Return to the Wild: the Barefoot Option
These days more and more horse owners are turning to more horse-centered practices; pastures and turnout are designed for movement and interaction, training methods are focusing on understanding the psychology of horses to develop a willing partner and many people are trying to feed in a more natural way (focusing on forage instead of hard feed). It stands to reason that this renaissance of “natural” horsekeeping would extend to hoof care; what could be more natural than allowing a horse’s feet to care for themselves, without the presence of shoes?
In the following series of articles, barefoot or “wild” trimming techniques and rationale will be discussed in the following sections:
I. Hoof and its natural function
II. Evolution of horseshoeing
III. Barefoot trim or “wild” trimming
IV. The case against barefoot trim
V. Tools and how to get started
Although this series will lean in favor of
the barefoot, or wild horse, trim, providing information and resources to understand the hoof and its function and helping you get started on the transition, ultimately the decision to go barefoot rests with you; pulling shoes and trimming naturally is only one part of the change that should also include ample turnout, close-to-wild feeding practices and an overall program of holistic horse care. Only you can decide if these practices will benefit your horse.
Part I: The Hoof and Its Natural Function
Here is a diagram of a horse's hoof and lower leg.
Labeled hoof
A horse’s feet are literally its lifeblood; every step a horse takes helps to circulate massive quantities of blood into its heart. Hooves are basically miniature blood pumps; when a horse steps down, the hoof wall flexes out to distribute the weight of a 1000-pound animal in motion. When he lifts his foot up, the hoof wall “closes” up to its regular shape. This suction action pumps blood up through the legs and all through the body; an unshod horse can pump approximately one gallon of blood through its hoofs within 20 strides. This flexing action also helps to improve the overall quality of the hoof itself, stimulating a healthy sole, and a strong hoof wall.
In addition to circulation, the hoof acts as a shock absorber for the delicate tendons and ligaments in the leg. A hoof that flexes can absorb 2,000 pound of concussion in each step. A 1983 study at the University of Zurich found “a shod horse walking on pavement receives three times the impact force as an unshod horse trotting on that surface.” This shock can even affect the lungs, which were not designed to be jostled around but rather cradled in the chest cavity and protected by the flexing, supportive action of the hoof.
The quality of hoof material depends in large part upon the living conditions of the horse. Healthy hooves on wild horses are maintained through movement, free-choice forage (generally grass-type forage, not legume-based) and moisture (spending time each day in puddles, streams and mud). A naturally maintained hoof might look something like the feet of these feral horses in South Africa:
Wild Horse FeetThe toes are rolled back, there is very little flare to the hoof, and the outer hoof walls appear tough, with no cracks or chips.
In the next section, we will discuss the evolution of horseshoeing and its role in horse health.
Suzannah Kolbeck. All Rights Reserved. 2008