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Post by cadeby on May 7, 2012 14:53:47 GMT -1
Thought you might lie to see the foal slippers (eponychium) that help to protect a mare's birth canal during labour. These are Calissi's hooves, four hours after her birth, just before the soft feathery "fingers" harden and fall off. I think they are fascinating. Nature is very inventive    |
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Post by Fi on May 7, 2012 16:01:51 GMT -1
OMG, had never considered how the mare's birth canal would be protected. I guess I just assumed the hooves were 'soft'. How weird they look! thanks for posting Helen.
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Post by valerie n scout on May 7, 2012 16:53:20 GMT -1
ohh wow never seen that before X
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Post by lucydales on May 7, 2012 17:41:22 GMT -1
Most peculiar!
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Post by harleydales on May 8, 2012 8:06:00 GMT -1
Lambs and calves have very soft ends (slippers) to their hooves when they are born too, for the same reason. They come off as soon as the lamb or calf starts moving around.
Nature is amazing, and this time of year is fantastic fro seeing it all unfold!
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Post by SuzieP on May 8, 2012 10:57:20 GMT -1
Wow! I've never seen that. Thanks for posting Helen.
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Post by harveydales on May 8, 2012 11:06:07 GMT -1
That's interesting. I've never seen that before and never thought about what a problem hoofs might be in the birth canal.
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