The Horse Shoe

Horses were first shod with metal shoes about 1500 hundred years ago before we understood the physiology of the hoof. The shoes were intended to elevate the hoof out of the manure and urine-saturated ground where the horse was tied. The premise was that the elevation would stop the hoof from rotting. The domestic horse’s hoof was not only weakened by a fetid environment, but also by the lack of movement which was a radical change for animals meant to be constantly on the go. Limited motion meant limited blood circulation, which translated to a significant lack of nutrient supply. Not surprisingly, the rot worked its way between the metal plate and the hoof. Cutting out the middle of the plate was thought to allow the hoof to retain some breath-ability and air circulation. Hence originated the current shape of the metal horse shoe. Nothing much has changed since… “