Knowra Hoof Hoof A hoof is a hard keratin covering on the end of a toe in animals such as horses, cattle, deer, and pigs. It supports weight and protects the underlying tissues.
Keratin : A tough structural protein that forms hair, nails, claws, feathers, and the outer parts of hooves. Hoof walls and soles are built from this durable protein.
Hoof growth : The continuing production of hoof tissue from growth regions near the coronary band. New horn grows downward and must wear away or be trimmed.
Farriery : The craft and practice of trimming and shoeing horses’ hooves. Farriers shape hoof balance and fit protective or corrective shoes.
Claw : A curved, pointed keratin structure covering the end of a digit in many vertebrates. Claws cover digits too, but are shaped for gripping, digging, or defense rather than broad weight-bearing.
Perissodactyla : The mammalian order containing horses, tapirs, and rhinoceroses, which bear an odd number of functional toes. Its members show different arrangements of weight-bearing digits beneath hooves.
Ungulate : A hoofed mammal, including living groups such as horses, cattle, pigs, and deer. Hooves define the characteristic foot covering of these mammals.
Hoof capsule : The rigid outer structure surrounding the internal tissues of a hoof. It encloses and protects the sensitive structures while transmitting forces.
Horse hoof trimming : The removal and shaping of excess hoof horn to maintain a functional hoof. Regular trimming manages growth and helps preserve appropriate hoof balance.
Nail : A flat keratin plate covering the dorsal tip of a primate digit. Nails are localized plates, unlike the enclosing hoof capsule.
Artiodactyla : The mammalian order traditionally defined by an even number of weight-bearing toes, including cattle, pigs, and deer. Its paired central toes form the cloven hoof of many familiar species.
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