What is natural hoof care, I hear you ask. The simplest answer is, it's a combination of the following things.
MOST IMPORTANTLY DEDICATION FROM YOU THE HORSE OWNER
CORRECT DIET
CORRECT ENVIRONMENT
BAREFOOT TRIMMING
MOVEMENT-EXERCISE
Here is an overview on Natural Hoof Care
HISTORY OF THE HORSESHOE
Since the horse’s domestication 8'000 or more years ago, most horses have been ridden unshod, having strong, healthy and naturally shaped hooves. They lived most of their lives on rugged mountains, deserts and semi-arid regions. Records show that Hannibal and his army won many a battle on unshod horses. Once the horses made their way into the hands of the Northern Europeans, they found themselves in a much wetter, colder climate. By 700 AD, when castles were built for security from their rival kingdoms, horses were kept in small paddocks and stables. This resulted in the deterioration of the hooves. Horseshoeing became a remedy and soon became common practice. Kingdoms became cities. Horses became more useful and had working lives. They were shod for more than a thousand years. Once the automobiles and tractors replaced horses they mostly became 'pleasure animals', and remained in close confinement and shod.
WHAT ELSE IS THERE?
More and more people are starting to realize that there is a choice, Steel shoes, boots, or Natural Hoof Care.
WHAT IS NATURAL HOOF CARE?
Natural Hoof Care is a combination of Correct Diet, Correct Environment, Barefoot trimming and most importantly, Dedication from the horse owner.
BAREFOOT TRIMMING
A Barefoot trim is a trim that resembles the hoof of a wild horse. The wild horse with its healthy barefoot hooves, is living proof itself that shoes are not necessary.
HOW THE HOOF WORKS
The hoof expands as it hits the ground, and contracts when it is lifted. This spread and squeeze action acts like a pump pulling blood through the hoof with each step. When the hoof flattens out on the ground it is aided first by the flexible frog, second by the elastic heel-bulbs, and third by the cartilages, all of which absorb shock and concussion.
THE DISADVANTAGE OF SHOES
Shoes restrict all of the above vital workings of the hoof which makes it difficult for the horse to perform at its best. They encourage weak walls, seedy toe, corns, separation of the lamina, soft soles, rotten frogs, tendon damage, shin splints, bone chips, sore shoulders and many other problems.
FROM SHOD TO UNSHOD
After the shoes have been taken off your horse and he has been given a barefoot trim, the increased blood flow starts to rebuild the damaged hoof. There is a transition period which varies from horse to horse and it could be several weeks or months before you can comfortably ride your horse on rougher terrain. 'Hoof Boots' may be required on his front feet during this period, which allow you to continue riding your horse on any terrain. The horse will need to be trimmed no longer than every 6 weeks. The more work he does the more he will need trimming. The process can be faster by having loose gravel around water and feed troughs and even used in stables instead of straw. The transition period is over when the sole regains concavity and forms a hard callus. The horse will walk on gravel as if it were grass.
Once it starts to look like a wild horse's hoof, it will start to act like one.
An Australian Brumby's Hoof
This Australian Brumby (wild horse) hoof is shaped by nature's requirements.