what allows the foot to extend stride
navicular
what attaches hoof wall to coffin bone
laminae
what is included in good hoof management (6)
1.nutrition
2. living conditions
3. hoof picking
4. trimming
5. shoeing
6. correction
good hoof management begins with ______________ and should continue with ____________
young foals, their whole life
when can some conformational flaws be
up till 3 years old
what are the 4 most important reasons for good hoof care
- protection
- correction
- traction
- action
what are 4 things to consider when shoeing
- what activity the horse is doing
- trimming and rasping (the hoof needs to be level)
- maintaining hoof angle to be same as pasturn
- choosing the right shoe
“fit the _________ to the ___________”
shoe, horse
