Animal health pros who work with youth or new equine owners will appreciate this. Understanding the mechanics of the horse hoof helps horse enthusiasts better appreciate its complexity. The equine foot is a marvel of joints, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, blood vessels and bone encased within a horny capsule that is vital to the horse. See what Stephen O’Grady, DVM, likes to share as a worldwide expert on equine podiatry.
Source: AQHA, January 18, 2018.
The horse’s foot is unique as it is a biological entity that follows the laws of physics,” Dr. O’Grady says. “When you change the hoof (through farriery), you change the orientation of the structures within the hoof.” Understanding the fundamental anatomy and function of the horse’s foot gives any horseman the necessary tools for recognizing when the hoof is working correctly, and when it’s not.