hoofconsultation@espiritu-del-viento.com / Tel; 0034 722153575
Whole-Horse-Protocol.com
  • Home
    • Transition to Barefoot
    • News/Articles
  • Services
    • About our Equine Podiatrist
    • Hoof Boots
    • Case Studies
    • Home Visits
    • Virtual Consultation
    • Testimonials
  • Courses
    • WHP Level 1
    • WHP Level 2
    • WHP Level 3
    • WHP Level 4
  • Healthy Hoof Products
  • Contact
  • Links

Marring by Metal - or, the harm caused to hooves by shoes

30/12/2016

 
By lifting the hoof off the ground all the weight is transferred to the wall, causing PERIPHERAL LOADING.  The sole and frog no longer contact with the ground and will contort more easily.  Bars become trapped and deform, bending to the point where they can cause movement of internal structures.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Despite people always saying to the contrary a shod horse has LESS TRACTION OR GRIP than a barefoot horse. If you have the opportunity to ride a barefoot horse and then a shod horse over the same terrain you can experience for yourself how much more sure footed the former is over tarmac, concrete, snow, wet grass and even ice.

A shod horse has LESS PROPRIOCEPTION, or tactile sense, so is unable to make wise choices as to where to place his hooves - this also increases the possibility of injuries.

NAIL HOLES cause dryness to hoof horn, weakening the walls and equip fungus and bacteria with an entrance.
​

The actual NAILS act as a conduit for environmental temperatures to penetrate deep ​into the hoof.  This can be clearly seen on thermographic images

Picture
Picture
BINDING OF THE HOOF leaves them more prone to injury due to greatly decreased circulation.  Impairing the natural flexibility, which is necessary for optimal hoof mechanism, also reduces speed of growth due to lack of nutrients and oxygen reaching the tissues.

The lateral cartilages of the hoof enable the two sides to move up and down independently.  DECREASED LATERAL FLEXIBILITY increases the risk of inflammation, wear to the joints and therefore injury.  Removing this lateral movement, which protects the hinge joints on uneven or irregular footing, leaves these cartilages unable to perform their job.

Raised from the ground this DECREASES SHOCK ABSORPTION properties of the hoof.  The cartilages and digital cushion are in the back half of the hoof, and unable to function without contact to the ground.


Picture
Picture
Metal shoes are ADDITIONAL WEIGHT to the extremities.  The artificial change of movement will always have a negative impact to internal structures and tissues over time, but when you then consider some of the shoes used to exaggerate gaits, even more biomechanics are negatively altered.

Research at the University of Zurich showed that metal shoes generate a VIBRATION FREQUENCY of 800 HZ.  A frequency that is harmful to live tissue and can cause arthritis. 
Picture
Picture
DAMAGE WHEN FORGING OR STRIKING, or kicking another horse, is obvious.  A bare hoof can cause sufficient damage, but that caused by a shod hoof can be lethal.
Growing at approximately 1 cm per month, a healthy hoof also wears away what it does not need.  MAINTENANCE INTERVALS of the shod horse are often not regular enough and, unable to wear their hooves naturally, a change in posture between shoeing is common.  Over time the hooves slowly deform, leading to various problems, like contraction and migrated heels.  The natural symmetry of the front hooves changes to an elongated narrower foot.
Picture
Picture

Comments are closed.

    Hoof News

    Keeping you informed of new (once we´ve thoroughly tried and tested them) products that are complimentary to healthy hooves.

    Updates on our equine clients.

    Achievements of barefoot horses.

    Archives

    March 2018
    January 2018
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.