Form & Function of a Healthy Bare Hoof.
Horses have depended on the health of their feet to keep them alive for millions of years. And
their hooves have been forged by the environments that they have adapted. It has been in
comparatively recent years that humans have stepped in and taken control of how the hoof is
shaped. Have we done the best job for the horse?
Hooves created in the wild have many aspects that are similar whether they are Mustangs in the
American southwest, Chincoteague Ponies, Mongolian plains horses or Brumby’s of Australia.
Healthy hooves have no breed or geography barrier. Just looking at a hoof that can easily
withstand the terrain it is adapted one sees a compact capsule that is very understated. It is
durable and elegant with a simple design that is a mechanical marvel.
A thick sturdy wall protects inner structures from the environment. A short hoof wall that is close
to the sole is one common element which prevents the hoof from accumulating debris such as
rock, dirt and snow. Walls that grow too long start to crack and chip, which is a very natural form
of hoof trimming that is ideal for any horse. For our part in hoof care Dr. Robert Bowker,
professor at Michigan State University in his lectures given in conjunction with Pete Ramey,
stresses a wall length just above the sole so that it and wall share responsibility for support of the
horse. Walls that are far longer than the live sole, this includes the additional height of a shoe,
cause the weight of the horse to be completely supported by the laminae. This “peripheral
loading”, as Dr. Bowker calls it, can contribute to decreased circulation into the smaller vessels of
the hoof as well as stress to the laminae which is not designed to carry the entire weight of the
horse.
Heels that are fairly low to the ground allow the coffin bone to be near horizontal, a natural
position for the bone which allows weight to be distributed evenly over its bottom surface. Raising
the heel through excess wall growth or other mechanical means changes the angle of the rest of
the joints up into the pastern and fetlock which increases the stress on the ligaments and tendons
and decreases the shock absorption capacity of the hoof and leg. The efficiency of circulation into
the hoof is also compromised when the bones of the foot and pastern are not alignedoptimally.
Shock absorption is an extremely important function of the hoof and there are many mechanisms
in place to dissipate energy. A collection of various mechanisms work in tandem not only in the
hoof but also up the leg into the rest of the body. Upon a proper heel first landing the initial shock
is absorbed by the frog and digital cushion. As primary striking area a wide, uncontracted heel
filled with broad thick bulb and frog tissue is crucial for absorption. The digital cushion, which lies
between the frog and the coffin bone and navicular bone juncture, as well as thick lateral
cartilages also absorb concussion on a proper heel first landing. The hoof capsule itself distorts
slightly and the sole lowers, the fetlock and pastern joint angles are also changed to further release
concussion. The quick release of impact energy from movement is vital to protect the rest of the
body from damage. Reduction in the effectiveness to even one of these can result in structural
damage to the horse which would in the wild make them vulnerable to attack.
Soles callous and become tough enough to handle the sharpest of gravel yet sensitive enough to
feel what is under the hoof and be able judge the stability of the ground below. Sole concavity
aids in traction as deeper soil conforms into the hoof and creates some friction. On slick surfaces
the cupping and the frog in the back can create slight suction cup affect that can reduce the
chance of sliding. Lateral cartilages help stabilize the hoof during tight turns and on ground that
would not allow the foot to land levelly. Hoof walls are strong but still malleable which can
improve traction by slightly conforming to uneven surfaces the horse is traveling over.
Healthy hooves can be conditioned over time to withstand any amount of work or type of
surface. A wonderful example is that of the horses of Darolyn Butler, a champion endurance
rider who in 2000 transitioned her horses to barefoot. In training her horses many miles everyday
she not only conditions the body but also the hooves. As an experiment, photo and comment in
“Shoeing as a Necessary Evil” by Dr. Hiltud Strasser, to test the idea that horses will wear their
hooves too quickly she measured the length of the wall at different points around the hoof of one
of her competition horses. She then took the horse into a 200 mile ride. After the ride she
measured the same points around the hoof and found that the wall was actually longer after the
ride. Wall production was increased to compensate for the increased wear.
Horses have the most efficient footwear that nature can design. The resilience of this amazingly
dynamic organ is essential for health and survival of horses. We are very fortunate that there are
examples of the best hooves and we can duplicate them in our domestic horses to give them the
same advantages as their wild counterparts.
Ann Marie Larson
Natural Barefoot Farrier
www.balancedhorse.com
309-334-2701
Horses have depended on the health of their feet to keep them alive for millions of years. And
their hooves have been forged by the environments that they have adapted. It has been in
comparatively recent years that humans have stepped in and taken control of how the hoof is
shaped. Have we done the best job for the horse?
Hooves created in the wild have many aspects that are similar whether they are Mustangs in the
American southwest, Chincoteague Ponies, Mongolian plains horses or Brumby’s of Australia.
Healthy hooves have no breed or geography barrier. Just looking at a hoof that can easily
withstand the terrain it is adapted one sees a compact capsule that is very understated. It is
durable and elegant with a simple design that is a mechanical marvel.
A thick sturdy wall protects inner structures from the environment. A short hoof wall that is close
to the sole is one common element which prevents the hoof from accumulating debris such as
rock, dirt and snow. Walls that grow too long start to crack and chip, which is a very natural form
of hoof trimming that is ideal for any horse. For our part in hoof care Dr. Robert Bowker,
professor at Michigan State University in his lectures given in conjunction with Pete Ramey,
stresses a wall length just above the sole so that it and wall share responsibility for support of the
horse. Walls that are far longer than the live sole, this includes the additional height of a shoe,
cause the weight of the horse to be completely supported by the laminae. This “peripheral
loading”, as Dr. Bowker calls it, can contribute to decreased circulation into the smaller vessels of
the hoof as well as stress to the laminae which is not designed to carry the entire weight of the
horse.
Heels that are fairly low to the ground allow the coffin bone to be near horizontal, a natural
position for the bone which allows weight to be distributed evenly over its bottom surface. Raising
the heel through excess wall growth or other mechanical means changes the angle of the rest of
the joints up into the pastern and fetlock which increases the stress on the ligaments and tendons
and decreases the shock absorption capacity of the hoof and leg. The efficiency of circulation into
the hoof is also compromised when the bones of the foot and pastern are not alignedoptimally.
Shock absorption is an extremely important function of the hoof and there are many mechanisms
in place to dissipate energy. A collection of various mechanisms work in tandem not only in the
hoof but also up the leg into the rest of the body. Upon a proper heel first landing the initial shock
is absorbed by the frog and digital cushion. As primary striking area a wide, uncontracted heel
filled with broad thick bulb and frog tissue is crucial for absorption. The digital cushion, which lies
between the frog and the coffin bone and navicular bone juncture, as well as thick lateral
cartilages also absorb concussion on a proper heel first landing. The hoof capsule itself distorts
slightly and the sole lowers, the fetlock and pastern joint angles are also changed to further release
concussion. The quick release of impact energy from movement is vital to protect the rest of the
body from damage. Reduction in the effectiveness to even one of these can result in structural
damage to the horse which would in the wild make them vulnerable to attack.
Soles callous and become tough enough to handle the sharpest of gravel yet sensitive enough to
feel what is under the hoof and be able judge the stability of the ground below. Sole concavity
aids in traction as deeper soil conforms into the hoof and creates some friction. On slick surfaces
the cupping and the frog in the back can create slight suction cup affect that can reduce the
chance of sliding. Lateral cartilages help stabilize the hoof during tight turns and on ground that
would not allow the foot to land levelly. Hoof walls are strong but still malleable which can
improve traction by slightly conforming to uneven surfaces the horse is traveling over.
Healthy hooves can be conditioned over time to withstand any amount of work or type of
surface. A wonderful example is that of the horses of Darolyn Butler, a champion endurance
rider who in 2000 transitioned her horses to barefoot. In training her horses many miles everyday
she not only conditions the body but also the hooves. As an experiment, photo and comment in
“Shoeing as a Necessary Evil” by Dr. Hiltud Strasser, to test the idea that horses will wear their
hooves too quickly she measured the length of the wall at different points around the hoof of one
of her competition horses. She then took the horse into a 200 mile ride. After the ride she
measured the same points around the hoof and found that the wall was actually longer after the
ride. Wall production was increased to compensate for the increased wear.
Horses have the most efficient footwear that nature can design. The resilience of this amazingly
dynamic organ is essential for health and survival of horses. We are very fortunate that there are
examples of the best hooves and we can duplicate them in our domestic horses to give them the
same advantages as their wild counterparts.
Ann Marie Larson
Natural Barefoot Farrier
www.balancedhorse.com
309-334-2701
