Hoof anatomy | The British Horse Society (2024)

The hoof is a complex makeup of structures built to withstand tremendous forces, adapt to varying terrains and environmental conditions and continuously regenerates throughout the horse’s life. Understanding how the hoof is formed allows for better and appropriate routine care to be given. Without careful management the hoof can be prone to many different infections and diseases.

Advice specific to donkeys is available from The Donkey Sanctuary.

External structures (points of the hoof):

Coronary band

The coronary band is located where the skin joins the hoof wall. It has a rich supply of blood vessels to provide nourishment to the hoof and creates new tissue which makes up the hoof wall.

Hoof wall

This is the exterior part of the hoof that can be seen and encases the internal structures offering a hard layer of protection. The material which makes up the hoof wall is keratin-based, which is also known as ‘horn’. Keratin is a protein and is the same material which makes up human hair and fingernails. It takes approximately 9-12 months for the horn to grow from the coronary band to the toe¹. The hoof wall should be smooth in appearance, with no obvious dips, grooves, lines or bulges.

An unhealthy hoof wall with obvious lines

Photo credit: Kieran O’Brien, Penbode Equine Vets

Sole

The sole is located underneath the horse’s foot and is also made up of horn. It’s a tough structure which provides protection to the internal, sensitive parts of the hoof. The sole is usually slightly curved and shouldn’t come into contact with the ground. This helps absorb concussive forces as the shape allows the hoof to expand when weight-bearing and contract when lifted.

Frog

The frog is a triangle-shaped structure and is softer than the horn. This structure plays an important role in weight-bearing, absorbing concussion and circulation. The grooves along the side of the frog allow it to expand when in contact with the ground.

Bulbs of the heel

The bulbs of the heel are of a similar texture to the frog. The heels in conjunction with the hoof wall aid shock absorption by moving in and out as well as up and down. The heels can flex independently to better support the horse when moving across uneven ground².

The white line

The white line forms where the hoof wall meets the sole of the foot. It’s the only visible part of the horse’s laminae; it’s therefore very important to monitor the white line closely for stretching or signs of infection. Stretching may occur due to poor foot balance, limb conformation, incorrect (uneven) weight bearing, poor riding, poor farriery and an overweight horse.Stretching can also allow bacteria to become trapped within the hoof wall causing an infection known as white line disease, commonly referred to as seedy toe.

Internal structures:

Sensitive sole

The sensitive sole lies underneath the pedal bone but above the outer sole. The sensitive sole produces new horn to the insensitive sole when it’s worn away.

Digital cushion

This is a mass of flexible material that contributes to the formation of the horse’s heels. These structures are the main shock absorbers. Located between the pedal bone and the digital flexor tendon, the cushion also helps to push blood back up the leg².

Collateral cartilages

These structures are in place to provide protection to the coffin joint both on the inside and outside of the hoof wall. They allow the back of the hoof to become more flexible for concussion, absorption and when tackling different terrains.

Laminae

The sensitive and non-sensitive laminae are complex structures which interlock and connect the outer hoof wall to the pedal bone and cartilages. The sensitive laminae act like Velcro to form a strong bond to support the pedal bone within the hoof. The division between the two laminae can be identified by the white line on the sole of the foot.

Photo Credit: Nigel Brown AWCF

Sensitive laminae visible within the hoof capsule

Pedal bone

The pedal bone is arched in shape which gives this relatively small bone the strength to bear the weight of the horse. It spreads the pressure created by distributing weight through the entire bone to reduce tension.

Navicular bone

The navicular bone, also known as the distal sesamoid, is located at the back of the pedal bone and is held in place by two ligaments. The bone sits inside the navicular bursa - a pocket of synovial fluid which allows the deep digital flexor tendon to glide over the bone smoothly³. The navicular bone and the bursa sit within the coffin joint.

Supported by Nigel Brown AWCF on behalf of the British Farriers and Blacksmiths Association.

References

1. Pollitt, C. (2015) The Illustrated Horse’s Foot.
2. Kauffman, S. & Cline, C. (2018) The Essential Hoof Book.
3. Ag-Agele, R. et al., (2019) The Anatomy, Histology and Physiology of the Healthy and Lame Equine Hoof.

Get in touch – we’re here to help 

The Horse Care and Welfare Team are here to help and can offer you further advice with any questions you may have. Contact us on02476 840517* or emailwelfare@bhs.org.uk– you can also get in touch with us via our social media channels. 

Opening times are 8:35am-5pm from Monday–Thursday and 8:35am-3pm on Friday. 

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