The foundation of movement

Question 1

what is a foot

Answer 1

• hoof and structures encased by the hoof (bones, tendons, ligaments, nerves or blood vessels)

Question 2

what is a hoof

Answer 2

• external structures of the foot (visible from the outside)
• hoof wall, sole and frog
• lacks blood vessels and nerves, so its considered insensitive
• hoof wall and frog are designed to bear the horses weight (on. firm surface, the well- structured concave sole does not touch the ground)

Question 3

What is the hoof wall (or hoof capsule)

Answer 3

• the structural design = three areas, the toe, the quarters and the heels
• the bars - continouation of hoof wall bordering lateral sulci of the frog
• buttress - where the hoof wall turns inward to form the bars
• white line - the area where the sole meets the hoof wall ( this also marks the junction between the insentitive laminae of the hoof wall and the sensitive laminae extending from the distal phalanx)
• corium - germinating layer of the hoof
• coronal suture - transition from hide to hoof corium (coronet band or coronary band)

Question 4

what are the functions of the hoof wall

Answer 4

• bear weight
• dissipate concussive forces
• protect inner structures
• sequester toxins (emunctory function: toxins and toxin byproducts may be sequestered within the hoof wall)

Question 5

how does the hoof wall grow

Answer 5

• continuously from the coronary band
• 12-18 mm every 10 weeks
• more rapid in the spring and summer then fall and winter
• foal hooves grows faster then horse hooves
• hooves of active horses grow more rapidly than hooves of sedentary horses

Question 6

what is the structural viscoelasticity of a hoof

Answer 6

• porous
• High-impact resistance
• fracture toughness
• deformation during weight-bearing ( mitigates forces from impact with the ground by absorbing the energy = this is also limited by stifness to protect underlying structures

Question 7

what does the hoof do during a step

Answer 7

• dorsal wall curves inward and is compressed horizontally and vertically
• heels sink downward and expands outward
• sole is flattened
• coronary band is depressed downward

Question 8

what are the layers of the hoof wall

Answer 8

• periople
• stratum externum ( stratum tectorium and periople)
• stratum medium ( tubular hoof wall)
• stratum lamellatum ( insensitive laminae)

Question 9

what is associated with growth of the hoof wall

Answer 9

coria

Question 10

what produces periople

Answer 10

• perioplic corium = produces the thin waxy, elastic protective varnish that extends 5-10 cm down from coronal suture over outside of hoof capsule

Question 11

what is the coronary corium

Answer 11

• germinating layer that develops horny tubules and intertubular horn of stratum medium and insensitive laminae ( stratum lamellatum)

Question 12

what is the stratum medium

Answer 12

• the tubular hoof wall - is the thickest at toe and thins towards heels
• horny tubules laid down in density gradient ; highest density along outermost surface of stratum medium
• dissipates concussive forces from ridgid outer wall to more flexible inner wall

Question 13

what is the stratum lamellatum

Answer 13

• composed of primary and secondary epidermal lamellae
• primary epidermal lamellae are densest at the toe
• accommodates higher stresses between the hoof wall and distal phalanx at the toe and greater lateral flexibility of hoof wall at quarters and heels
• function of genetics and environment ( nutrition, terrain, overall health status and hoof care)

Question 14

what dictates hoof wall strength

Answer 14

• function of anatomic integrity ( laminar connection between hoof wall and distal phalanx ) and conformation of the hoof

Question 15

what does a hoof look like

Answer 15

• a normal hoof wall is wider and longer on the outside than on the inside when viewed from the solar aspect
• front hooves are rounder in shape than the hind hooves
• angle of the toe should be between 45 and 50 degrees for front hooves and between 50-55 degrees for hind hooves
• horizontal ridges may reflect changes in season and/or diet or may indicate pathalogical conditions within the foot

Question 16

what is the frog

Answer 16

• cushiony structure that absorbs concussive forces
• provides traction
• assists in digital circulation
• functions in a proprioceptive capacity ( contains nerve that inform horse of terrain and position of feet relative to body)
• secretes sweat

Question 17

what are the bones of the foot

Answer 17

• distal phalanx = third phalanx = P3= os pedis = pedal bone = coffin bone
• midd;e phalanx = seond phalanx = P2 = os phalanx = short pasturn bone
• proximal phalanx = first phalanx = P1 = os compendale = os saffragenous = long pasture bone
  navicular bone = distal sesamoid bone = shuttle bone

Question 18

what is the digital palmer (front) or plantar (rear) cushion

Answer 18

• wedge-shaped, modified subcutaneous tissue located within the back part of the hoof, above the frog that attaches to collateral cartilage on medial and lateral sides of the foot
• made of elastic fibres and some cartilage
• reduces concussive forces transmitted from ground through the leg
• when the foot hits ground, digital cushion puts pressure on blood vessels and squeezes blood out of the foot

Question 19

what are the tendons of the foot

Answer 19

• common digital extensor tendon
• superficial digital flexor tendon
• deep digital flexor tendon

Question 20

what is hoof care

Answer 20

• regularly cleaning out the horses feet
• maintaining the horse in appropriate conditions
• regular exercise and goof nutrition
• most horses need their hooves trimmed regularly and some horses will need shoes fitted for the better part of the year

Question 21

reasons to shoe a horse

Answer 21

• helps prevent overgrowth
• gives traction
• therapudic
• gait enhancer

Question 22

reasons not to shoe a horse

Answer 22

• nails damage the hoof wall
• shoes restricts flex
• increases concussive forces
• alter food shape and foot axis