shoes

Question
JoePaul

    Why do domesticated horses need to wear shoes, when
wild horses seem to get along fine without them?

                                  thanks
                                  Bob

Answer
HELLO BOB...THANKS FOR YOUR QUESTION...

Wild horses have superior hooves because of "genetics"...that simple!!

Domestic horses wear shoes (not necessary NEED them) for two reasons
in my opinion "protection or correction". Protection because of poor
genetics,poor diet or environmental conditions that "abuse" their
hooves. Correction naturally because of limb problems that are
congenital or for lack of care that results in hoof or limb changes
as they mature and grow up.
We ride and "push" our horses sometimes beyond "reasonable limits"
and their hooves,limbs and bodies suffer because of it !!

In the world of the wild horses...man is not a factor. That being
said; because of pushing wild horses into different areas of the country and adoption programs, WE as human have changed their living
conditions so we see more problems in some parts of the country.

They live (without our help) in ideal conditions. They constantly
are on the move exercising, eating different forage and crossing
rivers,creeks to keep moisture levels idea for their hooves. ONLY
THE STRONG SURVIVE AND BREED back. The colts and fillies are born
and nurse and hit the ground running. Many will travel hundreds of miles the first week of their lives with their mothers and herd !!
In other words...idea conditions for strong bodies,hooves and
endurance.

I could also go into "our equine diets" of not enough roughage and
over proteins...but that is another subject... :)

We also breed horses "because we like them" and many that are NOT athletic and have limb and hoof problems are allowed to reproduce
and duplicate the PROBLEMS. Veterinarians and farriers are THEN expected to "save or fix" these "wrecks" as many have no hope or
a long life of problems that they DON'T deserve !!

Thanks for listening and your time...
Joepaul Meyers,C.J.F.