Dogs and cats walk on their toes (digitigrade locomotion) while horses and pigs walk on their “toenails” or hoofs. This is called unguligrade locomotion (see diagram 6.20). What animals have unguligrade locomotion? Dogs and cats are examples. Unguligrade species walk on their tiptoes, often on hooves. Deer and horses are Read more…
Structure. Hooves are made of a protein called keratin. Keratin also makes up hair, fingernails, horns, and feathers. Even though hooves are hard and tough, they wear down with use. Are horses feet made of metal? Steel vs. Most horseshoes are made from steel or aluminum. The material is chosen Read more…
noun. : a knee (as of a horse) inclining inwards. What does it mean if a horse is tied at the knee? Horses that are ‘over at the knee’ are those whose cannons slope to the rear below the joint, the knee seeming to be inclined forwards as a result. Read more…
The carpal sheath is a tendon sheath which extends from just above the knee down to the mid-cannon region and contains within it the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) and the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT). What is carpal in a horse? The carpus (knee) of the horse is comprised Read more…
How to Measure the Palmer Angle Locate the wings of PIII. Beginning at the heel, draw a straight line underneath the wings and along the solar surface of PIII. Draw a straight line at the ground surface or one parallel to the ground surface. Using a protractor, measure the angle Read more…
Simply stated, the negative palmar angle results from a loss of the soft tissue structures (especially the digital cushion) in the palmar section of the foot. The loss of mass allows the distal phalanx to descend distally in the palmar section of the hoof capsule. What is the ideal palmar Read more…
loin: the area right behind the saddle, going from the last rib of the horse to the croup. Anatomically approximate to the lumbar spine. Where is the barrel on a horse? The barrel is the area behind the girth area to the flank. Beneath is the ribcage that surrounds the Read more…
Posterior or Caudal – Located towards the back of the body (eg the back portion of the limb). What is the back end of a horse called? Tail. The tail is an extension of the spine. There are about 15 small vertebrae that make up the bone structure of the Read more…
Studs are small metal projections that screw into your horse’s shoes. They’re used to give him better grip on various types of footing, from firm and slippery to soft and boggy. They’re great if your horse loses his focus in less-than-ideal footing or to give him extra traction when doing Read more…
The “String Test” can be done anytime After the horse is 18 months old…. to ESTIMATE the mature height of the horse. How do you string a foal test? They would pull a string out of their pocket and measure from the horse’s elbow to his fetlock or knee or Read more…