What Is a Digital Cushion?

The digital cushion is a part of the shock absorption system built into a horse's foot. The digital cushion helps the frog when the horse comes to a complete stop after a brisk run, or when it needs to grip and make a turn. The health of the digital cushion impacts the horse's quality of life and ability to walk, sprint and run.

  1. The Foot

    • The horse's foot is made up of complex layers of cartilage and bone. What's commonly used to nail on horseshoes is the wall. The back of the foot is a dipped groove called the frog. The frog is made of keratin material. On either side of the frog are the bars. Behind the bars, and hidden by the walls is the sole of the foot. The digital cushion is found just above the frog

    Digital Cushion

    • Even though no blood flows in the digital cushion, the digital cushion is vitally important to the horse because it absorbs shock. In the "Horseman's Veterinary Encyclopedia," Cheryl Rogers defines the digital cushion as "A fibrous, elastic, fatty wedge-shaped pad in the posterior one-half of the foot." It's also known as the plantar cushion. It reduces the possibility of concussion to the horse's foot.

    Functions

    • The digital cushion provides a cushion between the bone and the ground, to soften the impact of each step, especially during running. Each time a horse takes a step, both the frog and the digital cushion spread out and compress. The pressure on the wall and the bars is reduced. The blood flow is forced upwards into the horse's legs. This continuous, simultaneous action is important to keeping circulation going in the horse's leg.

    False Quarter

    • When any portion of the cushion is destroyed, the horse will continue to develop problems until it's corrected. Gashes or openings in the foot area could lead to sand or dirt getting into the cushion, causing inflammation. A horse can develop an abscess, leading to suppurating coronitis in the digital cushion because of a wound that becomes inflamed, from the effects of a concussion or excess body weight. These are the horses that are called "lame," and the owners have to make the hard decision of whether or not to euthanize the horse if the condition cannot be corrected.