“I predict that the natural hoof care practitioner of the future will be less of a trimmer, than a diagnostician of healthy changes in the hoof and an expert at creating natural behavioral stimuli in the track that serve the adaptation mechanism”(Jackson). What I will be talking about during this research paper is shoeing horses. Contemplating the workings of horse hooves, I found that a horse being shod does not hurt the hoof like so many would argue because when a horse is working on hard ground, the wearing down of the hoof is greater than the hoof growth and the extra protection prevents soreness. My main points throughout this paper will be the history of horseshoes, different types of hooves, how natural selection has been prevalent …show more content…
Since horses were the key to a family’s livelihood, they took the time to care for their horses’s hooves because if their horse went lame, they were in trouble. When looking at hoof structure we see that hooves are prone to wearing down on hard ground, and they cannot grow fast enough to beat the wearing down. When horses suddenly went lame, I’m sure it was a surprise to families - and then they had to learn how to counteract the wearing down of the hoof. Going back into ancient history we see evidence of hoof protection. Horsemen in ancient Asia would protect their horses hooves with booties made from hides and woven plant material. This extra cushioning would protect hooves from the long hours of work on hard ground, and probably helped prevent lameness in horses. My general belief is that shoeing a horse can benefit the majority of horses, but it truly depends on the hoof structure of each individual horse. On the other hand, barefoot can be good in the cases of really hard feet, but will also vary from horse to …show more content…
“The Mustangs have NO hoof care and they’re perfectly fine!” You also don’t normally see elf hooves on Mustangs - why is this? Contrary to popular belief, Mustangs are selectively bred, by nature. Since horses have been out on the range for thousands of years, the ones that are currently out there now are the result of natural selection. Over time the weakest links are weeded out, while the strong survive. “No hoof, no horse” is a popular saying, and I find truth behind it. The process of natural selection means that over time the hooves of Mustangs have become stronger and stronger. Think of it like this, there are two mares, A & B, and two stallions, C & D. Over a period of 5 years, mare A becomes lame and stallion D has cracked, abscessed hooves. They are both lame. If a cougar chases all four of these horses, which two will survive? Yes, mare B and stallion C will survive. They will go on to produce a foal with stronger hooves than mare A and stallion D would have. This is natural selection, and it is the current and future mustang’s best
Should you shoe your horses or leave them barefoot? What is better for the horse? What will benefit the horse more? Although it’s a hot topic, it has never really been an issue to me. I have always shod my horses in the summer when I know we will be using them a lot and always leave the shoes off in the winter. I ride with a lot of people that will never use shoes or will sometimes only use a pair on either the front or back. Each person has their own beliefs and reasons behind why they choose to do what they do. For example, when I bought my current horse (around ’08) the person I bought him from only ever shod the front two hooves. I started putting shoes on all four of his hooves and they have been that way just about every summer since I purchased him. Then again, I’m only one person. Everyone has a different viewpoint on what is best for the horses and how to go about doing the best thing for their individual needs. That’s really where this question comes from for me. I want to know why; I want to know why people are so opinionated in one way or the other, as well as find out what is actually in the best interest of the horse.
An excited crowd waits expectantly to see the horse, cowboy, and calf burst out of the chute. Within seconds, the cowboy has the calf roped, on the ground, and tied. The action appears effortless. Two wranglers release the calf, and it trots out of the arena, seemingly unharmed. The question remains, are rodeos humane? That does the calf think of all this excitement? Contrary to what many people assume, PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) sanctioned rodeos treat their livestock humanely.
More than 100,000 U.S horses are sent to slaughter each year for their meat. The meat is then shipped overseas to Europe for human consumption. Horse slaughter is a big issue in the equine community. Many people in the equine community say it’s inhuman by the way the horses are killed, but many equestrians also say its moral due to population control. so which is it, is horse slaughter bad or good? This report will look at what horses usually go to slaughter, how the U.S and other countries view horses, how different people view horses and what would happen if slaughter ended.
Claws grow on either side of each hoof, the tip of the hoof is sharp as well but still curved like a natural horse.
In prehistoric America horse remains have been found that show they covered our great plains and were evolved to be able to eat the harsh vegetation of the area. The evidence of horses go back 54 million years. Without reason it seems this creature vanished from the area and not to be seen or have signs for the last ten thousand years. There are many theories as to what happened to them. One of the theories is that the horse died out due to disease. Another
The condition known as Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) gains its name from the similarities it shares with a widely known disease in humans: Metabolic Syndrome or better known as Type II Diabetes. The condition was suggested in 2002 by Johnson of the University of Missouri Veterinary Medicine College. He proposed insulin resistance, obesity of the neck, tail head and sheath/mammary gland area, and an increased predisposition to laminitis were symptoms of a clinical syndrome in horses and ponies....
For decades, Scientists have contemplated the idea of using horses for the personal gain of children and adults with needs such as autism, heart conditions, anxiety, stress, and other disorders that have yet to be curable. Horses such as Chester, a twenty year old gelding has encouraged more young riders who face difficulties such as social skills, behavior skills, and those who are physically indisposed. The phrase confidence is key, becomes important when people of all ages interact with a horse. Learning confidence may not be as easy as it sounds but is a necessary step to bond with a horse; without it, there can be no trust and most importantly, no bond between the equine and its rider.
Deficient diets result in weight loss in the horse. Alternate causes of weight loss are internal parasites and diseases. Excess energy intake causes obesity which stresses joints and reduces athletic ability. A horse in moderate physical condition is described as “Back level”. Ribs cannot be visually distinguished, but can be easily felt.
As the ancient civilizations of the west grew their empires, they encountered something so powerful, beastly, and strong that no man could hold down with his own two bare hands, nor could they be tamed. As centuries go on, men learned the ways of the horse and learned to ride upon their backs. They found them to be a key component in transportation, carrying goods, and warfare. As time went on, for every footprint of a human left behind in the wet mud, there was a hoof print not far from the footprint. Ancient Greeks believed that the horse was a gift from the gods, and they were greatly valued in their society.
the hoofs in an effort of survival and to counter balance the spiritual world that engulfed their heritage.
Making sure your horse is thoroughly groomed is the first step to making him comfortable. Assuring the feet are picked and free of pebbles or stones are imperative to prevent any injuries to your horse’s feet. Next, comb out any tangles or debris from the forelock, (the horses bangs) mane, and tail. Keeping in mind the horse uses his tail as a deterrent for insects we want this to be free flowing and free to swat with. Now let’s brush our horse. Using a curry comb, first and in circular motions work your way down the horse’s neck, across his body and around his rump. This will loosen any built up and ground in dirt. Using a hard course brush, brush out your horses coat to bring up and out all that loosened dirt. Taking a medium course brush you may now brush off any loosened dirt that may still be in the hairs. Finalize you...
The American Heritage Dictionary (3rd edition) defines a stirrup as "a loop or ring hung from either side of a horse's saddle to support the rider's foot" (The American Heritage Dictionary 799). Stirrups were invented by the Chinese in the year 477 A.D., and by the early Middle Ages the countries of Japan, India and Korea seem to have adopted its use. Stirrups became known in Persia, Byzantium and France in the 7th or early 8th century A.D.. Before stirrups were invented, riders had to use "a wooden stool or [they leaped] directly on to the horse's back" (Gans 1). Stirrups provided riders with much greater stability while on horseback especially during battles with lances and swords.
... have a crop (small whip) or peg spurs. Both of these do not hurt the horse, but are uncomfortable, so they know they are doing something wrong.
Snodgrass, W. D. "A Rocking-Horse: The Symbol, the Pattern, the Way to Live." The Hudson Review 11.2 (1958): 191-200. JSTOR. Web. 23 Feb. 2014.
Equestrian Riding, also known as horseback riding is a sport. Some people may argue that is not because they think the horse is doing all of the work. However that is not true. People do not realize that it takes a lot of to ride a horse and the rider does a lot of work as well and its good exercise too.