No Hoof No Horse Case Study

“No hoof, no horse” is one of many true statements made in the equine industry. This quote is crucial to understand when working with, riding, and owning horses. Of course, a horse needs four feet to support his body, but he also needs them to support the use his human has for him. Without a healthy set of feet, it is difficult for a horse to perform comfortably and therefore properly. Contracted heels are one example of a hoof problem that can become increasingly worse when left untreated. There are several aspects of an equine hoof’s mechanics that can allow a horse to develop contracted heels. Contracted heels are predominantly caused by a lack of adequate blood flow to the horse’s heel, specifically the area where the frog is located.
Rehabilitation of the foot is not an overnight process and should therefore be treated with extreme caution. Mike Ware, an equine podiotherapist recommends firstly to “Redevelop those depleted caudal heel structures and slowly remove the leverage forces from bottom of the walls, plus get those heel platforms re-established...basically, you are going to try to restore normal hoof balance so that the biomechanical centre of the hoof is again in the correct place, and the horse bears weight as it should” (Ware, n.d.). Often this means trimming the toe back more consistently so that the horse’s hoof angle is gradually more upright placing more pressure on the heel. Heel pressure is incorrect when a heel is underrun and a toe grows out too long. Ware believes that consistent barefoot trimming allows for slow change, as well as proper regrowth of the foot that sometimes cannot be accomplished correctly through shoeing. However, if an owner wants to pursue shoes as the course of treatment under the recommendation of a veterinarian, there are several steps and materials involved for the treatment to be most beneficial for the
This may mean cutting the horse’s toe back farther so that they stand more upright, causing them to land heel first. After cutting the toe back, a farrier may put a beveled shoe on to allow for a roll in the horse’s toe, easing his movement. Other farriers may recommend bar shoes with pads to put pressure on the heel area to stimulate the blood flow. A good farrier will be able to understand the biomechanics of how a horse moves and what it needs to redevelop proper structures. Every case of contracted heels is different, and there is no simple “overnight” fix for