The bones and joints that form the basis of the hoof play a key role in the structure and function of the hoof. The horn forming the outside covering can be divided into several parts: the hoof wall, white line, heel, sole, buttress and etc.
The hoof and especially the horn have many tasks, there is an old saying that says “there is no horse without a good hoof”, which is completely true. The hooves carry the full weight of the horse, so a good quality horn should be thick, hard but flexible and loadable.
Below the layers of the hoof wall are layers of dermis. The dermis is a connective tissue containing collagen and elastic fibers that is richly interwoven with blood vessels and nerves. Thus, in the case of a developing horse, the addition of collagen may also affect the development of the dermis of the hoof.
The shape of the front and rear hooves is different. The front hooves are more spread out, their sole surface is larger and flatter compared to the rear. The hind hooves are steeper and their sole surface is narrower, deeper. The wall of the hoof is smooth, but on the surface it is visible and palpable in some places the so-called physiological rings that run parallel to the heel bulb and protrude in some places, and “scaling” can also be noticed. This is closely related to external factors such as husbandry technology feeding etc. The complex structure of the hoof provides the flexibility, the ability to expand and contract during movement, which is essential for proper blood and lymph circulation. In addition, the vibration also plays a role in reduction as it also acts as a shock absorber by absorbing the vibrations transmitted to the hoof cartilage. As a result, the hoof changes shape during movement, and if it works properly, the weight is distributed in different parts. Many say a rigid “structure,” however, a healthy hoof is flexible and pliable. Among the trace elements, zinc plays an important role in the growth of the horn, the healing of epithelial injuries and the structure of the hoof horn. In addition zinc also plays a significant role in the synthesis of nucleic acids, sulfur containing amino acids (methionine), which are essential for the production of cartilage and hoof tissue. The absence of these elements result in fragmented, cracked and crumbly hooves. Vitamin H or B7, i.e. biotin, contributes to faster growth in the horn. Lack of biotin causes the white line to soften, and crack or even crumble.
The use and importance of biotin was confirmed in a previous experiment. In the experiment, 24 horses were studied, of which 16 individuals were fed different amounts of biotin every day for 10 months, and the other 8 horses did not receive such supplementation when mixed with feed. The result clearly showed that the hoof growth rate of biotin-fed horses was higher and the horn also became harder. Overall, the hoof has become healthier.
Source: Buffa et al. 1992.