Five HOOF FACTS

Did you know? Read on to learn all about your horse’s amazing and wonderful feet.

- ANNA O'BRIEN, DVM

Our horse's hooves are O strong, amazing pieces of equine anatomy. Hidden inside those feet, there are some interesting things going on. Here are five astounding facts you may not know about your horse's feet.

1 Hoof Growth Can Change Speed

Your horse’s hooves are made of keratin, the same material as your fingernails. And like your nails, your horse’s hooves grow constantly. In general, a horse grows new hoof at a rate of about 1/4 of an inch per month. At this speed, an adult horse grows a new” hoof in about a year. New growth starts at the top where the hoof meets the hairline at what is called the coronary band.

The rate at which hooves grow depends on lots of things. For example, young horses grow hooves faster than older horses; in fact, a foal’s hooves grow at twice the speed of an adult horse!

The health of the horse, his genetics, diet, and even time of year are other important factors. Hooves tend to grow slower in the cold winter months compared to the spring. When lots of fresh grass is abundant, hooves grow faster.

2 Hooves are Flexible