Due to our intelligence, we have the awareness and capabilities to take care of ourselves. As a society, we place great importance on selfcare, as evidenced by the great number of barbershops and nail salons that can be found in any city. However, hygiene and selfcare should not be limited to humans, and indeed many animals practice their own forms of selfcare, for instance cats licking themselves or snakes shedding their skin, but there are traits in many animals that require attention that they cannot give themselves.
An example that comes to mind is the maintenance of hooves for wild horses and burros. Typically, the terrain they run on naturally wears their hooves down, but sometimes this wearing down is not even or not sufficient to retain hoof health. For horses and burros, the hooves are their most important asset, and poor hoof health can cause significant pain and greatly hinder their ability to move, thereby decreasing survivability from predators and potentially leading to other injuries and infections. Infections are particularly threatening, as they can pose problems for the rest of the herd despite only a couple having hoof problems. To keep the herd as healthy as can be, humans must intervene and apply hoof trimming services to these wild populations.
When a horse gets injured, it is incredibly hard for them to regain the stature and power they once had, even more so than humans. Thankfully, their strong bones and muscles typically prevent injuries, but hooves are a different matter entirely. They have no control over its growth, and untrimmed hooves can cause imbalances, making their once sure steps now prone to injuries from rocks and uneven ground. A lame horse is a dead one, and in this case it is an entirely preventable situation. Many states have a desire to protect their wildlife, and Wyoming, with its rich biodiversity and beautiful naturistic scenery, has a great incentive to do so. The State of Wyoming is seeking proposals from qualified contractors to provide wild horse and burro hoof trimming services in designated areas. These services would help manage these populations and maintain the survivability of wild horses and burros while keeping the overall herds healthy. If interested in this opportunity, click on the link to learn more. The bid closes January 15, 2025.