Hoofs


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The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Hoofs

 

the horny formation at the ends of the digits of some mammals (chiefly the ungulates), representing a modification of claws. Hoofs consist of walls (corresponding to the nail layer), the soles (or sole layer), and the frogs (the digit cushion), which give way to an L -shaped extended sole. Hoofs developed during adaptation for rapid movement on hard terrain, when the weight was placed on the final joints of the digits. Broad flat hoofs are common to animals that travel primarily on relatively soft terrain (such as northern deer); narrow hoofs that are very hard at the end developed for hard, steep terrain (as in goats). Elephant hoofs have thin walls and cover only the front part of the digit tips.

The Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition (1970-1979). © 2010 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
References in periodicals archive ?
You may not have seen a horse with undershot hoofs. The condition occurs when the heel portion of the hoofwall has very little angle and shoots too far forward before making contact with the ground.
Once your horse's feet are balanced and symmetrical, your farrier can fit shoes to the hoofs if they are necessary.
In these cases a vitamin or dietary supplement may restore the hoofs to normal.
When the hoof is excessively worn down, not much can be done in one trimming; and when the hoof is so long that the hoofwall has bent, or flared, it may take two or three trims to bring the foot back to normal.
In an age where we have come to expect that our needs will be gratified instantly, many people expect an instant solution to their horse's hoof or balance problems.
Fact.MR has announced the addition of the "Hoof Boots Market Forecast, Trend Analysis & Competition Tracking - Global Review 2018 to 2028"report to their offering.
As awareness about the sport is increasing, sales of accessories related to horseback riding, such as harness, saddle and hoof boots are also on the rise.
Summary: Fact.MR has announced the addition of the " Hoof Boots Market Forecast, Trend Analysis & Competition Tracking - Global Review 2018 to 2028"report to their offering.
Horseshoes are only necessary to prevent the hoof from wearing down faster than it can grow out, or to prevent a hoof which, has cracked or chipped badly from becoming worse.
You may think that it isn't possible for the hoof to grow that much, because you never see the farrier nip that much off.
Riding on the road or roadside, riding on hard ground during dry months, riding on sandy soil, and strenuous daily workouts can all wear the hoof down too quickly, however.
Hoofwall sticking out too far beyond the sole can create enough leverage to snap the wall off, sometimes far up the hoof. Extra length also makes it easier for the hoofwall to split, and believe it or not, the wall that reaches out beyond the sole and the wall partway up the hoof can bend from the constant pressure.