Horse Needs Shoeng

A horse is a very big and heavy animal in com¬parison to the size of its feet and so a large part of the internal structure of the foot deals with absorbing the concussion that arises every time the horse puts its foot to the ground.

Different types of horse have different types of feet; for example, the Thoroughbred is renowned for having thin soles, which means that its feet are
particularly prone to bruising, while the Jomud, of the Soviet Union, has exceptionally hard feet, as do many of the native breeds of pony.

Horses' feet can tell you a great deal about the horse - if it has small feet for its size, it will be less able to cope with con¬cussion and may be prone to lameness if ridden excessively on hard ground. Very large flat feet will also be prone to excessive concussion.

If prominent ridges or rings appear around the feet it can indicate problems within the foot, or over-feeding, and should be a matter of concern. If a horse stands pigeon-toed, with its feet turned in, it will probably not move straight.

If it stands with its feet turned out, again it will not move straight, and will probably brush its legs together, possibly causing injury. Feet should always be a pair, of the f same size and shape, and with the same angle to the ground, and should be cared for as a matter of priority.
 
HORSE FACT:
Vaqueros is the name given to Spanish cowboy; they were
among the first cow¬boys in America.