What is the purpose of a horse's chestnuts?

Question

What is the purpose of a horse's chestnuts?

Answer 1

Yes they evolved the 2nd toe into one !! The 3rd is the chestnut ? they believe

Also the splint bone's  are suppose to be part of the other toes that grew when the hoof's became one

and to surport the knee when was ridden

In the begining they say they had five toes two joined two went up became splint bones one became a chestnut and the last to the hoof ?

what ever !!!we where not there to say any different Or were You ?

Answer 2

Believed to be remanents of their 1st digit.

Answer 3

Hold up your hand, five fingers splayed and you are looking at the leg and hoof of a horse as it once looked, at least as far as the bones are concerned.  Eohippus ran on five toes, as horses became taller and faster, the middle finger became bigger and stronger, becoming a cannon bone and hoof.  Your index finger and ring finger shrunk and became splint bones which stabalized the knee and are all but vestigial at this point.  The pinky finger is vestigial but remains at the back of the fetlock joint in the horny growth known as the ergot.  The thumb is also vestigial and has become the horny growth just inside the knees and hocks known as the chestnut.

Answer 4

NO PURPOSE!

THATS JUST WHERE THEY END UP AFTER YOU GIVE HIM A KICKIN' FOR LOSING THE RACE.