What is the Periople?

The periople, or limbus, is an enveloping layer of membrane “between the skin and the hoof that forms the softer horn of the stratum externum.”¹ In the early stages of development, this protective covering is soft to help prevent the coronet band from becoming bruised during the weight-bearing phase of stride² and

What joins the sole to the inner wall of the hoof?

The purpose of the Golden Line is to join the sole to the inner wall of the hoof and to seal off the border of the pedal bone to protect it from bacterial infiltration. It creates a shallow crease at the bottom of the hoof which fills with dirt, aiding with traction.

Where is the horn on a horse’s hoof?

Beneath the hoof wall is the “Hoof Horn” which is attached to the sensitive laminae and attached to the third phalanx, a major bone in the hoof. At the top of the hoof is the coronary band, the source of nutrition for the hoof wall, similar to the cuticle of the fingernail.

What do the papillae on the sole do for the hoof?

These papillae supply most of the nutrition to the hoof wall and play a major part in its growth. They produce the pigmented portion of the hoof wall.

What is the purpose of a hoof?

Hooves perform many functions, including supporting the weight of the animal, dissipating the energy impact as the hooves strike the ground or surface, protecting the tissues and bone within the hoof capsule, and providing traction for the animal.

How hard are horse hooves?

As the average hoof is 76–100 mm (2½ to 4 inches) long at the toe, this means that the horse grows a new hoof in about a year. The hoof wall is made of a tough material called keratin that has a low moisture content (approximately 25% water), making it very hard and rough.

What is the corium of a hoof?

Corium: The part of the hoof that produces the new hoof growth. It contains many nutrients and blood vessels that are necessary to produce new hoof growth, as well as a lot of nerves, which makes it very sensitive. It is very much like the quick of the human fingernail.

What are the three layers of the hoof wall?

Although there are differences in the way the hoof appears compared to skin, there are many similarities in both structure and response to injury. The skin and the hoof are both composed of three layers: the epithelium, the dermis, and the subcutaneous tissue, progressing from superficial to deep.

What is the white line on a horse hoof?

Simply put, it is the separation between the wall of the hoof and the sole of the hoof where bacteria and/or fungus can reside and eat away at the hoof. White Line Disease (WLD) is also commonly known as seedy toe, hollow foot, wall thrush, and stall rot.

What is the most sensitive part of a horse’s hoof?

The sensitive laminae is engorged with blood vessels and is the largest area of sensitive structure. It is located between the hoof wall and the coffin bone.

Why are cracks in the hoof concerning?

Any defect in a hoof wall is cause for concern. Cracks like this are typically associated with a minor, healed trauma to the coronary band that briefly interrupted hoof production. As the hoof grows out, the crack migrates downward to eventually grow out entirely.

Why would you remove a horse hoof?

In some cases of laminitis, and other conditions causing loss of blood flow to the hoof, the hoof capsule may simply detach, become loose and fall off. This is a grave sign and usually necessitates euthanasia. Horses may actually survive after this injury but must re-grow the entire hoof capsule.

What are the 3 surfaces of the hoof?

The equine hoof can be divided into three topographical regions; the wall, the frog and the sole.

How much should a healthy hoof wall grow per month?

The hoof wall of a normal adult horse grows at a rate of approximately 0.24-0.4 inches per month At the toe, it takes 9-12 months for hoof horn to grow down from the coronet to the ground surface; at the quarters, 6-8 months; and at the shorter heels, 4-5 months.

What is the back of the hoof called?

The sole is the underside of the hoof, but most of it does not make contact with the ground because it is a bit concave. The structure of the sole is similar to that of the hoof wall; however, the keratin found in the sole is more easily rubbed or worn down than that found in the hoof wall.