What is the underside of a horse's hoof called?
Wild horses are able to cover huge distances without any dire consequences. But the domestic ones might have some problems with their hooves, especially with the sensitive area of the frog. The infection of the wounded frog might even lead to lameness!The area of the frog is triangular shaped and actually covers a quarter of the underside of the hoof. The frog is a very important part of a horse's body: it decreases the force on joints of the entire leg.
What are your thoughts on this subject?
57 Comments
Richard Heth
If you pick up a horses hoof and look at the bottom you'll see a shape like, of all things, a frog!
Peter Fairclough
Filmnut - the profession of equine hoof care, including shoeing, is called a Farrier in the UK. Not sure about where you live, but Google doesn't recognise Ferrier as anything to do with horse's feet. The road to confusion is paved with mis-spellings.
JD Bender - no-one really knows, but the German word for that part of the hoot is 'frosch'...which may or may not be relevant.
filmnut
Again, you find a subject that most people are not even remotely interested in. My very best friend ( my he rest in peace ) was a ferrier, He taught me the anatomy of the horse. In His honor I add this quote: " The road to civilization was paved with the bones of the horse ".
Jerome D. Bender
Why is it called a Frog??? Ribbitt
Helen Devine
filmnut, Ferrier or farrier?
Fred Keogh
I learned this from my late Father in Law, who worked in Horse racing in Newmarket, UK.
Carole Cottrell
The base of a horse's foot is the sole. The frog is just the rubbery v-shaped extension of the heel which, as you say, acts as a shock absorber.
Rob Farr
Being a horse owner and horse lover, this one was easy ... thanks.
Ruth Cost
filmnut, so true, think about it, "horsepower" as I posted, was a great question.
Ruth Cost
Great question, been many years since I've heard conversation about such. Having horses it was easy, but see many didn't get it,. Great question.
andrewnealski
my other guess would have been "my manager" but that would be a more accurate description of what they scrape off the underside of a horse's hoof.
Larry Hoort
I wouldn't do near as well on these if I had to remember. Multiple choice has always been my best test friend.
Leslie Anthony
Pulled this one from the vault of my youth at riding school!
Lisa Stevens Yeager
Actually the frog is a V shaped part of the sole of a horses hoof. It is the shock absorber of the hoof and is pliable ( or should be if properly cared for). The outer portion of the hoof is called the wall. This question is actually somewhat misleading as the frog is only a small portion of the bottom of a hoof
Dennis G Horvath
Heard that while working at a race track.
trudyroach
They are not.
trudyroach
Looks like a frog.
trudyroach
Horse in the wild do sustain damage to the foot. And the outer parts of the hoof. Over all being a so called wild horse is not all the wonderful things people think it is.