Ridecamp: Re: [RC] [RC} shoes reopened...NOT

>you still get some expansion with steel shoes but
>it is limited and not to the extent a barefooted horse
>experiences. And some materials do allow for more expansion
>than others.

I don't think the distance between the heel buttresses can be measured
on a barefoot horse as the hoof strikes the ground then cycles through
the bearing phase of the stride. The hoof only expands aft of it's
widest point. One reason it is believed this happens is for traction
instead of what was once believed to be concussion dissipation or shock
absorption. As the heels spread, the sole drops towards the ground
decreasing the concavity of the sole to some degree. This decrease in
volume of the concavity of the sole forces air out from under the hoof
through the commissures. The frog is believed to serve a dual purpose
here, 1) providing a hinge point for the sole as the heels expand. 2)
once a certain amount of pressure is applied to the frog it seals the
commissures preventing air from entering the space between the ground
and the hoof to some degree, hence a suction cup effect. Not too
applicable on hard packed or paved surfaces, but not too shabby for the
types of surfaces horses are normally found to travel on. The correct
application of a steel shoe on a properly trimmed hoof won't interfere
this action.

>On the growth issue..yes the toe grows on a shod horse
>but often times you limit the heel growth due to not being
>able to completely expand when meeting the ground and
>decreased hoof circulation due to no frog stimulation.

The hoofwall at the toe grows on a shod horse the same rate the hoofwall

at the heel grows. This appears to be not the case due to the fact that
when the hoof hits the ground the heels expand. They do so while sitting

on a steel plate with a covering of rust and abrasive dirt. This causes
hoof wall at the heel to be ground away every time the horse takes a
step. It is the farriers duty to be aware of this fact and to adjust his

trimming depth and interval accordingly. The horses heart provides
circulation of blood to the hoof. The frog contacting the ground has
nothing to do with pulse rate or blood pressure which are the
determining factors of blood circulation. It is true however that when
the hoof is in the bearing phase of the stride no blood enters the hoof
capsule. Instead blood is forced out of the hoof through the veins and
sent on it's way up the leg towards the heart. This is the hydraulic
shock dampening mechanism of the venus plexus. The network of
capillaries that surround the coffin bone. As far as the frog goes, no
one know for sure what it's exact purpose is. Here are some ideas: 1) A
gusset or hinge in the solar construction of the hoof capsule. 2) A
traction device. 3) A device in the shock dampening mechanism of the
hoof capsule.

>Over the years you begin to see some contraction.

The hoof is cone shaped. As it grows it becomes wider at it's base. Less

than optimal trimming and shoe application combined with excessively
long shoeing interval has been known to contribute to this condition.

>With a good farrier this may be very slight over many years but
>nevertheless it is there.

But does the degree to which it exists compromise hoof function. Maybe
periods of being barefoot between periods of being shod could alleviate
this condition altogether. Or is it more important to do the next ride
instead of allowing your horse to completely recover from the stress
you've been continuously subjecting it to?

> More importantly with steel (and most shoes) you get no
>frog pressure which encourages circulation.

Once again: The horses heart provides circulation of blood to the hoof.
The frog contacting the ground has nothing to do with pulse rate or
blood pressure which are the determining factors of blood circulation.

>Which by the way is the main function of the frog.

And one more time: There are three theoretical purposes of the frog no
one know for sure what it's exact purpose is though. 1) A gusset or
hinge in the solar construction of the hoof capsule. 2) A traction
device. 3) A device in the shock dampening mechanism of the hoof
capsule.

>Another hoof mechanism that is compromised by shoes.

Only if it is trimmed too aggressively. As a rule when applying a shoe
to a hoof the frog should be left to protrude below the ground surface
of the hoof. The amount this is allowed is based on the thickness of the

shoe package being applied to the hoof. Once again the farriers
responsibility. It is believed that Genghis Kahn was the first to shoe
horses around the year 1180. While conquering most of Asia and Eastern
Europe to the Dnieper river, his horses were becoming hoof sore. Maybe
the thousands of miles they were traveling was the cause of this. He
consulted his magician as what to do, we traveled this great distance to

conquer these people and our horses cannot battle, what could be wrong?
The magician decided it was evil spirits attacking the horse's hooves,
to protect the the horses from these evil spirits we must make a shoe
forged in fire of magnetic iron, and attach it to the hoof with a lucky
number of nails, this number being seven. Most shoeing practices being
taught today are based on this what is believed to be the origin of
horseshoeing. In Europe even today almost all handmade shoes still have
seven nail holes punched in them.

In closing I hope this helps to understand the mechanics of the hoof and

the purpose of some of the structures that compose it as well as the
origin of some shoeing practices. Some of the things you see in a hoof
aren't always what they are perceived to be. Some of the parts of the
hoof don't perform the task they're thought to perform, and even with
all of today's technology there are still some parts who's function is
still undetermined. There are 8 distinctly different structures hidden
within the hoof capsule that all serve a purpose in impact dampening.
The way the hoof dampens impact is by deflection within the hoof
capsule, the impact basically bounces from one structure to another back

to the ground and back around again until it fades like an echo in a
canyon.

Rob

--
Rob Kalb
Rob's Equine Hoof Care
Phelan CA



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