I would like an answer to a question from
the farriers vets out there that think shoeing in necessary. Why does an 1/8 of
an inch shoe make a horse not sore over 2 inch rock
I wasn’t going to get in on this
thread, but because nobody ever attempted to answer this question when I asked
it (couple years ago), I thought I’d offer my opinion/experience.
When I was an avid barefooter (I still
leave my horses barefoot as much as possible, but not during training or
competition) I asked this question over and over and never got an answer.
Well, I got the answer all by myself. The 1/8” of shoe protects the
sole depth immediately below the coffin bone and keeps it from wearing
excessively and soring the horse (or worse, causing pedal osteotis). I
also think there is a possibility that it keeps a flimsy hoof more rigid which
may also lend some comfort/support to a hoof that has a weak laminar
connection.
When you’re riding barefoot on abrasive
ground the toe area usually receives the most wear. If not protected, the
sole in this area will become very thin and the horse will become sore.
Many horses do not have the correct hoof
shape – their hooves are oblong instead of round. The norm for this
hoof conformation is for the soles to be thin. This type of horse needs
shoes to be able to traverse rocky ground (and sometimes even requires pads
because shoes don’t even offer enough protection). So, taking the
shoes off this type of hoof cause the hoof to be sore, but putting the shoes
back on gives pretty immediate comfort. It doesn’t have anything to
do with circulation or lack of circulation. It’s just simple
mechanics. The sole of the hoof is filled with miniscule blood
vessels. Dr. Bowker’s thought is that this extra, otherwise
un-necessary blood is there for concussion relief (think “gel soles”).
If the sole looses depth, then it also looses that protection from concussion. On
abrasive terrain this can happen very quickly. Once the cushioning is
gone, the possibility for bruising the coffin bone is high.
