What is the periople on a horse's hoof?

• A. The bone beneath the hoof
• B. The soft tissue around the hoof
• C. The nerve endings in the hoof
• D. The shiny coat on the hoof

Answer: (D)

The periople is the thin, soft, waxy layer of hoof horn that covers the top part of the hoof wall just below the coronary band, giving the hoof a smooth, shiny appearance. It’s a protective surface rather than bone, nerves, or the broader soft tissue around the hoof. That glossy band is what you’re seeing as the shiny coat on the hoof, so that description fits best.