The idea that working horses can be barefoot is not new. Horses have a long history of barefoot performance and have carried fully armored men into battle. They have been used for fieldwork, war and performance in their natural barefoot state.
A good day for horse play
Horses are sore, evidenced by a proliferation of products containing glucosamines, anti-inflammatories, calming agents and pain killers resulting from a lack of understanding of hoof mechanics.
© 2015 by Nick Savchenko New window.
Here, Cavallo President Carole Herder shares her experience and insights about how horses’ hooves work.
Horses’ hooves are miraculous structures designed with innate intelligence to function as support for their weight in movement. In natural function, when a horse's full weight descends, the hoof is sandwiched between that load and the ground.
The hoof spreads apart, allowing the coffin bone to drop, like a trampoline. This is the natural shock-absorbing feature of the hoof. The walls spread (up to 6mm from side to side) and the sole draws flat. Consider the concept carefully, as this small little apparatus has supported Equus throughout history for millions of years.
The question is: When metal is nailed in all around, how can the hoof function as it should? Where is the shock absorbed? The metal shoe is nailed on with the idea of protecting the hoof, or without question, just because it has always been the practice.
The shoe is nailed on when the hoof is in the air, at its smallest, most contracted shape. The hoof is not expanded with weight-bearing or movement, and it is then held firm in this in-the-air state by nailed-on metal; there is no spreading out and no room for the coffin bone to properly descend.
With movement, coffin bone pushes down under the horse's weight and bruises the solar corium because the sole cannot draw flat to get out of the way. Shock is absorbed in the sensitive tissue of the hoof or further up the structure of the leg.
Our horses are sore, and this is evidenced in our current-day proliferation of products containing glucosamines, anti-inflammatory, calming agents and pain killers. This is a result of our inadequate understanding of the shock-absorbing features of the hoof.
The pain caused as a result of bruised solar corium is often misdiagnosed as Navicular Syndrome. We must ask, “Is the diagnosis actually pressure from the descending coffin bone or is it the damaged bone?” Under X-rays the bone is shown to be deteriorating. These enlarged holes and passageways throughout the bone are a result of congested blood and should not be taken to mean a pronouncement of Navicular.
Lack of circulation causes the arteries to swell and blood clotting pushes against the bone, resulting in deterioration to bone spongiosa. The lack of smooth flow is the real cause of bone corrosion. Pain results additionally, through irritation of connective tissue, stress on ligaments, tendons, and bruising when bone tissue meets corium.
We call the veterinarian because our horse is lame, and too often the diagnosis is “Navicular”.
However, instead of treating the cause by re-establishing natural hoof function, we treat the symptom: we have bar shoes nailed on and the horse walks off, supposedly sound. We think the bar shoes are an extraordinary cure, when what is really happening may be just the opposite - even less circulation!
In a normal horseshoe shape the frog still makes some contact with the ground and the blood pumps there.
Circulation is entirely limited when a metal bar is placed across the heel. The horse walks without an apparent limp because he cannot feel his feet. His hoof is numb, and the internal damage continues.
Pain medication can mask the condition. Surgery is questionably risky. Both have negative side effects. Either way, pulling off the metal shoes and rehabilitating the hoof to perform its natural function is the way to correct the condition. Allowing our horses’ hooves to function more naturally will show a decrease in their symptoms of pain and discomfort.
With this knowledge, responsibility can no longer be delegated away. The choice is yours to make. Your horse is your responsibility.
Visit https://www.cavallo-inc.com to learn about the full line of hoof boots. Want more info? Sign up here for our free newsletter: https://www.cavallo-inc.com/email-signup-AHP. Call (877) 818-0037 from the USA or Canada or call direct, (604) 740-0037.
About the Source:
Carole Herder is the author of the #1 International Bestseller, There Are No Horseshoes in Heaven. She has been involved in horse health since 1993. Her company, Cavallo Horse & Rider Inc., develops, manufactures and distributes horse products in 26 countries. Herder designed and developed Cavallo Hoof Boots and Total Comfort System Saddle Pads. She presents trainings around the world to teach the benefits of keeping horses in a natural state. Herder is an honored recipient of the Royal Bank of Canada Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award. She is a member of the Women’s Presidents Organization, supporting female entrepreneurs in every industry.
Press release provided by Jenny - Cavallo Horse & Rider