Horses need proper horse food, fresh water, and exercise. Wild horses do not have any of the hoof problems seen in domestic horses. These are genetically identical animals. A wild mustang, with perfect feet, taken out of the wild, founders within a couple of months of traditional horsekeeping. Why does this happen? It’s an improper diet and inadequate exercise. Providing a proper diet and exercise for our horses ensures they can be happy and healthy for life. Natural horse and hoof care may not cost less money, but it will result in fewer vet bills and more soundness for your horse.
Making a Choice – Shod or Barefoot
Creating a more natural lifestyle for your horse encourages a healthier horse in every aspect. The more natural you can make the environment, the healthier your horse's feet will become. Here are some facts about bare hooves versus shod hooves.
- Bare hooves are perfectly designed to move under the horse.
- Bare hooves absorb shock.
- Shod hooves do not move. The back half of the foot, containing internal structures of fibrous cartilage for shock absorption and blood cirulation, becomes useless.
- Bare hooves feel and know where they are in space. This is because proprioceptor nerves in the back of the foot are working properly. Shod horses lose this ability.
- Shod hooves redirect the energy of the horse right up the leg. This can leg injuries as well as neck and back issues. The leg is not a shock absorber; the hoof is.
- A natural trim puts the hoof in the perfect position to heal.
- Navicular and foundered horses can be rehabiliated with the natural trim.
- A horse with naturally trimmed hooves is immeasurably healthier than the same horse in shoes.
Learning from Nature
The natural trim is based on the many years of field research. From this research, we learned that horses prefer short toes, low heels, callused soles and frogs. Strong healthy internal structures are reflected in strong healthy external structures. The barefoot trim mimics nature by giving your horse the trim he would normally have if he were traveling 20 miles or more per day with his herd.
Make the Changes
The trim is just one part of the holistic approach of natural horse care. Over the years, we have come to treat our domestic horses like other pets. In many ways this has reduced their true potential. Humans, dogs and cats are predators so our lifestyles were easily integrated. Yet our attempt to care for horses, prey animals, is contrary to their nature.But we can practice what we now know. We can make the changes to help horses live healthier and happier. Learn how your horse would like to live. Start today.
