What is an ergot?

An ergot refers to a small, hard callosity that is found on the back of a horse's fetlock, which is the joint located between the horse's cannon bone and the pastern. Ergots are remnants of a digit, essentially vestigial structures that can vary in size and prominence among different horses. Although they do not have a significant impact on the horse's performance or health, they can be useful indicators of breed lineage or characteristics. Understanding anatomical features like ergots is important for proper care and assessment of a horse’s health and conformation.