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When possible, a "barefoot" hoof, at least for part of every year, is a healthy option for most horses. However, horseshoes have their place and can help prevent excess or abnormal hoof wear and injury to the foot. Many horses go without shoes year round, some using temporary protection such as hoof boots for short-term use. [19]
Horseshoes are not used, but domesticated horses may still require trimming, exercise and other measures to maintain a natural shape and degree of wear. [2] Within the natural hoof care philosophy, the term barefoot horses refers to horses which are kept barefoot, as opposed to horses who are fitted with horseshoes or hoof boots.
The first literary mention of nailed horseshoes is found within Ekkehard's Waltharius, [3] written c. 920 AD. The practice of shoeing horses in Europe likely originated in Western Europe, where they had more need due to the way the climate affected horses' hooves, before spreading eastward and northward by 1000 AD.
The hipposandal (Latin soleae ferreae) [1] is a device that protected the hoof of a horse. It was commonplace in the northwestern countries of the Roman Empire, [1] [2] [3] and was a predecessor to the horseshoe. The necessity of protecting the horse hoof was recognised by the ancient Greeks and Romans, and written about by Xenophon. [4]
Several plants, including nightshade, become more toxic as they wilt and die, posing a danger to horses eating dried hay or plant matter blown into their pastures. [ 3 ] The risk of animals becoming ill during the fall is increased, as many plants slow their growth in preparation for winter, and equines begin to browse on the remaining plants.
Bell boots or overreach boots are bell-shaped boots which encircle the horse's pastern and drape over the hoof. They help protect the back of the pastern and the heel bulbs from being injured from strikes by the toe of the hind hoof (overreaching), striking the rear of the hoof bottom (forging), and stepping on the edge of the shoe with the adjacent hoof potentially pulling it loose.
Horse boots are used in all riding disciplines and are particularly popular for trail riding and endurance riding. They are also used on horses in parades and on police horses who work on hard pavement. Hoof boots may also be used when transitioning a horse from shod to unshod riding, or carried during a ride in case a horse throws a shoe. [2]
The horse's pasterns have darker hair than the rest of the horse's coat. The horse at rest stands with its weight unnaturally shifted to its hind legs, sometimes described as "standing in a bucket". The horse carries its hocks low and may twist them outward when moving. The horse lies down for extended periods of time, and is resistant to ...