Horse anatomy
Hoof
The hard foot of the horse. Supports weight and protects the inside of the foot.
A closer look
The hoof is the horse's foot, with a hard outer wall made of keratin, like a very thick fingernail, that protects the living tissues inside. Inside is the coffin bone, and underneath are the sole, the frog, and the bars. The outer wall has no nerves, which is why a farrier can trim it or nail on shoes without hurting the horse.
Why it matters
Every step a horse takes depends on healthy hooves, which is why horse people say "no hoof, no horse." Hooves keep growing, so most horses need a farrier visit for a trim or new shoes about every six to eight weeks.
Care tip
Pick out all four hooves before and after every ride. Look for stones, cracks, and loose or shifted shoes, notice any bad smell, and feel the hoof wall for heat that wasn't there before.
Common mistake
Hooves are not hard shells that take care of themselves. Wet, dirty stalls, long gaps between farrier visits, and a poor diet can all lead to cracks, thrush, and lameness.
Fun fact
A hoof wall grows about a centimeter (a little under half an inch) a month, a lot like a fingernail.
Related lessons
In the news
Recent Horse Academy stories on this topic.