What are the differences between horse chestnuts & ergots?
Sep 05, 2020 · The chestnuts serve as a protective covering for skin below them. Final Thoughts. Chestnuts and ergots are typical growths on all breeds of horses. They may not be found on every leg, though. Science has a strong opinion as to their origin. Caring for chestnuts and ergots is easy but not necessary unless they grow exceptionally large.
Where do ergots come from on a horse?
What are chestnuts and Ergots on horses? In any event, chestnuts appear on the front legs of a horse above the knee, or sometimes on the back legs of a horse below the hock. Ergots are found on the back of a horse's fetlock on all four legs, usually covered with hair. They're a little harder to see, so part the hair to find them.
Why do horses have chestnuts on their legs?
How to Remove Chestnuts and Ergots. Watch your horse. Some will bite and nibble off their own chestnuts and ergots. If you want to help, tie the horse. You don’t want him/her kicking or startling. Gloves are optional. Ergots and chestnuts aren’t toxic, but …
How do you get rid of chestnuts on a horse?
In any event, chestnuts appear on the front legs of a horse above the knee, or sometimes on the back legs of a horse below the hock. Some are large, and some are small, but they’re usually more flat in appearance. They’re often scratchy. Ergots are found on the back of a horse’s fetlock on all four legs, usually covered with hair.
Why do horses have chestnuts and ergots?
What are they and why do horses have them? Both chestnuts and ergots are considered by some to be vestigial remnants of the pre-evolutionary leg and foot structure of Eohippus. 'Vestigial' refers to something that has lost is purpose as part of the evolution process.
How do you get rid of ergots on horses?
1:214:52Your horse's chestnuts and ergots - a bit of folklore, history, and tips!YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAfter my horse has been in the wash rack and gotten a little bit wet. Super easy to do that if yourMoreAfter my horse has been in the wash rack and gotten a little bit wet. Super easy to do that if your horse has feathers on his lower legs. And you want to leave the ER GOx as is perfect.
Should you remove horse chestnuts?
You don't really have to trim them. But if you're so inclined, you can trim them without causing the horse any pain. Don't try to remove them entirely, and don't trim any deeper than skin level or above. Just peel them off layer by layer with your hands or fingernails.
Are chestnuts painful for horses?
And while you might worry about the appearance of ergots and chestnuts, they're completely benign. They may look like raw, crusty wounds, but they're not sore or painful. They're not signs of any illness or infection symptoms. They're normal, though not all horses have them.
What ergot means?
Definition of ergot 1 : the black or dark purple sclerotium of fungi (genus Claviceps) that occurs as a club-shaped body replacing the seed of a grass (such as rye) also : a fungus bearing ergots. 2 : a disease of rye and other cereals caused by an ergot fungus.
Why do horses get chestnuts on their legs?
Horse chestnuts and ergots are callous on a horse's legs. Chestnuts are believed to be remnants of an extra toe lost through evolution. They are flat and crusty areas devoid of hair. Ergots are callous growths located at the bottom of the horse's fetlock, often covered by hair.Apr 4, 2022
Can dogs eat ergots from horses?
Most dogs have no problem chewing on small, fresh pieces of hoof trimmings. Letting your dog have a small "treat" from the farrier will be fine in most cases.May 1, 2017
What is horse chestnut seed extract used for?
Horse chestnut extract has powerful anti-inflammatory properties and may help relieve pain and inflammation caused by chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). It may also benefit other health conditions like hemorrhoids and male infertility caused by swollen veins.Apr 2, 2019
Are horse ergots good for dogs?
Hard, brittle hoof trimmings are not safe for dogs. Just like brittle cooked bones, they can splinter internally, crack teeth and cause intestinal damage. If you feel your dog needs (basically wants) some hoof, limit it to fresh trimmings and small pieces.Sep 28, 2017
Do mules have chestnuts?
(Mules have full tails but many lack the forelock.) The hair in the flank of the donkey has no upward whorl and the donkey has chestnuts only of the front limbs. (Mules will have a half whorl and variable chestnuts.)
What is ergot in horse feed?
Ergotism is a worldwide disease of farm animals that results from ingestion of sclerotia of the parasitic fungus Claviceps purpurea, which replaces the grain or seed of rye and other small grains or forage plants, such as the bromes, bluegrasses, fescues, and ryegrasses.
Do horses have dew claws?
On dogs and cats the dewclaws are on the inside of the front legs, similarly to a human's thumb, which shares evolutionary homology. Although many animals have dewclaws, other similar species do not, such as horses, giraffes and the African wild dog.
What is the growth on the inside of a horse's leg called?
The majority of horses have them on all four legs. The growth seen in the inside of the leg is called a chestnut. Not to be confused with the nuts roasted at Christmas. In addition, horses have a similar growth at the rear of the fetlock that is called the ergot.
Where are the hocks on a horse?
But this is not the case with all horses. They are located on the inside of the leg above the knee on the front legs. On the rear legs, they are located just below the hock.
What is a horse's fingerprint?
The Chestnut: A Horse's "Fingerprint". The size, shapes, and growth patterns of Chestnuts are so unique to each horse that they have been nicknamed a horse's fingerprint. They are typically the size of a large thumbnail. Some have jagged surfaces, while others stay smooth. Over time they can thicken and be peeled off.
How tall was the first dawn horse?
The Eohippus (Dawn Horse) Resources at the Natural Museum of the Horse say that the first horse, called the Hyracotherium, or Eohippus (dawn horse), was 10 to 17 ¾ inches tall at the shoulder. Their front legs had four toes, and the hind legs had three toes. Fossils of the dawn horse have been found in the Wasatch Range in Utah, ...
Is it safe to trim chestnuts?
Chestnuts and ergots are very normal growths and are not dangerous to you or your horse. If you are competing in some equine breed competitions, it shows good horsemanship and grooming to keep them trimmed. This can be accomplished in several ways. A farrier can use the same knife used on the hoof to trim the chestnuts easily.
Can horses have ergots?
Don't confuse these with ergot alkaloids, which is a compound found in some fungi and can be toxic to horses. Ergots can vary in size from horse to horse. If there is long hair on the fetlock, the ergot can be hard to see.
Can you peel chestnuts?
The chestnut can often be peeled away by hand. The ergot can sometimes be peeled away, but more often, you might need a pocket knife. Be careful not to trim them to close. The chestnuts serve as a protective covering for skin below them.
What are horse c hestnuts and ergots?
They routinely ask why does he have them and what are they for. So I decided to do some research to provide an answer. Horse c hestnuts and ergots are callous on a horse’s legs. Chestnuts are believed to be remnants of an extra toe lost through evolution. They are flat and crusty areas devoid of hair. Ergots are callous growths located ...
How to treat a horse with chestnuts?
During regular grooming, peel off excessive growth. If your horse begins to bleed at the site of the chestnut, apply antiseptic. Follow the application of antiseptic with a water-resistant and breathable seal of liquid bandage, Both chestnuts and ergots can be taken care of with just your hands without much pain.
What is the condition of a horse with laminitis?
Laminitis is the tissue bandings’ inflammatory condition that may be recurrent for the individual horses. You can use the following process to take care of the horse’s chestnuts: Apply petroleum jelly on the surface of the chestnuts before and after trimming or peeling the chestnuts.
What is the origin of chestnuts?
Some scientific studies indicate chestnuts and ergots are inherited from the earlier species of the multi-toed horse known as the “Equidae. ” These types of horses are descendants of the “ Eohippus. ” a modern period ancestor of around 40 million years ago with vestigial toes. Researchers believe horses evolved slowly, ...
Where are ergots on horses?
Ergots are callous growths located at the bottom of the horse’s fetlock, often covered by hair. Chestnuts and ergots are, for the most part, cosmetic and typically require very little attention. However, it’s beneficial to have an in-depth knowledge of horses if you have to answer your child’s questions. Grooming gloves are useful to wear ...
How big is an ergot?
Ergots can vary in size from the size of a bean or pea to 1.5 inches in diameter. Unlike chestnuts, ergots can be significant on the forelegs and much smaller or not present at all on the hind-legs.
What horse breeds don't have chestnuts?
Most horses have chestnuts on all four legs, including the last known “wild horse” breed, the Przewalski, but there are a few horse breeds that don’t have any chestnuts on their legs: Caspian pony. Banker horse. Icelandic horse.
The Definition of Chestnuts on Horses
If you have pets or have ever worked with animals, you may have noticed their toes, claws, or paws. Most pets have four or five, but herbivores seem to have a single solid footpad instead. Did you know that hoof is an evolved version of their biggest toe? And that they have more?
Do Feathers Cause Ergots and Chestnuts?
No. Curiously, if your horse has fetlocks but no feathers, you can find ergots hiding inside the fetlock as well. It’s not clear what chestnuts and ergots do for horses exactly. They don’t seem to have a practical purpose. Scientists think ergots and chestnuts are ‘leftover horse toes’.
Eohippus, Ergots, and Chestnuts
Based on fossils and scientific studies, horses had an ancestor called the eohippus validus or dawn horse. It’s a transliteration of their scientific name – eos means dawn and hippos means horse. Yes, hippos are often called water horses or river horses, that’s no coincidence!
Do You Have to Remove Chestnuts?
They don’t seem to serve any practical purpose, so what are chestnuts on horses for? Some people thought they helped with night vision – hence the nickname ‘night eyes’. Others think they could be scent glands, and that carrying them in your pocket gives you special powers.
How to Remove Chestnuts and Ergots
It’s fairly easy to get rid of chestnuts and ergots on horses. You could do it at home or outsource the task. Here are a few common techniques for controlling chestnuts on horses.
How to Use Chestnuts and Ergots from Horses
Sometimes, old wives’ tales have a touch of truth in them. So while legends about chestnuts and ergots can seem silly and trite, they’re relatively benign, so there’s no harm in experimenting. But what are chestnuts in horses used for? Here are a few suggestions to try.
Do Chestnuts on Horses Need a Vet?
We’ve seen that ergots and chestnuts are normal parts of a horse’s body. But because horses have such smooth and distinct coats, any bare patch of flesh can seem worrying. You should already be inspecting your horses every day, particularly their noses, ears, limbs, and feet.
What is chestnuts and ergots?
Horse Anatomy: What are Chestnuts and Ergots? If you notice a strange growth on your horse’s leg – there’s nothing to be worried about. They’re probably chestnuts or ergots, and they’re normal. Most important is that your horse’s health isn’t in danger. No one really knows why horses have them. Some in the scientific world believe they’re inherited ...
Where do chestnuts appear on a horse?
In any event, chestnuts appear on the front legs of a horse above the knee, or sometimes on the back legs of a horse below the hock. Some are large, and some are small, but they’re usually more flat in appearance. They’re often scratchy.
Where did the ergots come from?
More specifically, they came from the vestigial toes of Eohippus, an early ancestor of the modern horse that lived 50 million years ago. Those scientists believe that as equines evolved, the ergots and chestnuts shrank and lost their original function. Some insist that they’ve become essentially scent glands.
Why is it important to know if your horse has an extra toe?
Most important is that your horse’s health isn’t in danger. No one really knows why horses have them. Some in the scientific world believe they’re inherited from early forms of horses who may have had an extra toe, called multi-toed Equidae.
Do you trim ergots on horses?
Ergots are a bit more pointy and feel like the end of an eraser on a wooden pencil. You don’t really have to trim them . But if you’re so inclined, you can trim them without causing the horse any pain.
Can you trim ergots after a bath?
Keep in mind that they come off easier when wet, so consider pruning them after a rinse or bath. The only time that ergots become an issue is if they’re so long they get snagged on fences. These strange growths will likely grow back, so you might as well make trimming a regular part of grooming your horse.
Where are chestnuts on horses?
On the front legs, they are above the knee, and on the hind legs, chestnuts are below the hock. Some horses, namely Icelandic and Caspian ponies may be missing the hind leg chestnuts. Many horse relatives, like the zebra, are also missing the hind leg chestnuts. Some believe they are vestigial scent glands.
What is it called when a horse's toes come together?
As the foal grows, the toes actually come together to create a hoof that we know and love. This is called digit reduction - instead of toes becoming other parts of a horse's anatomy. More science and info on this can be found here. Most modern-day horses have chestnuts on all four legs. On the front legs, they are above the knee, ...
What is the difference between a chestnut and a metacarpus?
The metacarpus is the cannon bone in the front legs, and the metatarsus is the cannon bone in the hind leg, and chestnuts are not clearly related to these bones. The splint bones are, but not the chestnuts. Recent evidence suggests that these extra toes, which started out as five total, actually exist in the incredibly early stages ...
What are the weird things on the back of the fetlock?
What about ergots? These are the weird pokey things on the back of the fetlock. Ergots are of a similar texture to chestnuts, but they seem to be able to grow and grow and grow. It is for this reason that I absolutely despise ergots and find them to be all sorts of annoying and strange.
Is it dangerous to use a blade on a horse?
Again, using a blade might be dangerous for your horse and your hands. Please don't twist off the ergots. At the back of the fetlock where the ergot sprouts, there are lots of nerves and soft tissue structures meeting up. Keep it all where it's supposed to be and don't twist the ergot. One more note about ergots.
Can you carry chestnuts into a paddock?
Some believe they are vestigial scent glands. This theory of chestnuts as scent glands perhaps led to a wive's tale that you can carry the chestnut peeling s of another horse into a paddock, and the horses there will come up to you to investigate, thus making catching easier.
Can horses see at night?
Chestnuts are sometimes called "night eyes" which is a bit creepy by itself. It's believed that horses can see well at night because of their chestnuts . I can't pinpoint when this rumor started, but it's likely before modern ophthalmology. Many believe that chestnuts are vestigial toes that have migrated.
