Structure of a horse's hoof

Structure of a horse's hoof: horny nail covering the toe of ungulates, which rests on a sole and on which the animal walks.

First phalange: uppermost bone of the toe.

Second phalange: middle bone of the toe.

Periople: rounded projection just above a horse's hoof.

Wall of the hoof: part of the hoof with pincers-like action.

Third phalange: lowest bone of the toe.

Side wall: external part of the hoof.

Heel: part behind a horse's foot.

Frog: piece of soft, flexible horn under the hoof.

Horseshoe: metal shoe attached to a horse's hoof.

Shod: shoed hoof

Not shod: Unshoed hoof.

Side wall: external part of the hoof.

Sole: hard horny bottom of the hoof.

Median groove: groove at the centre of the hoof.

Bulb: swelling of the hoof wall.

Sesamoid: small bone of the metatarsus.