How thick is the tip of the frog? Can a one inch nail hit the tendon?

It has happened to my horse and he is lame he saw the vet a few times but the nail had already fallen out?

What did the vet say? So the nail fell out on its own without being pulled? Did the vet take radiographs? Is your horse on antibiotics?

I agree with Bubba, xray and antibiotics would seem things to ask vet about.

I'd say 'yes' is the basic answer to your basic question, but need more info to really understand what exactly you mean & what's happened. Also agree with others that if this has happened & your horse is still lame(how long?), I wouldn't muck around without a vet & if the vet hasn't said/done much, I'd find another equine vet.

Ditto the vet and X-rays. The coffin bone could be in jeopardy from infection.

I had this happen many many years ago but the horse had stepped on a piece of metal fence post that had worked its way up to the ground surface.

She was on/off antibiotics for a month. When the antibiotics would leave her system, she'd be lame again.

I begged, borrowed, and practically stood on the street corner for a horse trailer to haul her to the only vet within 75 miles that had surgery setup and an X-ray machine. We're talking early 1970's when these things were not commonplace in a very rural county that was basically made up of cows.

The infection was literally within a dog's hair of reaching her coffin bone and causing permanent, lifetime damage. If she didn't have a complete recovery, it was questionable if she could have ever been ridden again.

She had to stay at the clinic for a few days but did make a full recovery.

Point-being - get the vet out to take X-rays or haul her to the vet for X-rays.

The tendon would be the very least of my worries if the nail went thru the frog and was aimed in the general vicinity of the coffin bone.

He was lame in his paddock in the afternoon 10 min. After I handed him an apple anf he was fine. He was walking on three legs. I lead him to the barn and cleaned that foot gently. A one inch roofing nail popped out from the tip of the frog with a clump of dirt, otherwise I would not have removed it as the vet says xrays are useless now, but I hadnt seen the nail before. He came in the morning and put him on antibiotics and a foot pad after cutting an inch away from the tip of the frog and not finding a trail. He was on antibiotics for 10 days and I changed the pad every four...Vet came back the next week looked and said take the pad off for three days then turn him out he's fine! WELLLL. I did, I walked him out jogged him a bit he was ok. Then I let him go..the stupid came out and he bucked like crazy! 1500 pound painted percheron! He came back lame , toe pointing lame..Vet came in the morning and said to bute him 3 days then walk him on the fourth and see if he is lame...yesterday sound. Today 50/50. Vet says it might be sensitive from the carving of the frog. But if the nail went where I showed him(deep enough) it is the tendon before the coffin bone :(

Only advised to change wound dressing on the bottom of a horses hoof every 4 days? Hopefully he's on the mend now.... Gee, a bucking painted percheron... what an awesome sight that must be! What with antibiotics & bute, I'd be including probiotics in his diet ATM.

He had no infection pussing out...the pad was because the vet had removed so much frog, he wanted him to stay comfortable. He is a very well known vet. I did probiotics! I just hate wondering if I can let him run how long before I know if it is the tendon or sensitive on the frog :(

He is pretty! 17.1 and his older brother 16.2 :)

Hyper -- there is not a tendon at the tip of the frog. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the only tendon is the flexor which would start about 1/2way back and go toward the heel. So the concern would be infection / damage to the coffin bone.