A German term for the cavity in the shoe made by the stamp into which the head of the nail will be sunk.

The nail abcess is the result of a purulentinfection caused by injury to the sensitive structures of the hoof (the corium) through penetration with a nail (nail prick) or more likely by a nail bind. The pus in the foot causes pain and lameness which is relieved when the abcess is opened.

The bevel of the nail point is the slope that is present on one of the broad sides of the nail point. The point of the nail is guided away from the bevel and in the correct orientation guides the point of the nail away from the white line towards the outside of the hoof wall.

A nail which is driven in too close to the sensitive structures (but without actually penetrating them) can cause pain through indirect pressure, this is known as nail bind.

The hole in the hoof wall that is created (and filled) by the nail. In hooves with little growth, there may be several nail canals from previous shoeings in the lower third of the wall - this can seriously weaken the hoof wall and predispose to cracking and fraying of the wall.

The breakage of a nail within the hoof wall. It usually occurs at the heel nails especially with over expanding flat feet. It is often the cause of loose shoes and shoe loss.

The top-most portion of the nail including the flat surface which is struck with the hammer and the chamfered edge. The shape of the head is square or rectangular.

The hole in the shoe through which a nail is struck into the hoof wall. The hole has a ground side opening and a foot side opening.

The opening of the nail hole on the ground facing surface of the shoe. This opening is created by the stamp and is shaped to conform precisely to the dimensions of the nail head.

The opening of the nail hole on the foot facing side of the horseshoe.