A hoof tester is used to determine the location of a painful area in the foot of a lame horse. It is more specific than tapping the hoof with a hammer. A hoof tester may be used to locate bruised or punctured areas of the foot, or to diagnose foot bone diseases or injuries. To test for a foot problem, place the end of one jaw on the suspected area and the other on the outside of the wall, and exert pressure in that area by closing the handles. The horse's reaction to the pressure in that area is the basis for the diagnosis of lameness. A sound hoof should be compared to the lame one to determine each individual horse's response to pain.

For more information about the horse's hoof, see External Parts of the Horse Hoof and Evaluating the Hoof and Trim Job

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