What are the chestnuts for on a horse's leg?

Answer 1

Of corse not!

Answer

Chestnut is the colour of some horses. A chestnut is the fruit of the Horse Chestnut tree.

YES IT IS!!!!! It is the "callous" looking spot on the inside of EVERY horses leg. There is also whats known as an ARGOT on the back of the fetlock.

Answer 2

The hairless horn-like structure close to the hock and knee joints. It is a remnant of prehistoric horses having a number of toes rather than hooves. The ergot at the rear of the fetlock joint is another prehistoric toe. These structures grow slowly but sometimes need trimming by farrier if they do not drop off naturally when long.

Answer 3

The 'chestnuts' on the insides of a horse's legs are the remains of his prehistoric ancester's toes. The ergots on the backs of the horse's fetlocks was another of the toes, the main hoof being the third. When looking at our modern horses that stands 16HH and weigh half of a ton, it's hard to imagine they started out the size of the family dog. The chestnuts and ergots no longer serve much purpose anymore, but they have a very pungent odor and dogs love to eat them much the same way they snatch to trimmed hooves after the farrier has paid a visit.