WELCOME TO THE NATURAL HOOF!
The Natural Hoof is a partnership between trimmers Julie Bailey and David Barrett. The business covers the North West of England, caring for approximately 200 horses. We are able to take on new clients in the North West. Contact us to check if we cover your area, or for advice on any matters relating to natural hoof care:
Tel: 07961 588020
Email: juliebailey1@hotmail.co.uk
"Say cheese......cheeeeeese!"
This site is intended as a resource for horse owners who are riding, or considering riding barefoot.
Many people have turned to natural hoof care to heal lameness after traditional veterinary treatments and remedial farriery have failed. But with an increasing interest in natural horse keeping and riding, natural hoof care is also of growing interest for owners of sound horses. I hope this site will;
- Give a basic introduction to natural hoof care.
- Give you the background knowledge needed to assess the health of your horses feet.
- Help you to decide if natural hoof care is the best option for you and your horse.
WHAT IS NATURAL HOOF CARE?
Natural hoof care developed from studies of feral horses living in the dry, rocky and sparsely vegetated American West. These horses are fit, healthy and have awesomely strong and sound hooves without human care. Natural hoof care is a holistic approach, emulating as closely as possible the elements that forge these wild hooves, so that the domestic horse may benefit from the same level of soundness and health.
Some argue that studies of feral horses have no relevance to domestic horses. The confusion here is in thinking that feral horses are in some way different to domestic horses. The ancestors of the U.S feral horses were all released from domestication, and they are physiologically identical to all domestic horses.
View the video link below to see barefoot domestic horses negotiating similar terrain to the feral horses pictured above.
For the domestic horse living in the UK, terrain, climate, diet and lifestyle are all very different to that enjoyed by the feral horses in the US. This creates challanges when managing the domestic barefoot horse, but the advantages in health, soundness, performance and longevity are worth the effort. The pictures above show feral horses galloping happily over rocky ground without metal shoes protecting their feet. Feral horses living an optimal environment don't suffer from laminitis, navicular or the host of common lamenesses that affect domestic horses and are the perfect model of soundness and health. Why wouldn't we want our horses to be the same? Do you accept lameness and illness as an unavoidable part of domestication, or would you prefer your horse to enjoy a healthy, pain free life? This site will show that domestic horses can grow strong, sound hooves.
WILD HORSE HOOVES.
Photos courtesy of Cindy Sullivan www.tribeequus.com
The photos above show Jaime Jacksons preserved feet of a feral horse who was living in a desert environment in America. Although studies of these desert horses had a strong influence on the current barefoot movement, they are not representative of all feral horses. The feet of feral horses vary in appearance a great deal depending on the environment they live in - rocky desert, sandy desert, marshlands, grasslands etc. Take a look at the feral horses (and their hooves) living in different environments at www.tribeequus.com .
Domestic horses hooves are also shaped by the environment the horses lives in, and the use they are put to. Unfortunately domestic horses have life too easy so they don't cover many miles, spend time confined in a stable and they live on soft grass and bedding. This means they often never develop optimum hooves. When their feet are further weakened by shoes problems can develop.
NEXT PAGE - THE EFFECTS OF SHOES