Horse Hoof Anatomy

A quick cheat sheet on the anatomy of horses hoof

Image from University of Missouri

Bars

The bars are where the hoof wall ends on either side of the wall, creating the outer side of the collateral groove and curving forward at the heel. One of the weight bearing structures of the hoof.

Central Groove of Frog

Also called the sulcus, this groove runs down the center of the frog and extends up between the bulbs of the heel.

Collateral Groove

Two deep grooves that extend in a triangle form around the frog structure.

Frog

An elastic, wedge-shaped mass of tissue which makes contact with the ground first when a horse hoof strikes the ground. It is split down the middle by a central groove and the collateral groove runs along either side of it. One of the weight bearing structures of the hoof.

Sole

The area surrounding and slightly above the frog which does not come in contact with the ground.

Wall

The outer, insensitive covering of the hoof, similar to a fingernail. The wall surrounds the coffin bone and grows continuously. One of the weight bearing structures of the hoof.

In front feet, the wall is thickest at the leading edge, in hid feet thickness is more uniform all around the hoof.

White Line

A line of distinction between the insensitive outer hoof wall and the inner area of the hoof which contains sensitive nerves and vulnerable blood vessels. This line can be seen on the bottom of the hoof and is similar to the quick of a fingernail.

Know that you know the anatomy of your horses hoof, why not learn about their feet and the rest of the the animal?

Horse Basics