10/10/2025
Well worth a read!
🙌 FACT - Some horses cannot function optimally barefoot or even in boots 🙌
A horse owners asked for an opinion on their horse, which had type 2 front hooves like this one (top and bottom right). For many years they tried to get the horse sound and tried ‘remedial’ shoes, then barefoot, sometimes with boots, and nothing really helped the horse.
The vet diagnosed thin soles and recommended shoes, but the owner already tried that, and soclai media ‘experts’ advised them that the only way to cure the horses lameness was to ‘stimulate’ the horse by walking on the road and tracks locally. Shoes were deemed ‘the root of all hoof evils’.
They later learned a track system helped, so they installed fencing, which turned the ground to mud, making boots impossible to wear, so the horse walked barefoot on mud.
This made things worse, so they laid down stone - more advice from experts on social media.
The horse still didnt recover, despite switching trimmers a bunch of times and boots were now really hard to keep on due to the horses long toes. So the horse walked barefoot at times on the track and got worse…
Then someone recommended us. A thorough assessment was conducted, objective evidence and mark ups clearly identified a type 2 hoof, longer toe than ideal, broken back HPA, and which was on its way to being a type 6 hoof. this means the suspensory apparatus of the entire hoof wasnt working as it should and the internal arch was flatter.
As is common in these situations, there were now rotational distortions, and all the joints in then limb were not functioning properly and the horses posture and entire development was altered to accommodate the unhealthy hoof shape.
Due to years of inmappropriate hoof care, the foundation of the hoof was permanantly damaged with bone loss to P3 and the blood no longer flowed around the hoof correctly. The hoof shape (now long toes, low heel) caused excess load on the sole, bone and especially the back half of the hoof.
Eliashar (2004) stating that for every degree away from the ideal PA there was an increase in strain on the DDFT of 4%.
The hoof shape resulted in a loss of equilibrium around the coffin joint and the extensor tendons were under tremendoud excess load, causing the body to cringe with every step, with reduced blood flow and oxygen to underlting muscles in the body. Muscles adapted to the changes and slowly the horses top line vanished, there was a dip in the withers and the spine was dipping.
In order to help the horse feel more comnfortable and allow functionality for the entire body and systems of the horse, and to prevent further deterioration and worsening of the disability, an appropriate and carefully and precisely constructed hoof care plan was made. This included both reductive trimming and additive appropach designed to reduce leverage and torque on the coffin joint, address rotational distortions now present, and help create equilibrium around the coffin joint.
This would allow the horse to stand and rest in neutral limb and global posture, essential to prevent unecessary wear and tear, and facilitate innate healing mechanisms.
But the owner balked at the recommendation, because it included a shoe…. a shoe! Shoes were evil!!!. I explained that the shoe itself wasnt the issue, it was the trim, the manner in which it was applied and the choice of shoe which initiated the hoof and nposture issues initially. Then the barefoot care (professional interventions and management) failed to properly address the issues and restore function. The owner disregarded the recommendation, and the horse continued to suffer… the owner identified themselves as a proud owner of a barefoot horse, and had openly criticised shoes, like her friends did, on social media.
The owners identification with a method of hoof care is what is causing the current suffering of the horse.
All in all, a failure to understand what a horse needs for optimum welfare, comfort and safety, identify the issues and therefore implement an appropriate and successful hoof care plan was the cause of the horses unsoundess, not the shoe itself.
Man loves to place blame where it isnt truly warranted, and form attachments to an identity which deep down, doesnt seve their needs, or the needs of loved ones.
The truth is this - domestication and mans interference with horses can be extremely harsh, and not all horses can become or remain comfortable barefoot, for many reasons. most reasons are entirely man made. Most of the horses I meet are barefoot, and uncomfortable, despite professionals (unsucessful) intervention.
Appropriately implemented, an additive intervention can save a horses life and return function, and feelings of comfort and safety in horses. just because someone says otherwise, doesnt make it so. Just because you have not seen it first hand yourself, doesnt make something true.
Find professionals who can properly identify the issues and formulate an effective plan to optimise welfare, without prejudice towards ANY intervention which may help your horse feel safe and sound.
I have been criticised for recommending shoes when we should be ‘holistic’ which to some means barefoot. Holistic means taking a whole horse approach to caring for a horse, without prejudice and with compassion. Since when were additive interventions which restore function and quality of life (welfare) not a part of this?
Be horse centred, welfare focused and evidence based to give your horse the best chance of a long comfortable life, worth living.
Inappropriate hoof care hurts horses, regardless of what that looks like or who imposes it.
Science and studies in the comments, as well as high quality educational resources 👇🏻
Www.holisticequine.co.uk - supporting and promoting compassionate equestrianism for the benefit of all 💚🙏🐴
