Tell me this isn't frickin cool:

Excerpt from The Horse Conformation Handbook (p175):

"The horse's hoof is his second heart. Hoof expansion and contraction with each stride not only dissipates concussion but helps push the blood back up the leg. In the rest of the body, muscle activity helps the circulatory system return blood to the heart, but the horse has no muscles in his lower legs. Each time the horse puts weight on the foot, the pressure helps force blood out of the foot and up the leg veins. When the foot is lifted, the release of pressure allows new blood to flow into the foot."

Horses are so cool! Their hooves pump blood through their legs. What a novel idea.

Horse pictures still to come.