A Happy, Performance-Ready Horse
Corrective shoeing, often referred to as therapeutic or remedial shoeing, is a crucial aspect of equine hoof care and management. This specialized technique involves the application of customized horseshoes to address and rectify various hoof issues in horses.
Horseshoes protect a horse's hooves from the wear and tear caused by rough terrain. They are custom-fitted to each individual horse's hoof and can also aid in correcting specific hoof problems, such as overgrown or misshapen hooves.
Hoof problems can cause your horse pain, affect the weight-bearing ability of the foot, and lead to compensatory movements that can result in issues and injuries in other parts of the body.
Corrective shoeing serves several critical purposes in maintaining the health and functionality of a horse's hoof, including alignment and balance, providing support for injuries, and addressing confirmation issues. It can also be beneficial in managing hoof-related conditions, such as laminitis, navicular syndrome, under-run heels, hoof cracks, and arch imbalances.
Regular vs. Corrective Shoes
Standard horseshoes are nailed into and follow the shape of the hoof wall. They leave the sole of the hoof open and do not extend beyond the heel.
Not all horses will need shoes, but when they do, the primary purpose is to protect the hoof wall and enhance traction without significantly changing the foot’s position. Conversely, corrective shoes alter how the hoof is positioned and how ground forces act on the foot.
A corrective shoe is a broad term that refers to any type of horseshoe that deviates from the normal “U” shape that most horse owners are familiar with.
There are a number of different types of corrective shoes with a variety of purposes. Whether your horse has foundered or has imperfect conformation, our veterinarians can fit your horse with the right type of shoe to balance their hoof and provide much-needed comfort and pain relief.
Types Of Corrective Shoes
Depending on your horse's specific issues, there are a number of different types of shoes that can be used to restore comfort and soundness, including:
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Heart Bar Shoes
The heart bar shoe, also referred to as the frog support shoe, looks very similar to a standard shoe until it reaches the heel. Unlike the regular "U" shaped shoe, this type of corrective shoe covers the frog resulting in a shoe that is heart-shaped.
The main purpose of the heart bar shoe is to shift weight from the hoof wall to the frog, providing pain relief and reducing inflammation. This shifting of weight supports healing, allowing the inflamed tissue to recover more effectively.
Normally, we want the hoof wall to bear the horse’s weight. However, some foot issues can result in discomfort when weight is placed on the hoof wall. These conditions may include:
- Laminitis (Founder)
- Quarter Cracks
- Contracted Heels
- Corns
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Egg Bar Shoes
Egg bar shoes continue beyond the heel, creating a rounded, continuous egg shape.
Egg bar shoes are particularly beneficial for horses with navicular disease, which is characterized by heel pain and bony changes in the navicular bone. By alleviating pressure on the horse’s heel, egg bar shoes facilitate the healing of the navicular bone.
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Straight Bar Shoes
Straight bar shoes look a lot like the traditional “U” shaped horseshoes, but with a straight piece of metal that extends across the heel, connecting the two ends of the shoe.
The primary purpose of straight bar shoes is to extend the load-bearing surface of the hoof, offering 360 degrees of support and providing stability to the hoof.
A horse’s hoof is a dynamic structure that transforms when pressure is applied. When a horse steps onto their foot, the hoof will shift and expand, aiding in shock absorption. Straight bar shoes can be used to treat conditions such as quarter cracks or other issues that could be made worse by motion within the hoof, potentially leading to coffin bone fractures. By providing stability, straight bar shoes improve the likelihood of healing and support optimal hoof function.
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Hoof Pads
Hoof pads are commonly used in corrective shoeing. These pads cover the entire sole of the horse’s foot to provide protection and support.
Hoof pads are commonly used on horses with abnormally thin soles to prevent bruising and pain.
Some horses have abnormally thin soles which can leave them susceptible to bruising and pain. The pad functions like the sole of a running shoe, providing a barrier against objects, such as sticks and rocks.
Pads can also be used to transfer weight and pressure from the hoof wall to the frog, protect wounds on the bottom of the foot, and to keep excessive moisture away from hooves healing from thrush.
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Suspensory Shoes
Suspensory shoes are designed to aid horses suffering from suspensory ligament desmitis or injuries to the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT).
These shoes resemble regular horseshoes with the addition of a wide toe that extends into the horse’s sole. This keeps the toe from sinking into the ground and raising the horse’s heel.
By raising the toe, suspensory shoes reduce the ground reaction force that is applied to the foot and transmitted to other supporting structures. This significantly decreases forces applied to the suspensory ligament and SDFT, allowing these structures to rest and heal.
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Elevated Heel Shoes
Elevated heel shoes feature a raised heel. These shoes are attached to the horse’s hoof in a normal fashion, but the raised heel makes them unique.
These shoes are designed to treat injuries to the distal check ligament (DSL) and deep digital flexor tendons (DDFT). The raised heel places the limb in a flexed position, reducing strain on injured tendons or bringing ends of a ruptured tendon closer together, facilitating healing.
As the injury heals, the heels are gradually lowered, progressively increasing the use of the healing tendon or ligament.
While these shoes can be helpful in the primary phase of the injury, continued management and alternative treatments for the injury are crucial. Elevated heel shoes are not a standalone solution.
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Flip Flop Horseshoes
Flip-flop horseshoes are a hybrid of regular shoeing, hoof pads, and barefoot trimming.
Flip flops feature a half-shoe that is nailed into the toe and lateral walls of the hoof. The shoe does not extend past the widest part of the hoof. Under the shoe, a pad covers the entire sole from toe to heel. The pad is not secured to the foot, allowing it to “flop” as the horse raises its heel off the ground.
These shoes are commonly used for horses with heel pain. Because the shoe does not extend past the widest portion of the hoof, the heel can flex and compress naturally. This enhances circulation around the navicular bone and underlying soft tissues, promoting healing and reducing inflammation.
These shoes offer the benefits of heel freedom while protecting most of the hoof wall, making them increasingly popular among show horses. The free heel allows for maximal flexion and force absorption when landing after a jump, while the half shoe protects most of the hoof wall from crumbling.