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Ian Whatley

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Teepy, Paint Horse

ex Riding School

Exhibiting postural changes due to foot imbalance.

6 weeks later with correct stimulus...

"Steel shoes attached with nails are known to diminish the natural dampening mechanisms of the distal limb compared with unshod feet" Andrew Parks, 2006 (Structure and function of the equine digit in relation to palmer foot pain.)

© Alternative Hoofcare, 2008

Web Master, L Redon

Protection vs Stimulus

The principal of the horseshoe is to protect and support.

"Support as defined means to hold up a structure or to keep it from collapsing.  Support as a concept applied to structures within the foot such as collapsed heels caused by excessive compressive strain has little overall applicability in farriery".  Dr O'Grady, 2006 (Strategies for shoeing the horse with palmar heel pain).

In an unshod horse it is vital that all structures are healthy enough to provide sufficient protection and support.

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Just like a plaster cast that protects and supports a broken limb, when we rely upon intervention to protect the horse's foot we deprive it the necessary stimulus and as such compromise the foot structures.

There are a number of occasions when it is correct to provide such protection for the welfare of the horse, however, the choice should be made with a complete understanding of the consequences.

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"Shoeing is not a necessary evil, it is the lack of knowledge which makes shoeing a necessity that is the true evil".  KC La Pierre, The Chosen Road.

Roger, shod TB

Development over 4 months

A lack of stimulus to the inner wall will result in cracking and chipping of the outer wall.

Once correct stimulus is returned, the results speak for themselves

" Although shoes are necessary for continuous work on roads to prevent the hoof from being worn away by friction, they are detrimental because they interfere with the normal function of the foot".

J. Hickman & M. Humphrey,

Hickman's Farriery P176