What are Fairy Feet?
Horses are born with “golden slippers” or “horse feathers”
When a horse is born, their feet are covered in something similar to cuticles over their fully formed hooves.
Eponychium is a soft coverings over the hard sharp edges of a foal's foot when it is born.
A foal stands within one hour of birth, so their feet need to be fully formed. The hoof can be very sharp, it is understandable why this covering grows. It protects the mother from being injured during birth.
Once the foal stands, the “feathers” wear off.
Hope you learned something on this Farien’s Fun Fact Friday!
Have a great weekend,
Farien