Topics

Breeding and Reproduction

Horse breeding from planning through foal care

Hoof Care

Prevention and treatment for problems of the equine foot

Nutrition

Proper feeding practices for foals, adult horses, and older horses

Welfare and Industry

Discussions about the welfare of our equine friends

Diseases and Conditions

Horse-heath-problem risk factors, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment

Horse Care

How to care for the basic health needs of horses

Sports Medicine

All aspects of caring for performance horses

All Topics

Farm and Barn

Design and maintain a healthy horse operation

Lameness

Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of leg lameness

Vet and Professional

News and issues for equine health professionals
Magazine
Cover Story

Supporting Your Horse's Immune System

What does it take to optimize the equine immune response and fight off disease?

Also in this Issue

Rhodococcus equi Pneumonia: Rethinking Treatment to Fight Resistance
Skill, Science, and Sensitivity: Unpacking Horse Training Misconceptions
Rehabilitating the Neurologic EPM Horse
Building a Balanced Diet for Your Mare and Foal
Joint Health Matters: Top Therapies for a Successful Season
The Abscess Ruptured, But My Horse is Still Lame. Now What?
Understanding Horse Aggression
Digital Edition

Give a Gift

Subscribe

Manage My Subscription
News

Latest News

Respiratory Challenges in Sport Horses

Equine Influenza Case Confirmed in Washington

California Pony Euthanized After Contracting EHM

Dopamine and Equine Insulin Regulation

Second California Horse Tests Positive for EIA

Wisconsin Quarter Horse Tests Positive for Strangles

More News

Disease Alerts

EDCC Health Watch

Event Coverage

2024 AAEP Convention
2024 EquiSUMMIT
2024 Olympics
Features

Latest Features

Understanding, Recognizing, and Managing Pain in Horses

March 20, 2025

How Much Does It Cost to Own a Horse?

September 26, 2024

Additional Features

Dealing With Equine Colic: Here are 33 Do’s and Don’ts

Promoting Longevity in Performance Horses

Managing Your Performance Horse’s Joints

Everything You Need to Know About Laminitis in Horses

How to Feed Your Horse

All Features
Q&As

Latest Q&A

Tips for Getting Your Horse With PPID To Take His Medication

March 21, 2025

Equine Nutrition FAQ Series

Sponsored by Purina Animal Nutrition

Learn More

Q&As

Equine Behavior

Our animal behavior experts field your questions about why your horse does XYZ.

Horse Nutrition

Equine nutritionists respond to queries about forage, grain, supplements, and other related topics.

Performance Horse Health

Veterinarians and researchers tackle questions about equine athletes.
Visuals

Featured Media:

Tips for Feeding Senior Horses

Wound Care Strategies for Healing Wounds in Horses

Quick Links

Webcasts

Infographics

Slideshows
Podcasts

Featured Podcasts

What You Need to Know About Equine Degenerative Joint Disease

Weight Loss for Horses With Gastric Ulcers

Podcasts

Ask 'TheHorse' Live

The Horse’s experts answer your questions during a monthly live audio event.

Equine Innovators

Join us as we interview leading equine researchers from the University of Kentucky.

All Podcasts
Free Reports

Fact Sheet: Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID)

Fact Sheet: Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) in Horses

Free Reports:

View All Free Reports

Quick referenced of horse conditions, diseases and health topics

Forms

Checklists and identification forms for horse owners
Tools

Normal Horse Vital Signs and Health Indicators

Mare Gestation Calculator

Adult Horse Weight Calculator

Additional Resources

Event Calendar
Horse Health Glossary
Get-A-DVM
New Products
Polls
TheHorse.com en Español
StableManagement.com

Hoof Anatomy & Physiology

Subcategories:

None

What to Do if a Horse Tests Positive for Salmonella; Consequences of Stall Confinement

Life After Laminitis

Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA June 3, 2020

Your laminitis survivor’s true prognosis depends on how you manage him after the worst is over.

Horse Hoof Anatomy, Part 1

Christy M. West December 20, 2019

Learn how the bones and soft tissues in a horse’s hoof work together and impact soundness.

equine soundness professionals; RVC's Equine Locomotor Research Course Expands to America

Barefoot Trimming for Navicular Syndrome in Horses

Patrick Reilly December 17, 2019

Patrick Reilly, chief of farrier services at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Services, describes techniques for trimming navicular syndrome horses to make them more comfortable.

Your horse’s feet are his foundation. What does a healthy hoof look like? Does your horse need shoes, or is he fine barefoot? And what about hoof boots? Learn how to work with your farrier (or trimmer) and veterinarian to ensure your horse’s feet receive the right care.

horse hooves growing fast; navicular syndrome; equine evolution

Why Are My Horse’s Hooves Growing So Fast?

Scott Fleming, DVM, CF March 27, 2019

Why does a horse’s hooves grow faster than his stablemates’ that are on the same diet and exercise schedule? A veterinarian who’s also a farrier shares his thoughts.

Shoeing Suggestions for Peak Equine Performance

Stacey Oke, DVM, MSc March 14, 2019

Multiple hoof-related factors can affect a horse’s performance—including balance, trim, shoes, pads, support materials, and more. Here’s how farriers can help a horse reach his potential.

The Tolerable Club Foot; club feet in adolescent horses

Managing Club Feet in Adolescent Horses

Stacey Oke, DVM, MSc March 7, 2019

Recognizing and treating club feet in young horses can help them succeed in their intended discipline and, ultimately, prevent lifelong hoof complications.

horse hoof anatomy; Does Equine Hoof Shape Have an Effect on Soundness?

How Hoof Anatomy Affects Biomechanics in Sport Horses

Erica Larson March 6, 2019

Anecdotally, we know that hoof anatomy influences horse soundness and movement, but researchers are working to put science behind that relationship. Here’s what they’ve learned so far.

diagnosing foot lameness in horses; Lameness exam, hoof testers

Diagnosing Foot Lameness in Horses: Take a Systematic Approach

Stacey Oke, DVM, MSc March 5, 2019

A systematic approach to examining the equine foot can help veterinarians identify causes of lameness more quickly and accurately.

Does My Horse Have Pyramidal Hoof Disease?

Raul Bras, DVM, CJF January 25, 2019

Also known as “buttress foot,” this condition primarily affects horses with poor leg conformation in high-impact disciplines. A veterinary podiatry expert explains.

foal hoof balance; Effects of Exercise on Young Thoroughbreds' Knees

A Closer Look at Foal Hoof Balance

Natalie DeFee Mendik, MA January 19, 2019

Researchers found that hoof balance changes rapidly during the first few weeks of a foal’s life.

UC Davis Heumphreus Lecture Taking Place Feb. 16

University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine January 4, 2019

Tim Shannon, CJF, APF, AWCF, and G. Marvin Beeman, DVM, will present on anatomy, form, and function from the perspectives of the farrier and veterinarian.

Winter Horse Hoof Care Tips

Diane E. Rice January 2, 2019

Having a winter hoof care plan in place ahead of time can help eliminate worries during the deep freeze.

Managing Horse Hoof Balance and Capsule Distortion

Alexandra Beckstett November 20, 2018

Hoof capsule distortions associated with hoof imbalance typically aren’t severe, they can affect horses’ comfort and be challenging for owners and their farriers to manage.

New Navicular Bursa Injection Technique Could Prove Safer

The Different Names for Navicular Syndrome

Kyla Ortved, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, ACVSMR November 13, 2018

Dr. Kyla Ortved explains the terminology veterinarians and horse people use to describe navicular syndrome and what it all means.

Fact Sheet: Laminitis; top downloads of 2018

Fact Sheet: Laminitis in Horses

Stacey Oke, DVM, MSc August 15, 2018

Laminitis causes crippling lameness associated with intense pain that shortens horses’ athletic careers. Download this fact sheet to learn more about recognizing, treating, and preventing laminitis in horses.