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Whether you are a horse owner who is curious about all the recent barefoot
hype, a hoof care professional, or other equine enthusiast, you'll find plenty of information
here about keeping and maintaining barefoot horses.
Use the navigation links (at the right)
to select a topic.
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Why is everyone suddenly so excited about
modern barefoot hoof care?
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The pieces of this intricate puzzle are finally coming together. It started with only a
few barefoot hoof care pioneers who observed the differences between domesticated horses and feral
"wild" horses. They quickly realized how much we have strayed from the horse's natural habitat,
which he has evolved to not only withstand, but to require for health.
This new excitement building around barefoot hoof care has inspired a handful of top veterinarians
to perform research and publish their findings. These new studies are showing the true functions
and biomechanics of the hoof and how trimming, shoeing, and environmental factors affect them either positively or negatively. Due to this new research, tens of thousands of horses around the world are developing
stronger, healthier hooves.
The horse's hooves have an amazing impact on its overall health and life span. After all,
the hooves are the third most vascular part of the horse's anatomy, playing quite a large role
in the horse's circulatory health.
Picture: Tawny & Grace © Linda Harper
When the horse's hooves are not well,
the horse's body and mind will not be well.
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The past and present lameness epidemic that has devastated hundreds of thousands of horses
around the world is caused by a widespread lack of knowledge and improper trimming and shoeing
practices. An insurance study done between 1993 and 1995 shows that permanent loss of use, including
death and euthanasia, was due to locomotor lameness at an astounding 83%! From my own
informal studies,
I have encountered only 2 horses (out of nearly a thousand) whose hooves were truly the epitome of
health, without any sign of deformation or pathology. I used to think that it was simply unbelievable
that so many horses would have deformation and pathology in their hooves without anyone noticing. Now I know better...
In fact, when I began studying the functions of equine hooves, I met 2 veterinarians
who both attended one of the classes I was participating in. Both of these veterinarians stated
that they learned more
about the inner workings of the equine hoof during a 4-hour dissection than they had from 8 years of
veterinary schooling (where they had done only one hoof dissection with the sole purpose
of naming the parts). In addition, of the many farriers I have
met and conversed with over the years, approximately 90% of them never had the chance to either dissect or
watch a dissection of a cadaver hoof during their schooling. (To learn more about why cadaver hoof
dissection is crucial to a well-rounded hoof care education, Click Here).
The good news is that veterinarians, farriers and horse owners are beginning to catch on! Nearly
every equine publication has published new information on hoofcare so that all horse
enthusiasts can begin to learn the basics. Veterinarians are conducting their own research studies
on the functions of the hoof as well as causes and treatments for debilitating lamenesses.
However, many horse owners and equine
professionals clutch to old tradition and ideals and aren't open to new research and experiences.
If you have ever been curious about something and asked "Why?" but got the answer "It's just the way
it's always been done"... you're looking at tradition.
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