Natural hoof care is the practice of keeping horses so that their hooves are worn down naturally and so do not suffer overgrowth, splitting and other disorders. Horseshoes are not used but domesticated horses may still require trimming, exercise and other measures to maintain a natural shape and degree of wear.
Within the natural hoof care philosophy, the term barefoot horses refers to horses which are kept barefoot full time, as opposed to horses who are fitted with horse shoes. The hooves of barefoot horses are trimmed with special consideration to a barefoot lifestyle. The barefoot horse movement advocates a generalized use of barefoot horses, both in non-competitive and competitive riding, often coupled with a more natural approach to horse care. Horses are kept barefoot in many parts of the world, including South America, Mongolia and other industrialized and non-industrialized cultures.
Read more about Natural Hoof Care: History, Benefits of Barefooting, Barefoot Trim, Impact of Horseshoes, Hoof Health, Controversies, See Also
Famous quotes containing the words natural, hoof and/or care:
“The aim of every political association is the preservation of the natural and imprescriptible rights of man. These rights are liberty, property, security and resistance to oppression.”
—French National Assembly. Declaration of the Rights of Man (drafted and discussed August 1789, published September 1791)
“Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Canada are the horns, the head, the neck, the shins, and the hoof of the ox, and the United States are the ribs, the sirloin, the kidneys, and the rest of the body.”
—William Cobbett (1762–1835)
“General McLaidlaw: Lena will never marry. She’s not the marrying sort. I see no reason to worry. There’s enough to care for her for the rest of her life.
Mrs. McLaidlaw: I suppose you’re right, dear. I’m afraid she is rather spinsterish.
General McLaidlaw: What’s wrong with that. The old maid’s a respectable institution. All women are not alike. Lena has intellect and a fine solid character.”
—Samson Raphaelson (1896–1983)