What does pastern mean?
A pastern is the portion of a horse's lower leg between the fetlock and the hoof. It contains the pastern joint, an important part of the limb that helps absorb and distribute the forces generated when a horse stands, moves, or lands from a jump. The term is common in veterinary medicine, farriery, and equestrian sport, where injuries such as strains, fractures, swelling, or inflammation of the pastern may be discussed. Because the pastern lies at the junction of the long lower limb and the hoof, problems in this area can significantly affect a horse's movement and weight-bearing. In everyday descriptions, the word may also refer more narrowly to the joint itself. It should not be confused with the fetlock, which is the adjacent joint above the pastern.
nounThe pastern is the part of a horse's leg between the fetlock, the joint nearest the hoof, and the hoof itself. It includes the pastern joint and the short, often hairy, section immediately above the hoof.
- The part of a horse's leg between the fetlock and the hoof, including the pastern joint.
- The pastern joint itself, especially when referring to a condition or injury involving this area.
"The veterinarian examined the horse's swollen pastern after it had become tender."
"The long-haired horse had white markings extending down to the pastern."
"A fracture of the pastern can cause severe lameness in a horse."
Used when referring to the lower legs or pastern regions of multiple horses.
"The grooms washed mud from the horses' pasterns after the ride."
A horse's pastern is a small but important shock-absorbing section that helps the limb bear weight and move with flexibility.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pastern come from?
The word comes through Middle French from an Old French term associated with a shepherd or herdsman. Its development reflects the medieval use of shepherd's terminology for parts of a horse's leg, and it ultimately belongs to the same Latin-root family as pastor, pasture, and pastoral.
Related word forms
How pastern is actually used
Chiefly used in equestrian and veterinary contexts. In general descriptions of a horse's lower leg, “pastern” refers to the anatomical region, while “pastern joint” refers more precisely to the joint within that region.
Easily confused with pastern
The fetlock is the joint at the back of a horse's cannon bone, immediately above the pastern, whereas the pastern lies between the fetlock and the hoof.