ELI5. When hooved animal’s hooves are left untreated they over grow and become unhealthy. Does this happen in the wild?
In: Biology
Unlikely. A hooved animal in the wild gets to run around on dirt, rock and gravel, so that naturally wears down the hoof. A bit like how if your dog is outside a lot, you don’t have to clip its nails nearly as much as an inside-only pet, because its claws get worn down by the patio, sidewalk, gravel etc.
Those rescue ponies and horses with the super gross curled up hooves, those are because those poor beasties have never been walked on anything but a stall or soft arena dirt, so there’s been nothing to wear them down naturally. The sad thing is that can really screw up their feet; even after the ferrier corrects their hooves they’re not gonna be walking normally for long time.
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