Achievements of Barefoot horses. Informative articles on bare hoof health.

Migration - What are heels running from?

27/7/2016

Underslung, under-run, migrated or collapsed is terminology used when a heel is not where it should be. That´s the easy part. Now, how do we know if a heel is not in the correct position? When photos are published claiming to be of a healthy hoof, yet the heel is clearly too low to the experienced eye, it is very difficult for many owners to know what is correct and truly healthy and who to believe.

A healthy hoof?

The trained eye can immediately tell from the direction of tubule growth in this hoof, that it has an underslung heel. But how can the average layman tell?

We are not discussing low heels here. Heels can be low, but they are not necessarily at incorrect angles or position.

A simple first step, easy for the owner to orientate themselves as to heel position, is by taking an imaginary line following the coronet angle and extending out until it passes the forelimbs of the horse. Basically, if that line falls anywhere above the knee the heel is underslung.

I have superimposed the above hoof onto this horse and you can clearly see the white line comes through above the knee. The blue line is the angle of the horses own hoof. Between the knee and the elbow is a good sign of a correctly positioned heel.

Here is the same white line, at the same angle, close up, on the ´healthy´ hoof.

Once it is established a heel is not correctly positioned, further investigation is required to assess just by how much it is underslung. The periople skin and/or a natural ´nick´ where the heel wants to breakaway to it´s correct position are good pointers as to heel position. But the marker that really tells you if a heel is underslung is the widest part of the frog.

These are unpleasant, but common examples of the hooves I am presented with. The one of the left is telling of a “two-stage” strategy to bring the heel back to it´s correct position. No really, listen to the hooves, they have much to say - and then leave it to a professional to hear. Though it definitely is not a case of just lowering the heels (trimming them back to those reference points is not the answer). It is very much about re-positioning them, and this is not done by trimming the heels alone. More often than not, heels should not be touched at all in the process of re-positioned migrated or underslung ones.

The red line shows were the heel currently is and the blue indicates the widest part of the frog, and where the heel should be.

And what are they running from? The heel takes the most stress, doing the most work to protect the internal structures consisting of the DDFT, Digital Cushion and more - like the suspension on your car - yet it is the weakest part of the hoof capsule and so, if not correctly maintained, it can very easily run away from it´s duties. A migrated heel is not working!

Going through my photo library in order to write this article reminded me, yet again, that people are still, generally, coming to equine podologists as a last resort. When all manner of remedial shoeing, pads and fills, and crazy money spent on crazy supplements have all been exhausted, owners are turning to professionals like myself and expecting the impossible. Now, miracles are right up our street, but the impossible takes a while longer. I would remind you that many people have no clue as to what a healthy hoof looks like and it is not ignorance, it is never having had the opportunity to see and know a healthy hoof. So although the purpose of this article was to identify underslung heels - heels being the part of the external hoof structure that take the most stress - I shall take it as an opportunity to share a little hoof porn ;)

Here is one of my stunning foundation Appaloosa´s (EV Kaver Onyx Heart), who apart from conformation to die for, enjoys optimum hoof health with her heels correctly positioned - see white line! And of course a close up of those healthy hooves....

A Little Bone, A Lot of Trouble!

2/7/2016

The Navicular bone is rather small, about the size of a pretty small (like 2 peas) pea pod. It bears no weight. It doesn´t join any bones together and it very rarely breaks. It is accused of being the cause of all manner of crimes, though rarely guilty. So just what purpose does it serve? It is one of three sesamoid bones in the distal limb, the other two being being a small pair of bones at the top and rear side of the fetlock. Their purpose is to change the direction of the pulling force applied to a tendon. The job of the distal sesamoid bone, or navicular, is to ensure the pulling force, created by the DDFT (deep digital flexor tendon), of the coffin bone is always in the same direction, regardless of the angle of the pastern bones.

So, if a hoof consistently lands toe first to the extent it becomes lame, the navicular is blamed. The lameness is usually due to damage caused by heat in the DDFT and navicular because of this movement - Consider the hoof length and angle. An exaggerated heel first landing will also cause heat in the DDFT due to the greater distance it moves over the navicular bone, again the navicular being held responsible - Consider the hoof angle. The harder the ground on which a horse works, the less the hoof can penetrate it at the moment of contact, the greater the vibrations, again causing a rise in temperatures - Consider the terrain before accusing the navicular. Speed is another element to be considered when looking at a resulting lameness.

Of course the biggest crime the navicular bone is accused of is heel pain. Often labelled as navicular disease or syndrome at that point, with claims of degeneration of the bone itself. If there are no x-rays, there is no diagnosis. These claims can not be substantiated without an x-ray. But this is also now the time to look at the hoof form at the heel. Is it contracted? Maybe even sheared? Is the frog contracted? Do pathologies exist in this region? These are the structures that need good consideration and assessment before deciding a horse has navicular.

Touching wood not one of the many cases presented to me, which have been diagnosed as suffering navicular, have had any bone degeneration. With a program of correct diet, movement and remedial trimming, horses who were written off by both vet and farrier have returned to competition life or trail blazing with no further issues (in the navicular!). Please be sure to have X-rays, and 2nd and 3rd opinions if necessary, before making that tiny piece of collagen and calcium suffer the blame and writing off your horse.

(Navicular syndrome, or disease, is a very real pathology, yet depending on how it is diagnosed, or labelled, very much decides the subsequent treatments. At WHP we explain to our students the difference, the standard protocols associated and how we practice a whole horse approach to resolving the problem)

Original drawing by James. R. Rooney DVM

See the tiny culprit?

Getting tough

25/6/2016

Conditioning hooves is not just a physical thing. Sometimes there is an element of mental resistance when we talk of conditioning hooves that have just had their shoes removed. We usually hear the word conditioning in reference to preparing a horse physically, building up muscle or heart strength for example, or simply preparing them to be ridden. When we talk of conditioning a muscle or tendon after an injury, just like with hooves that are newly bare, what is happening is actually rehabilitation therapy. Commonly known as transition when we refer specifically to hooves.

As with hooves, a horse recovering from a muscle injury may be protective of that particular area, favoring a different leg or unusual posture. This is the mental resistance I refer to. And just like muscle memory it must be considered when transitioning, but also kept in perspective. Cultivating tough hooves is done with conditioning. Conditioning comes about via correct preparation of the hoof capsule. Strengthening the structures of the hoof capsule will depend on your starting point, the current condition of the hoof, the resources available to you, the time you are prepared to invest and what your expectations are.

Know the limits

This is where your own mental resistance is also tested. Many owners will get tough and jog down the being cruel to be kind track, whilst others can be overly precautious, not really doing their equine any favors, by prolonging unnecessarily their transition.

Movement is absolutely the key to strengthening, but it must be within the limits of the hooves current capabilities. This is where you must remember that the mental resistance may be more yours than the horses! Tacking up and heading off out for a 20km trek is only good for them if the preparation has been done, building up to that point. Insisting the horse goes up and down the trail when the capsules are not yet tough enough to do so only leaves you with a sore horse. If you have a hoof sound on soft going and all you want is for it to be sound and comfortable on pebbles, then walking them in-hand on pebbles for minutes, building up the time period, is just fine and where you want to start.

Getting there

To cultivate the hoof your horse needs (and you want!) you need to ask yourself and your hoof care professional a number of questions first. And let me state right here, right now, the only stupid question is the one you don´t ask. It is far better to be thought of as stupid than to be stupid!

What is the current condition of the hoof capsule? How strong or weak are the individual structures?

What other health or injury issues may affect the transition? Does anything specific need to be considered or changed in order to stimulate correct repair or regeneration? What exercises will help this?

Can you organise a regular routine to commit and consistently perform the necessary exercise? What support do you have, professional, friend or otherwise? This is important - so many naysayers.

How will you monitor the changes so you know what is improving, or what is deteriorating?

The Plan

Once you have answers to all your questions you can then set your program of transition. Remember, we are talking about helping to create tough, functioning hooves. We are not talking about desensitising. If the hooves are sensitive then diet and/or pathologies must be considered and assessed. We are talking of creating strong hoof capsules from weak. Strong structures from unused or undeveloped ones. Have your professional help lay out the plan, and keep asking questions. As the hoof develops new ones will arise.

Dry weather, dry hooves?

6/6/2016

Damp hooves are compromised hooves. More prone to thrush and abscesses they are also more vulnerable to stone bruising, stones pushing up into the white line, or sticking into folded bars, soft heel and frog tissue and all the malady´s those issues can bring.

A poor quality hoof can be a result of one or multiple factors including poor nutrition, poor hygiene, lack of proper trimming or genetics.

Come summer many horse owners rushes to the shelves of their local tack store looking for products to protect their horses hooves from the advancing arid atmosphere, believing to be doing the right thing for their equines health.

Hooves absorb nutrients and moisture via the blood stream, therefore a well nourished and well hydrated horse will have healthy hooves. Even if they appear dry and have cracks on the outside, they are sure to be enjoying a healthy capsule on the inside. Those external cracks are more often than not superficial and causing no ill-effect to the hoof at all. They do not mean that the hoof is "dry".

The hoof wall is made up of a system of tightly packed horn tubules. These tubules are arranged vertically and parallel to each other and consist mainly of a protein called keratin. Keratin molecules are held together by hydrogen bonds. Hydrogen bonds are strongest when the tubules are dry. A hoof exposed to normal moisture levels, supplied from inside via the blood stream, is robust, strong and operates as the shock absorber it is designed to be when a horse moves. A hoof made wet via external humidity, be it water or topical confections, is weakened, the hydrogen bonds between the tubules break and the hoof becomes too flexible, reducing it´s structural integrity and shock absorbing efficiency.

Well experienced in how rock hard a healthy bare hoof can be, I am very aware of the ease of trimming a soft hoof by comparison. As such I understand why some will soak a hoof for 15 to 20 minutes, in water, before a trim. But it must surely be realised that this in itself is proof of how a wet hoof is compromised! No harm can be done by soaking a hoof to take the back ache out of trimming, but left in a soggy state you will be doing your equine friend no favors. (Our summers here mean they will be dry again in no time)

Cracks due to incorrect trim and diet

Superficial cracks, causing no compromise to the health of the horse

Teeth, tools & TMJ = hoof balance

15/5/2016

Incisors first - Photo from Whole Horse Dentistry - S. LaFlure

Exerts adapted from an article by Spencer LaFlure

"It seems that we can all understand how nature intended balance to be for the equine foot. As the horse roamed its domain, excess growth wore away naturally by herd movement across the terrain. This natural wear by lifestyle and environment is also true of the equine mouth, though perhaps it has been overlooked for a long time. “Out of sight, out of mind”, the concept of "form to function, function to form" is well understood these days. What I am going to share with you in this article is not my opinion but rather that which seems to fit the horse naturally.

In its natural state, the horse would graze 14 to 18 hours a day on grasses with silica’s that wore or abraded the teeth in such a manner that the front teeth wore as they erupted. These incisors, as they are called, are the key to balance in the mouth. The length and angle of the front teeth were meant to be equal in comparison to that of our domestic horses at around age 5 and should remain that way throughout the lifetime of the horse. It is at this point, beyond the age of 5, that the front teeth of our domestic horses exceed the appropriate length and angle. Here is where you begin to get abnormal rotation of the TMJ (Temporal Mandibular Joint); the joint where the jaw hinges to the skull. The rotation of this joint dictates the wear pattern of the molars. So the point of Equine Dentistry is to treat the cause, not the symptoms, by maintaining a natural length and angle of the incisors first. Further balancing of the molars cannot be accomplished without proper balance in the front of the mouth."

Motion of the jaw is 50% of the total mechanics. By using a Speculum (the tool that holds the horses mouth open), equine dentists are causing any imbalance in the incisors to shift to the molars, making any deviation appear to stem from there. The TMJ has cartilage and the jaw rotates from there, being the hinge point of the jaw. This is why it is so important to start with the incisors - the cause.

"Many of today’s equine Dentists apply centric, or centered alignment to the mouth; that is, applying a static "leveling", standard to every equine mouth they treat. The focus common among dentists currently, is occlusion. This means, simply, the meeting, or flush contact, of upper and lower tooth - on - tooth surfaces. However, because of the adaptable nature of equine tooth eruption, occlusion is present in all horses even before dentistry is applied. Concentric occlusion is what horses have present already in their mouths when they show up at the dentist. It should then be up to the dentist to anatomically align the mouth, so that it fits the individual to its optimal range."

Because of processed feeds, losing 50% of the mechanics of the jaw does not appear as disruptive as it really is. A horse does not show much change in weight loss or gain. "The real clue indicating the need to balance the equine mouth concerns the ability of travel and motion of the jaw. This is directly equal to the ability of motion of the horse’s entire body in all directions.

"So, how do we check for biomechanics of the jaw? Rather than pushing the closed jaw from one side to the other; which most people are familiar with, you can properly check the horse by cueing it to contract its own massitors. This provides a demonstration of the true biomechanical range of the jaw. (Consider this: if the above mentioned technique worked, human dentists would use it on us to check the surface to surface contact of our teeth, rather than the traditional carbon paper and "bite" technique.) The horse is cued by the dentist, by inserting fingers into the side of the mouth, initiating a chewing motion
reflex response. Numerous human dentists have shared with me the fact that all species of animals maintain a state of disclusion of teeth, or non-contact, while at rest or in activities other than eating. If the teeth were in contact while moving, it would cause damage to the surfaces of the teeth. So, occlusion, or mastication of food is only accomplished when the individual contracts its own massitors, or muscles that control the jaw.

The horse has proven to me that accomplishing balance is achieved by starting with the equilibration of the incisors first. Generally, a primary angle of adjustment is necessary there. If there is a great deal of change to be made; this should be gradually done, over time, as it is in humans. After all, it took a long time to develop; it should take a while to fix."

The use of power equipment by an equine dentist is a real no-no. Most equine dental tools are not ergonomically designed to fit in the horse’s mouth, let alone help balance it. Mr LaFlure has spent 3 years designing hand instrumentation that ergonomically fits the horse, as well as the practitioner. This lends itself to bloodless horse dentistry and less discomfort after dentistry.

"The horse is born with its first three molars; they are in contact, although they have no real use until the horse is about 6 to 8 months of age. In that time period, nature then establishes the appearance of another key balance point of the mouth the incisors or front teeth. These teeth (incisors and premolars) are basically all that are present in the mouth until about age two, at which time the plates or sutures of the skull fuse together. I believe that by this, Nature dictates these teeth are of primary importance to balance the head as it develops. When a bit seat is placed on the tooth, it takes away most of the leading molars surface-to-surface contact. Removal of this contact from a cornerstone of the mouth creates a lateral (side to side) instability of the TMJ. Amazingly, this shows up externally in a visual hollowing out of the horse’s flanks! When you don’t put in a bit seat to these premolars (allowing for maximum surface to surface contact) I’ve found that there is a greater stability to the TMJ and performance is enhanced."

Modification of mechanical parts is fine in theory, but practical application is when you discover it all falls apart. If a dentist tells you they are going to round the premolars to form a bit seat, put a stop to them right there.

"Natural balance in the mouth and the jaws ability to move forward, backward, left and right, up and down, is equal to the whole body’s ability to do the same. The jaws range of motion dictates the necks range of motion, which in turn dictates muscle mass in the rest of the body." ....which = hoof balance.

Canker - it is not just about what you can see!

2/5/2016

Sometimes Google is a very useful tool. (Though we know of many situations that would be so much better if the search engines didn´t exist!) In this case it was to provide me an immediate source of 168 photos of horse hoofs suffering canker. There were many more, but I felt (and my square eyes stated!) that was enough to look at on this occasion. I studied each one as carefully as the size, angle or quality of the photo permitted and saw, in each and every case, the hoof was also compromised in some other way. Be it suffering WLD or contracted heels, not one hoof benefitted from correct angle, height or balance. Most had contracted heels, totally compromising the central sulcus - from which the canker would appear to have generated in those cases.

Usually associated with heavy breeds and unsanitary conditions, canker can actually affect any horse, any age and in any living condition. Yards with the best stable management can fall foul to this tumorous-like growth on hooves. Known as Hypertrophic Pododermatitis canker is unlike thrush, which is a necrotic process destroying tissue, it spreads in live tissue without the help of oxygen. Some research suggests it is part of the Bacteriodes species (this includes those that cause foot rot in sheep). Other studies found spirochete (spiral-shaped) bacteria in the epithelium. This is similar to findings in cows and sheep with digital dermatitis.

More recent studies would appear to prove it to be a virus.* Abnormal keratin production, or overgrowth, occurs underneath the hoof horn as the infection spreads through the epithelial layer. The first signs usually appear in the sulci region as white or grey matter which is moist and spongy.

How to successfully resolve canker can be learnt on the WHP Level 3 course. It has been our experience that dealing with the virus alone is not the answer, and as such we have now successfully resolved 3 cases of canker with no recurrence. 9 other cases that we know of have also been successfully resolved under guidance of our protocol.

*Equine Veterinary Journal - 5 JUL 2010
Consistent detection of bovine papillomavirus in lesions, intact skin and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of horses affected by hoof canker
S. BRANDT*, A. SCHOSTER2, R. TOBER1, C. KAINZBAUER1, J. P. BURGSTALLER3, R. HARALAMBUS1, R. STEINBORN1,
C. HINTERHOFER1 and C. STANEK1

Reasons for performing the study: Equine hoof canker is a chronic proliferative pododermatitis of as yet unknown aetiology. Like equine sarcoid disease, canker is a therapy-resistant disorder characterised by hyperkeratosis, acanthosis and a marked tendency to recur.
Hypothesis: There is an association of sarcoid-inducing bovine papillomaviruses of types 1 and 2 (BPV-1, BPV-2) with hoof canker disease.
Methods: Using PCR-based techniques, we assessed canker tissue, intact skin and/or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 25 canker-affected horses for the presence of sarcoid-associated BPV-1 and -2.
Results: Conventional PCR revealed BPV-1/-2 DNA in 24/24 canker, 12/13 skin and 10/11 PBMC DNA isolates. Using inverse PCR, full-length BPV episomes were detected in 1/5 canker specimens. Sequencing of viral early and late genes amplified from canker, intact skin and PBMC DNA of 2 cases revealed an overall identity of 98% to BPV-1. Viral DNA loads amounted to ≤16 copies per cell in canker tissue and intact skin, and to ≤0.35 copies per PBMC, as determined by quantitative PCR. Using RT-PCR, the viral major oncogene E5 was shown to be transcribed in 2/4 canker tissue specimens and 5/7 PBMC isolates. Immunocapture PCR from 7 canker and 6 skin extract supernatants revealed capsomere-associated viral DNA in one canker and one skin sample. Hoof tissue, skin and PBMCs collected from 13 individuals with no signs of canker or BPV-related malignancies scored negative throughout the experiments.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that the observed presence of BPV-1/-2 in canker-affected horses is not coincidental but indicative of an active contribution to hoof canker disease.
Potential relevance: The use of antivirals and/or immune modulators may help improving canker therapy.

(Photos from Google with no names available to give credit to photographers - or poor horses!)

Fit Kit Innovation

31/3/2016

As the Equine Fusion Jogging Shoe for horses imitates the shape of a healthy hoof, along with it´s flexible sole and capsule, fitting has never been an issue for this innovative hoof wear. They adapt sufficiently to accommodate even the less than perfect hoof - a reason why they are great hoof wear not just for everyday riding and competition but also for hooves in transition.

Though there is very often the understandable situation where an owner does not have a barefoot trimmer or equine podologist to hand and want to be completely sure of size before ordering Equine Fusion´s. This is where, for the cost of return postage only, the Fit Kit is incredibly helpful. For either the All Terrain or Ultimates from size diddy to large (7 to 16) just drop us a line with your approximate sizing and postal address and we will explain how we send and you return the Fit Kit, along with details how to make payment @ hoofconsultation@espiritu-del-viento.com

We do provide a professional hands-on fitting service to clients in our area.

Iron behaving badly

27/1/2016

There are a lot of numbers and a lot of letters and with all due respect to the author it is rather laborious to listen to for the lay person, but please do. The man is a doctor, not a public speaker, and he does have some very important, knowledge to share. What has this to do with horses? Listen, and you will figure it out ;)

(Some rather important information for all you menopausal, and pre-menopausal girls out there, is also to be found in this link!)

https://vimeo.com/68409731

Three day camel ride - Much more than!

7/1/2016

When your horse goes off (not escaped you!), be that anything from slightly off track to screamingly lame, in many cases it is something that has been brewing for a long time. Such stoic creatures, they are able to continue seemingly fine for quite some time, even though things are beginning to crumble and breakdown, unseen by their owners, or any vets, eye. But the day the vet starts making noises about remedial shoeing or box rest or considering a different discipline for your horse, namely that of pasture ornament, is the day you must decide if you are going to pull your socks up and go in for the long haul, to get your precious equine back on the right road, or if you are going to throw your hands up and walk away! If you are reading this, you are not a throw your hands up type of person.

Loose the guilt trip. Many horses suffer sub-clinical or chronic issues which they often learn to compensate for as they have developed, with little chance of you noticing. You may have even developed a compensatory posture yourself, when riding, without having realised. It´s not your fault! But, once things have gone wrong if you now don´t put in the hours and necessary exercises, diet, change of management etc to get your fur-baby back on the right road, it most surely is. And something that has been brewing for months, maybe even years, is not going to be resolved in a trice! When I say the long haul I really do mean far more than a three-day camel ride. We are talking an open-ended “prescription”. You can have no time limits. Rehabilitation is a commitment. You need to roll your sleeves up and knuckle down. Taking guilt along for the ride only serves to make an owner look for quick fixes. Desperate to redeem themselves in the eyes of their horse/the yard gossip/themselves (!) people want short cuts to a solution. Any of those WILL ´ONLY´ be temporary.

First things first, you need to look beyond the symptoms and find the true cause. This can be a process of elimination over a period of time. For example, a seemingly unbalanced front hoof can be re-balanced, and a horse appears to go well again, only to find a week or more later lameness has reoccurred. If you didn´t check his shoulders and the alignment and angle of his hinds, for example, it´s a case of; “he held out as best he could. He tried for you. But it was just not going to last without further complications”. Or, same scenario, you can re-balance an obvious imbalance to find the horse is worse - because the re-balance puts stress on another part of the body, that had been compensating for the problem.

A QUICK FIX!

You need to treat the obvious issue that bought him to this point in the first place and during the process watch carefully for what unravels and reveals itself. This is where you begin to appreciate professionals in the whole horse protocol, and just what their work entails.

Patching up, only looking at and addressing what ever is staring you in the face, is only a short term fix. As with many lameness issues that appear because just one straw finally broke that camels back, the original cause is not immediately clear. Thus the process of recovery takes time, and frustrating time on those occasions when your horse may go from bad to worse as his body re-adjusts through the transition back to health.

An OTTB has taken 6 years to recover from all the imbalances and mental stress of his previous life. The psychological affects of ailments are so often overlooked. A TB X performed faultlessly for 10 years at intermediate level dressage, jumping and cross country, then one day just started to keep clipping the jumps and coming short. Two years of remedial work to hooves and body and he now jumps and moves out better than ever before. A foundered pony was back popping over jumps and hitting the trail just a remarkable 9 months after being quite literally unable to walk at all. What manifested as an abscess uncovered all manner of toxicity and general breakdown in a horse, who, 12 months later was healthier than they had ever been their entire life. Destined for the meat wagon because everyone said he was dangerous, a bucking, kicking, ´wild beast´, became a trophy winning childs mount after his hoof and back problems were found to be the cause of his "symptoms". All these success stories have one thing in common; The owners were prepared to comply with all the directives given (changes to environment, diet, exercise and hoof care) and take the time it took to get their horses truly healthy. They were prepared to consider the whole horse as a cause and work with the relevant professionals where necessary to truly and permanently rehabilitate their horse.

But, whilst we can not keep them wrapped up in bubble to avoid any problems in the first place, we can get better educated to be sure we don´t just dodge a few bullets, we actually maintain our horses on far healthier footing to begin with (yes, pun intended). Thus reducing the possibility of getting sand in our pants.

Active rehabilitation - Equine Fusion

27/11/2015

Just last week I had cause to pull out a shoe from my sack of old Equine Fusions to use as an aid to cure an injury. This time it was a dirty great screw (maybe washed up/in to a paddock after the storms we recently had here!) that imbeded itself into the sole of one of our horses hooves. With their flexible sole, taking on a form fitting shape, it permitted me to put a gauze with anti-septic cream on the sole of the horse, with just a couple of wraps of vet tape and be able to turn the horse out with no worries that the Equine Fusion would come off, or cause any discomfort or imbalance to the horse whilst the hole closed over without any risk of infection or having to shut the horse up in a box until it was cured.

We have seen on more than one occasion how the wearing of Equine Fusion jogging shoes has aided the transition of a horses hooves. Again, due to the flexible sole which melds with the frog, heels, bars and sole of the hoof, making far more contact than a rigid soled boot would, stimulating the horse´s foot, which accelerates blood flow and new cell growth, thus aiding the rehabilitation of the hoof.

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