Feeding for hoof health and Barefoot Trimming

Barefoot trimming is technique where the horse's feet are trimmed to replicate the wear that a horses hoof would sustain should it be undomesticated. Horses in captivity don't wear down their hooves in the normal manner due to the fact that in most instances they are not given the time or environment in which to produce wear on their hooves. Normally the growth exceeds the wear and the hoof becomes too long and hoof deformities occur. If you were to note the wear pattern on a horses shoe there would be obvious wear around the front so it appears rounded. This is the way horses try to wear their feet. The practice behind barefoot trimming is to file the hoof back so that the toes don't "run away" and the breakover* point remains where it belongs.

*Breakover point is the point at which the toe leaves the ground.

Barefoot trimming stops the horse chipping its hoof and allows the horse to go longer between trims. The optimal form and length is different for every horse the same way fingernails are different on every human. This means there is no one way to trim a horse and in fact all four of the horses feet may be of different lengths and shapes. The goal for barefoot trimming is to let the hoof grow in such a way that indicates the normal wear pattern for the horse and keep the hoof at a length that best suits them. Since many horses lives are cut short by feet and limb deformities there are many benefits associated with barefoot trimming.

The horse receives better circulation to the hoof without shoes as the sole/frog receives proper concussion sending the blood back up the leg. Shod horses can be seen (through thermal imaging) to have reduced circulation to the hoof.

Injuries to other horses are worsened by shoes on any horse that decides to kick. Barefoot horses are not a threat.

Horses have better traction without shoes.

It's cheaper to have a barefoot horse than a shod one.

Conditions such as navicular disease are curable by going barefoot and can be avoided altogether if the horse is raised barefoot.

It has been shown that the internal structures of the horses hoof start to deteriorate if the horse is shod and they are built to support weight and hit the ground. If the horse's weight is being suspended off the ground by shoes the digital cushion begins to lose structure and become weak. Luckily these structures are able to regenerate and grow tough again but only through removal of shoes. One of the common mistakes is that the horse owner will remove the shoes and the horse may appear lame due to the softening of the digital cushion so the owner will put shoes back on. This in fact worsens the problem as on shoes the structures continue to weaken. The only way to strengthen the horses feet is to remove the shoes and let the horse recuperate naturally.

What is the Digital Cushion and How/Why Does it Deteriorate?

The digital cushion is located inside the hoof towards the rear and it makes up part of the heel of the horse. Its comprised of flexible material and is the main shock absorbing structure for the foot.

As the hoof hits the ground the concussion travels through the wall and into the digital cushion and the frog. The frog makes contact with the digital cushion which absorbs the force and flattens out to tough the lateral cartilages. As the foot is lifted both the frog and the digital cushion return to their normal shapes.

The action of concussion through the frog and the digital cushion acts as pump for blood running from the foot to the leg and vice versa. The compression act by the frog and the digital cushion also compresses the veins moving blood. As the foot is lifted the pressure is relieved and the blood flows through veins again. Shoes restrict this action as the frog never makes contact with the ground. Shoes then restrict blood flow and decrease circulation to the vital areas of the foot. The digital cushion then becomes softer and starts to decrease in size. It becomes sensitive over time and this is why many horses appear lame once they have had their shoes removed. As mentioned the digital cushion is able to rehabilitate and return to normal function.