Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Actually yes, Horses have 5 toes but only two (sometimes 3) can be seen .

 

The original horse had 5 toes.  During evolution these toes became other parts of the body. 

 

One toe is now the chestnut (thumb)

Two toes are now splint bones (pointer finger, ring finger)

One toe is the hoof (middle finger)

and some horses have an ergot (pinky finger)

 

Here are some examples

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/vertpaleo/fhc/relatives9.htm

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/vertpaleo/fhc/relatives10.htm

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/vertpaleo/fhc/relatives11.htm  (this page says they had no thumb but I call it that because there was 5 fingers)

 

There are also other good websites out there.  When looking for this I also saw an article on wild vs. ferral horses which is also a recient discussion on this group.

 

DaNel

 

DaNel Resha 
Darswinkle's Delights

www.darswinkles-delights.com  for gift giving needs
www.my.tupperware.com/Darswinkle  for tupperware

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