Horses are one of mankind's most faithful friends, and from ancient times to the present day, they have provided various services such as transportation, farming, and war. But have you ever wondered why a horse's foot should be nailed to an iron? This piece of iron is called a horseshoe, and it is a very important piece of horse equipment. This article will uncover the mysteries of horseshoes and give you an idea of why horses wear shoes.
1. Structure and function of horseshoes
To understand the role of a horseshoe, it is first necessary to understand the structure and function of the horseshoe. The horseshoe is made up of the hoof bone and the stratum corneum that wraps around it. The stratum corneum is equivalent to human nails and is a hard substance without blood vessels and nerves, which can withstand the friction and pressure of the ground. There is a triangular ravine at the bottom of the horse's hooves called the hoof fork, which helps the horse maintain balance and grip on different terrains.
2. The invention and role of the horseshoe
In the natural environment, wild horses can adjust the amount and speed of movement according to their needs to maintain the balance of cuticle and ground friction. But after humans domesticated and used horses, this balance was upset. Humans let horses carry heavy objects or walk on hard or rough roads for a long time, causing the stratum corneum to wear out too quickly or be split, thus affecting the horse's ability to walk and even causing pain and infection. Therefore, humans came up with a way to nail an iron shoe to the horse to protect the horseshoe, which is the horseshoe.
Horseshoe is a curved sheet of metal, usually made of iron or steel, sometimes with the addition of other materials such as rubber or plastic to add cushioning. It can be fixed to the stratum corneum with nails or glue without harming the tissues inside the horseshoe. Horseshoes have the following functions:
Prevents excessive wear or splitting of the stratum corneum. This is the most basic and important role. By adding a protective layer of metal, the friction and impact between the stratum corneum and the ground can be reduced, the life of the stratum corneum can be extended, and cracks or fractures can be prevented.
Increase the walking efficiency and comfort of the horse. Horseshoes can be designed according to different pavements and uses to suit different needs. For example, some horseshoes add protrusions at the front or rear to increase the horse's grip on mud or snow; Some horseshoes add some grooves at the bottom to reduce the horse's slippage on slippery surfaces; Some horseshoes add dentation to the edges to increase the horse's stability on grass or sand. These designs make it easier for horses to walk on a variety of terrains, improve speed and safety, and also reduce the pressure and vibration of the horse's hooves, and improve comfort.
Correct the shape and posture of the horse's hooves. Some horses will have some horseshoe deformities or poor postures due to genetic or environmental reasons, such as varus, valgus, flat, high and low, etc. These problems can affect a horse's ability to walk and health, and can even lead to damage to joints, muscles or ligaments. By attaching a specially designed horseshoe to the horse, the horseshoe can be corrected and supported to a certain extent, improve the shape and posture of the horse's hoof, and restore normal function.
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