12/30/2023
• Balance the hoof: trimming the hoof so that both sides are symmetrical in shape and size, and the hoof sits even on a hard, level surface.
• Bars: the area on the underside of the hoof on both sides of the frog where the hoof starts to narrow
• Bilateral: both sides of the hoof, or both left and right hooves
• Breakover: the period in a horse’s gait when the heel begins to lift as the horse moves forward
• Brushing (or interfering): in movement, when a horse hits its opposite leg with the hoof that’s in the air
• Changing the breakover: adjusting the way a horse’s foot leaves the ground
• Cold shoeing: when a farrier shapes the shoe without heating it in the forge
• Coronary band: the area at the top of the hoof wall where the hairline meets the hoof
• Digital cushion: the wedge-shaped area below the coffin bone at the rear of the horse’s hoof
• Dishing: in movement, when the hoof swings in, instead of a traveling in a straight line; usually caused by a toed-out conformation
• Flat-footed: a horse whose hooves have less than a 45-degree angle
• Forging (or overreaching): when a horse strikes its front legs with the toe of a back hoof; can cause injury to the heel bulb or pull off a shoe
• Frog: the V-shaped area on the underside of the hoof, pointing down from the heel
• Heel: the back part of the underside of the hoof
• Heel bulbs: the softer cushions at the very back of the underside of the hoof; they form the external part of the digital cushion
• Hoof wall: the hard, h***y outer covering of the hoof
• Hot shoeing (or hot setting): when a farrier heats the shoe in the forge and quickly places it on the foot to sear the area where the shoe will be nailed.
• Laminae: the inner layer of the hoof that attaches the hoof wall and the internal structures of the hoof
• Lateral: towards the outside
• Medial: towards the inside
• Paddling: in movement, when the hoof swings out, instead of traveling in a straight line; usually caused by pigeon-toed conformation
• Raise the heel: changing the angle of the hoof by leaving more heel when trimming or using a pad or specialized shoe to get the desired hoof angle.Usually done to relieve stress on specific hoof or lower leg structures.
• Rasp: when a farrier files a hoof to smooth and slightly shape it
• Resecting the hoof wall: removing a section of outer hoof wall to expose an area with infection
• Rocker toe shoes: shoes where the front is slightly angled and lifted off the ground to influence where the horse breaks over.
• Setting-back shoes: placing the shoe slightly back behind the toe, then shortening the toe to ease breakover
• Sole: the underside of the hoof
• Toe: the front of the hoof
• White line: the band that wraps around the sole of the hoof and connects the hoof wall and the sole