It has long been known that horses shed their toes in favour of hooves 5 million years ago in an effort to gallop faster. Scientists studying the feet of modern equineshave discovered 'buds' of five digits in both horses developing in the womb and in adults of the species. Under the microscope they found that their hooves are formed of five distinctly toe-like lumps in the womb. HOW DID HORSE HOOVES EVOLVE? It is the loss of toes which may have enabled horses to support this larger weight and move faster on their longer legs.

Source: Daily Mail January 24, 2018 12:11 UTC