Editing Horseshoe (section)

===Environmental changes linked to domestication===

Many changes brought about by the [[domestication of the horse]], such as putting them in wetter climates and exercising them less, have led to horses' hooves hardening less and being more vulnerable to injury. In the wild, a horse may travel up to {{convert|50|mi|km}} per day to obtain adequate forage. While horses in the wild cover large areas of terrain, they usually do so at relatively slow speeds, unless being chased by a predator.<ref name="Cohen"/> They also tend to live in arid [[steppe]] climates. The consequence of slow but nonstop travel in a dry climate is that horses' feet are naturally worn to a small, smooth, even, and hard state. The continual stimulation of the sole of the foot keeps it thick and hard. However, in [[domestication]], the manner in which horses are used is different.  Domesticated horses are brought to colder and wetter areas than their ancestral habitat. These softer and heavier soils soften the hooves and make them prone to splitting, thus making hoof protection necessary.<ref name="Cohen"/>