Some horses just have better feet than others, for no apparent reason. Before we can understand why, we have to learn what makes a horse's foot "better" or "worse" than the next one. Robert Bowker, VMD, PhD, of the Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation at Michigan State University, presented his research findings on this topic at the 2003 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention.

Bowker, one of the foremost researchers on the structure of the horse's foot, discussed several characteristics that differ between "good" feet and "bad" feet in great detail. First, however, he defined what most consider a good, strong foot.

"In most discussions, 'good (foot) conformation' includes several variables such as thick-walled hooves that will resist drying and have 'normal' growth qualities," he described. "The sole should be thick enough to resist most external traumas as well as be shed normally. The bars should also be well developed along with the frog.

"However, these descriptions include only the external parts of the foot, specifically the visible structures, and little or no mention is ever made of the possibility that the internal structures of the foot may contribute to a concept of a 'good foot,'" he continued