Would Barefoot Trimming Prevent More Racehorse Injuries?
May 12, 2008
Recently I’ve seen conversations cropping up more and more often about the benefits of barefoot trimming versus traditional shoeing. The natural hoof movement seems to be gaining ground slowly and surely, advocating the shock absorption and other benefits of an unshod hoof. Many horses with severe hoof issues have recovered and are now completely sound from receiving this special barefoot trim.
The barefoot trim isn’t just pulling shoes and keeping a horse’s foot at an appropriate length and angle … it’s an art. It’s a very specific method of trimming hooves. Equisearch.com has a very well-researched, convincing article called “Is Barefoot Better?” that covers the hoof anatomy and function, barefoot trimming basics, barefoot trimming benefits, and case studies. I would highly recommend reading this article to get up to speed on this movement and why it might be right for your horse.
In doing some additional reading, I came across an interesting article advocating the idea that a natural hoof provides more shock absorption for racehorses (and of course, horses in general). I’d heard that one of the reasons Big Brown (the Kentucky Derby winner) ran so few races before the Derby was due to problems with cracks and hoof wall separation. So, his trainer removed his traditional metal shoes and fitted him with a plastic, flexible shoe that was glued instead of nailed on.
But he’s still wearing a shoe, even if it’s not the traditional metal one. What’s the difference?
A horse’s natural hoof is designed to flex and spread slightly on impact, which pumps blood through the hoof keeping it healthy and absorbing shock. The traditional metal shoe is restrictive and doesn’t allow that spreading/flexing to happen. On the other hand, the plastic shoe Big Brown sported did.
These slow motion videos of horse’s trotting are an interesting look at just how much shock a horse’s leg takes.
With metal shoe
Barefoot
It’s interesting to note that Big Brown, a horse with a history of lameness issues, galloped away healthy, strong, and draped in the Kentucky Derby red roses. Eight Belles, wearing metal shoe, came into the race sound, placed second, and minutes later was dead from a injuries to both front legs.
All kinds of theories have been presented to explain what happened to Eight Belles. This one may not get as much press, but it’s certainly worth considering. And it’s the kind of change that could make a difference for all horses. Be sure to read the articles linked above, they’re well-written and thought-provoking.
Posted in Horse Care, Horse News, Horse Racing
May 12th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
A lot of people have been turning to “alternative shoeing” for their horses. The USEF just did a nice article on all the cool “horse sneakers” that are out there now. My own horse is barefoot but is trimmed in a special way to make sure that the superficial digital flexor tendon (the one that he had to regrow) takes the least amout of stress possible. The vet mentioned it and my farrier was more then happy to work with the vet to take as much pressure off the injured area as possible. It is amazing to think that metal shoes that don’t really do anything for the horse have been around for so long. I, myself, am guilty of sticking Genny in 2 metal shoes because I thought I was helping him out.
May 12th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Most of our horses go shoeless and seem to do better that way. I have been shoeing them all for years, but now I wonder if they all wouldn’t be better of naturally. It’s a tough decision. When we were showing of course we had the shoes with studs for slippery surfaces, and in the winter the borium for non slip help, since we are not showing now and they have decent feet, more and more we are leaving the shoes off. I will see how it goes and work with the farrier accordingly for each horse.
May 13th, 2008 at 8:10 am
On the Bit - the majority of horse people are “guilty” of putting their horses in metal shoes. They have been the norm for so long that I think most people don’t realize how they hinder the natural action of the hoof. I certainly didn’t until i started reading up on barefoot trimming recently. It’s a new conversation that is starting to spread. It certainly will be interesting to see if metal shoes are still the norm in another 30 years.
GreyHorseMatters - the non-slip aspects of shoes are probably one of their benefits. Because people are so hard core one way or the other, it’s really difficult to know what the strengths and weaknesses are of both to be able to make an informed decision. I’d love to hear from a hoof expert who can advocate both sides of the discussion and compare them accurately. and maybe there isn’t one answer that’s right for all horses. Ultimately, I guess we need to listen to what our horses and their hooves are telling us. If you started showing your horses again, would you put shoes back on?