Why do horses have hooves?

Question

i have wondered this, and never figured it out!!

Answer 1

This one is right up my alley. I have done several reports regarding evolution of equine.

The horse started out with 4 toes up front and 3 in back. About the size of a collie. Then the Earth was swampy and the horse foraged and browsed for food.

As the Earth hardened and the horse grew, an outer "toe" grew up the leg and became what is now known as "chestnuts". The center "toe" became harder and larger, but still had a "pad".

Pass a few hundred thousand yrs and the horse has now grown to the size of a shetland and has one center toe, with the other two being basically non existant. They further progress up the leg to become "splint" bones.

When the horse became as we know recognize it as Equus Callabus (the prototype for the modern horse) it had developed an elongated skull (keep eyes out of grazing to look for predators), a larger set of eyes set to the side (340 degrees of site), and different teeth to adapt to the grazing of a variety of foods.

Along with these adaptations, the horse was now a single hoofed animal. The pad of its "toe" had regressed into the frog. Because of the size of the horse and the harder Earth, the large middle toe developed into a hoof. The allowed for protection of the coffin bone, allowed the horse to set up a "spring-loaded" step and the harder outside wall was connected to the soul with expandable "honey-combed" laminae that keeps the blood flowing and the hoof growing so that as it breaks it will regrow. This also allowed expansion in the hoof as the great pressure of the large animal running was placed down onto such a small area.

I hope this has answered your question as well as any others you might have. If not feel free to ask away!

Answer 2

Because if they didn't, the ends of their legs would fray.
No seriously, it's purely an evolutionary thing. Many other animals have hooves too and they provide grip on hard smooth surfaces, grip on loose and soft surfaces and because they are hard they wear well on rough surfaces protecting the softer parts of the feet.
All of the above reasons are because a horse is a prey animal and needs to be able to escape fast.
Horses also use their hooves for striking while fighting, so they wouldn't be much use if they were soft padded like a dog. They are a defense mechanism as horses don't have sharp teeth!!!!
Hope this answers your question.

Answer 3

Horses have hooves because when they run, the friction world rub against their feet so they have the hooves to protect their feet.

Answer 4

thats like asking why u have fingers, it because at one point and time and organism felt it could survive better with it and evolved into the horse with the hooves

Answer 5

to protect their feet,the hooves are made of the same calcium as a human finger nail,that why when horses get them trimmed or have shoes put on it doesn't hurt them.also it help them to walk on different surfaces like grass,dirt,mud,farmland etc

Answer 6

Humm I never really thought about it. I guess thats just the way they were made. It mkaes sence they have to have something solid and strong to support there bodys. Something with the hoof spread apart, like some animals have, wouldn't distribute the weight out right.

Answer 7

to make it hurt when they give their owners a swift kick in the a$$.

LOL.

Answer 8

Well I suppose soft little bunny paws might not carry that weight. :)

Answer 9

I don't know... because God made them that way?

Sorry I can't come up with a better answer....
;)

T.

Answer 10

cuz god said so.