The Equine Foot: Form and Function as it Pertains to Farriery

The foot is interesting and unique as it is a group of biological structures that follows the laws of biomechanics (Figure 1). It is also the authors’ opinion that the foot is the dominant site of lameness in performance horses. Therefore, every time farriery is performed on a horses’ foot, the form and function of the foot will be affected. The digit is that part of the limb distal to the metacarpophalangeal joint. The foot is the part of the distal limb encased within the hoof. The hoof (ungula) is, by definition, the integument or skin of the foot. The hoof capsule is formed by the cornified layer of the epidermis in the various regions of the hoof ...