A stud that is tapered, often to a point.

Browsing mammal with typical short, prehensile snout. They inhabit the jungles of South and Central America and Southeast Asia. Members of the order Perissodactyla, family Tapiridae is the only other odd-toed ungulate apart from the horse and the rhinoceros.

The last European wild horse breed of which there were two sub-species: the forest Tarpan and the steppe Tarpan. The breed was hunted to extinction in the 19th century. Efforts have been made to recreate the breed using Polish Konik horses, which derive a lot of their gene-pool from the original Tarpans.

Relating to or in the region of the hockjoint (tarsus).

Inflammation of a tendon.

A strong band of connective tissue that connects a muscle to a bone. They are a collection of parallel collagen fibres with extreme tensile strength. There are relatively few blood vessels or nerves in tendons, which explains their poor healing properties after injury.

A membrane bound, fluid-filled cavity that surrounds the tendons at locations where they pass over joints. The tendon sheaths are filled with highly viscoussynovial fluid (similar to the fluid in joints) and this protects the tendinous structures from the stress of their increased movement and constant change of direction.

Surgical division of a tendon.

Fracture or breakage of an object due to excessive tension within the structure.

A substance or environmental factor that can cause birth defects.

Tubular horn that is produced by the terminal papillae of the dermal lamellae of the inner hoof wall (stratum internum or stratum lamellatum). Terminal horn fills the 'gaps' between the horny lamellae between the end of the dermal lamellae and the solar surface of the hoof and, therefore, forms a part of the white line. The striations visible in the white line are caused by alternating leaflets of lamellar horn and terminal horn.

The papillae that extend from the end of the dermal lamellae. Each lamellum terminates in several papillae. Together with the lamellar horn of the stratum internum, the horn tubules grown from these papillae create the white line.

Bacterial disease caused by a neurotoxin released by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. The bacterium is present in soil and can contaminate wounds. The neurotoxin 'tetanospasmin' leads to muscle spasms and contractions that can culminate in recumbency and asphyxiation.

As the bacterium responsible for the disease has an extremely high prevalence in environments where horses are kept, and because horses are particularly susceptible, regular vaccination against tetanus is essential.

A two component polymer that turns from a highly malleable or semi-liquid mass into a non-deformable solid after application of the hardner. Some elasticity may remain.

The region of the hindlimb between the hip joint and the stifle. The bone in this region is the femur; it is surrounded by large strong muscles that provide a great deal of propulsive force during locomotion.

A large body chamber that is formed by the ribcage and the diaphragm. It has a cranial opening (the thoracic inlet) and a caudal opening (the thoracic outlet). It contains the lungs, the heart and some large blood vessels, and parts of the oesophagus.

The section of spine between the neck (cervical spine) and the lower back (lumbar spine). In the horse, the thoracic spine consists of 18 thoracic vertebrae, all of which articulate with a pair of ribs.

Examination of the thoracic cavity with a video endoscope.

Breeds of horse that can trace their ancestry exclusivly to Oriental and Arabian horses; these include the Arabian Thoroughbred (Arab), the English Thoroughbred and the Anglo-Arab (a cross between the two).

Commonly the term is only used in connection with the English Thoroughbred.

A localised swelling in the hind limbs, slightly above the hock in front of the achilles tendon, visible on the medial and the lateral aspect of the limb. It represents a distension of the tarsal sheath, the tendon sheath surrounding the deep digital flexor tendon at the level of the hock. Only in exceptional cases is it responsible for a lameness; most cases are due to an asymptomatic low grade tenosynovitis (inflammtion of the membrane lining the tendon sheath).

A ridge running around a cylinder or cone in the form of a helix as seen on a screw.

A tool used to cut the indentations (the thread) on the inside of a hole to receive a threaded cone.

A horseshoe that only covers 3/4 of the lenth of the bearing edge, ending half way down the inner or outer branch. The purpose of this shoe was originally to prevent interference between the medialheel and the opposite limb. Traditionally used in the racing industry but its benefits are anecdotal.

A three-quarter bar shoe is a closed shoe with a bar supporting one heel and the frog while excluding the other heel and region. This type of shoe is used to unload the side of a hoof affected with a corn, an injury or a localised inflammatory process in sole at the site of the corn.

A blood clot that forms within a blood vessel (anywhere within the body) and can partially or completely obstruct the flow of blood. Parts or the whole of a partial thrombus can become dislodged from its original site and carried to a vessel with a smaller diameter, where it may form a complete obstruction; this is known as a thromboembolism.

A bacterial (occasionally fungal) infection resulting in the degeneration of the horn of the frog. It is caused by environmental factors such as unhygienic conditions (standing on wet and soiled bedding). The horn is broken down into black necrotic material with a characteristic unpleasant odour. If left untreated, underlying sensitive structures may become infected. Treatment includes removal of all affected horn, application of disinfectants and/or astringents and by moving the horse into clean, dry surroundings.

Large bone in the lower leg between the stifle and the hock.

The transportation (known as hauling or skidding) of trees from site where they are felled to a site where they can be processed. Before mechanisation, this was always done with horses, and these days horses are still used in many parts of the world as they are well suited to working in selectively logged woods or in hilly terrain unsuited to large machinery. In some countries, timber hauling is a competitive discipline with the weight of timber and distance dragged being evaluated.

An alcoholic extract of animal or vegetable substances with an ethanol percentage of at least 40-60%. The tincture can be made using maceration or percolation.

A collection of cells, not necessarily identical, but from the same origin, that together carry out a specific function.

Tissues can be grouped into four basic types: connective, muscle, nervous and epithelial.

Chemical element with the symbol Ti. It is a grey-white transistion metal with the highest strength to weight ration of any metal and is extremely corrosion resistant. In alloy form it is used for orthopaedic implants and instruments.

The toe region of the shoe, usually refers to the area between the first nail holes on either side.

A problem that is almost exclusively seen in the hind limb. During the swing phase, the toe drags along the ground, leading to excessive wear of the dorsal hoof wall. There are several modifications of shoes that are used in this case: hard surfacing in the toe region, set toe, rolled toe or an enlarged toeclip.

Shoes with extensions of varying lengths in the toe area are predominantly used in the treatment of club feet in foals and young horses. The extension in the toe acts as a lever during breakover and forces an extension of the coffin joint up to the point where the heels touch the ground. This increases the tension on the deep flexor tendon which in turn should lead to the stretching of the corresponding muscle.

A toe flare is a forward deviation of the distal portion of the dorsal hoof wall, causing a concave outline to the wall. The white line is stretched and the wall may be hollow in the lower portion of the dorsal hoof wall. It is often the result of incorrect mechanical forces such as poor hoof balance (over lowered heels) club foot syndrome or laminitis.

A piece of metal that is forged on or inserted extending at right angles to the ground surface of the shoe in the toe region. This is to provide grip and traction.

The nails by which the shoe is attached in the toe region of the hoof.

The toe quarter is a term used to describe the transition between the toe of the shoe and the branches. It is paticularly prominent in shoes with a square toe, where there is often an abrupt bend in the toe quarter of the shoe.

The hoof wall in the region of the toe.

A situation seen when a horse is unwilling or unable to place the heels on the ground and loads the toe only. Typically caused by a painful condition in the heels (e.g. a hoof abscess) or on the plantar/palmar aspect of the distallimb (e.g. a tenosynovitis of the digital flexor tendon sheath). Occasionally caused by congenital or aquired flexor tendon contractions such as a severe club foot. 

When seen from the front, the limb deviates in a medial direction from the fetlock downwards. Either due to deviation of the HPA in a medial direction in the pastern or the coffin joint or to internal rotation of digit from the fetlock. In an axial deviation the tip of the toe points forwards, if rotation is present, the tip of the hoof points in the medial direction.

A tool consisting of a long flat piece of steel, with a blade on one end, the opposite side of which is struck with a hammer. The toeing knife is used to trim the hoof wall, the sole and occasionaly the frog.

When seen from the front, the limb deviates in a lateral direction from the fetlock downwards. Either due to deviation of the HPA in a lateral direction in the pastern or the coffin joint or to outward rotation of the digit from the fetlock. In an axial deviation the tip of the toe points forwards, if rotation is present, the tip of the hoof points laterally. Many Thoroughbred horses show a degree of toeing-out.

The tölt or rack is a ambling gait. It is a lateral four beat gait (lateral single-foot gait) where one or two limbs are in the stance phase. The footfall pattern is same as in the walk: left hind > left fore > right hind > right fore > left hind ...

The tölt is extremely comfortable for the rider and can be performed at a variety of speeds.

Fabric or leather band that passes over the horse's tongue through its mouth and is tied underneath its jaw. It is used to prevent horses from getting their tongue over the bit and is thought to alleviate breathing in some horses. Its use is controversial and more common in racing than in other disciplines. Its use in competition is prohibited in some countries by animal welfare laws.

A tool is a device or utensil used to carry out a particular function.

A tough pouch made of leather or canvas in which a farrier can store all his tools. Tool bags are particularly important for a farrier working at a competition or race where he may not be able to take his vehicle close to the horse.

Welding technique by which a fuel gas and oxygen (oxyacetylene) is used via a torch to heat the pieces of metal to a point where both surfaces melt. It is usual to supply an additional pool of molten metal (known as a filler) to increase the adhesion of the metal pieces.

An constricitve device (usually a rubber tube or an elastic bandage) that is tightly wrapped around an extremity and that temporarily closes the blood vessels in the underlying region, leading to a loss of bloodcirculation in the region distal to the tourniquet. This is used either to staunch bleeding from a damaged blood vessel distal to the point of application or to allow surgical procedures to be perfomed without excessive bleeding.

Coarse, short interweaved fibres of flax, hemp or jute, which usually result as a by-product of cloth manufacture. Used as packing material between hoof pads and the sole. Also available in tarred form, then known as oakum.

A chemical element which is required in amounts of less than 50 mg per day and is essential for normal bodily function.  

A modification of the horseshoe that enhances grip and traction of the horse on the surface over which it is moving and prevents the horse from slipping. Traction devices include studs, caulks, toe-grabs and hard-surfacing.

Anatomical plane which is at right angles to any given body section.

Procedures that are performed and medication that is administered with the aim of maintaining or restoring health and full physiological function of an organism.

Process of removing excess horn from the bearing edge, the sole and the frog using a hoof knife, nippers or a toeing knife.

An anatomical term refering to a round grooved structure that resembles the wheel of a pulley. It is found on the end of bones as a component of a joint; most typically the distal end of the humerus where it articulates with the radius and ulna in the elbow joint.

A symmetric two beat gait where diagonal limb pairs move synchronously; footfall pattern left hind and right fore > right hind and left fore. There is a period of suspension between ground contacts of diagonal limb pairs. Trot can be performed at a huge variety of speeds, at extreme collection it is performed with almost no forwards movement (known as passage), and at the other end of the spectrum racing trotters can achieve speeds of up to 55 km/h.

Breeds of horse which are bred specifically for their ability to trot at high speeds and are used for harness racing at the trot. The American Standardberd is the most common representative of this type of horse. Other breeds include the French trotter (Trotteur francais) and the Norwegian and Swedish coldblood trotters (Norsk & Svensk Kaldblodstraver).

A term refering to the thorax and the abdomen, including the thoracic and lumbar spine as well as the pelvis, the ribcage and the sternum, the associated muscles and the internal organs housed within.

A protuberance, prominence or elevation on (the end of) a bone, which can be an attachement site for a muscle or tendon.

The type of horn from which the majority of the hoof capsule is made. It consists of many elongated cylinders of horn (horn tubules) lying parallel to each other and running continuously from the coronary band to the bearing edge, the horn tubules are grown from the epidermis of the coronary papillae. Between these tubules lies strong intertubular horn which forms a matrix in which the tubules are embedded, this is grown from the coronary epidermis between the papillae.

Generally speaking a tumor is any enlargment of tissue. Commonly used to refer to a benign or malign cancerous growth.

Two pegs of steel that are positioned 2-4 cm apart on the heel of an anvil or on a stall jack. They are used when adjusting and fitting a cold horseshoe.

Pain (manifesting as lameness) that is evident when the horse is turned in a small circle. The distallimb and hoof are sujected to extreme rotation and changes in movement may be indicative of pain in this area.