Question | Answer |
External - What is the FROG of a hoof? (4 points) | - Small triangular wedge
- Plays important role in blood circulation
- Absorption of concussion
- Grip (to a certain extent) |
External - What is the SOLE of a hoof? (3 points) | - Concave in shape
- Support and protect the structures within the foot
- Thickness of sole varies per horse (generally the horn of the sole is less thick than the horn of the hoof wall and therefore susceptible to bruising |
External - What is the BULBS OF HEEL of a hoof? (2 points) | - Located at the back of the foot
- Works with the frog and sole to assist with circulation and expansion of the foot when it makes contact with the ground |
External - What is the SEAT OF CORN of a hoof? (1 point) | - Point on the sole where the bars make an angle with the wall of the hoof |
External - What is the BARS of the hoof? (2 points) | - Allow for expansion of the foot
-Provides strength |
External - What is the CORONET/CORONARY BAND? (3 points) | - Point of which the horn tissue grows and extends
- Horn can take 9-12 months to grow down from the coronet to the tip of the toes on the ground surface
- Hoof wall is slightly thicker at the toe than the heel |
External - What is the WHITE LINE? (3 points) | - Marks the boundary between the internal and external structures of the foot
- Used as a guide by the farrier when nailing shoes onto the heel
- Very sensitive (if penetrated or pinched by an incorrectly positioned nail - horse will become lame) |
External - What is the PERIOPLE? (2 points) | - Outer layer of the hoof
- Protects the hoof and maintains moisture levels (which prevents hoof from becoming dry and brittle) |
Internal - What is the DIGITAL CUSHION? (2 points) | - Wedge shaped structure that sits just above the FROG and fills the space above the heel of the foot
- Assist with the absorption of concussion and encourages circulation around the tissues of the foot and lower limb every time the foot impacts with the ground |
Internal - What is the LATERAL CUSHION? (4 points) | - Two curved discs of cartilage which are attached to the PEDAL BONE (can be felt just above the coronet band)
- Works with the DIGITAL CUSHION to assist with circulation in the foot and absorb shock
- Younger horses cartilage is highly flexible but as the horse ages it becomes more fibrous
- Extreme trauma or confusion may calcify causing problems with soundness |
Internal - What is the CORIUM? (3 points) | - The living tissue immediately beneath the HOOF WALL
- It is a sensitive, vascular dermis
- It is named according to the insensitive parts of the hoof that it underuns |
Internal - What is the PERIOPLIC CORIUM? (1 point) | - Supplies the PERIOPLE with nutrients |
Internal - What is the CORONARY CORIUM? (1 point) | - Produces and nourishes the HOOF WALL |
Internal - What is the LAMINAR CORIUM? (4 points) | - Consists of sensitive LAMINAE
- Attached to PERIOSTEUM of the PEDAL BONE
- Those interlock with the sensitive LAMINAE of the HOOF WALL
- Supports the PEDAL BONE and therefore weight of the horse |
Internal - What is the SOLE CORIUM? (1 point) | - Attaches the sole of the PEDAL BONE to the HORNY SOLE of the foot |
Internal - What is the FROG CORIUM? (1 point) | - Provides nourishment to the DIGITAL CUSHION and functions with the FROG |
Internal - What is the three bones found in the hoof? (3 points) | Running from the proximal end to the ground surface are the
- SHORT PASTERN/ second phalanx
- PEDAL BONE/ third phalanx
-NAVICULAR BONE/ distal sesamoid |