THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF SHOEING

The following information was provided by Dr. Hiltrud Strasser and Ms. Sabine Kells–used by permission

• Walls cannot wear & maintain normal shape/length
  • unnatural stresses on hoof as walls get too long
  • incorrect trim cannot be worn away
• Vibration (800 Hz)
  • destroys hoof wall and tissue
  • causes structural abnormalities in laminar corium, leading to compromised coffin bone suspension
  • causes irritation of ligament & tendon attachments to periosteum of bones & joint cartilage
• Hoof mechanism is impaired
  • reduced shock absorption with fixation of the wall
  • impact travels up leg & stresses joints, etc.
  • ossifications
  • coffin bone impacts sole which cannot draw flat
  • circulation in the hoof is reduced
  • heart is overstressed (without support from hooves)
  • poor cell nutrition & reduced temperature
  • reduced cell metabolism
  • reduced horn quality and quantity
  • excessive waste metabolic protein unused in hoof production remains in bloodstream
  • overstressing of kidneys, liver, skin
• Physical trauma (bruising, etc.) to hoof tissues
• Weight causes unnatural strains on joints & ligaments through centrifugal effects.
• Traction compromised: too little on smooth, slick terrain, too much on softer ground.
• Deformation & contraction of the hoof
  • heel pain or “navicular syndrome”
  • thrush
  • skeletal & muscular stresses, conformational changes
  • Negative effects of nails
  • physical damage to wall (holes)
  • dehydration of white line horn
  • vibrations affecting horn & corium
  • insulation breached (metal conducts cold into foot, decreasing corium temperature and cell metabolism)
• Danger & severity of injury increased
  • to the horse itself (caught in wire, interference, etc.)
  • to people
  • to other horses
• Damage to properties, trails, etc. increased dramatically.
• Prevents proper development of young horse’s foot & coffin bone (especially palmar processes).
• Orthopedic possibilities do not exist (circulation is reduced, while healing requires increased circulation).
• “Incorrect” shoeing increases rate & severity of damage.