Why Do Horses Sometimes Go Lame/Sore After Removing Shoes?

by C. Scott Kroeger
Reference: Concepts and illustration from A Lifetime of Soundness by Dr. Hiltrud Strasser, pages 117-130

A lot of horses seem "sound" with their shoes firmly attached to their feet. But if you take them off, it is not uncommon for them to get sore and go lame. This can be very distressing and when done against the advice of a farrier or vet, can invite comments such as, "See, I told you this horse can't go without shoes!", pressuring you into putting the shoes back on.

That being said, no one should rip off the shoes of a long-time shod horse without consulting someone who is knowledgeable about such things. Strasser Hoofcare Professionals and a few others would not do so until the horse and the owner are ready for what lies ahead. Let's take a look at why such a thing happens....and what to do about it.

What happens inside the hoof with horseshoes attached

• Aside from all the other harmful things shoes do to a horse, blood circulation in the hoof capsule is impaired/diminished.
• Decreased circulation causes problems with the neural system in the feet.
• Messages sent as electric impulses along nerves work kind of like a gun. After a message is "sent", the ion potential around a nerve ending must be rebuilt or "re-cocked"
• Oxygen and Glycogen have to be supplied to the area by the blood for this to happen. If supplied, the cells produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP) which produces the ion potential around each nerve ending making it ready to go again.
• If circulation is impaired for long periods of time, the blood supply is not able to produce the right quantities of ATP at normal rates and the nerve function in this area is impaired.
• Most shod horses of any length of time have little or no feeling in the soles of their feet.
• But the damage continues....and goes unnoticed...by both horse and owner!
  • Steep heels and long overlaid bares are damaging the solar corium as it is pinched against the navicular bone.
  • Stretching of the whiteline occurs from steepness and long toes add to stress on frontal walls setting the hoof up for separation.
  • In many shod horses, separation may have already occurred, but is not observable in an X-ray. Inevitable rotation may be hindered or delayed due to fixation of the horseshoes.
  • As soon as the shoes do come off, rotation occurs along with circulation leading to lameness.
    

  
  What happens when the horseshoes come off

• Proper circulation is restored.
• Nerve endings begin to send messages again--reporting damage.
• Repairs begin to be made on the long term damage to the corium through contractions, loss of shock absorption, poor horn quality/quantity...by removal of necrotic material.
• All this new work is painful and is the reason a supposedly "sound horse" has now gone lame.

  Transitioning to Barefoot

• A properly done and maintained trim of each hoof, combined with sufficient movement on breed appropriate terrain will begin a healing process that:
  • will restore hoof mechanism
  • will grow new horn of good quality
  • begin decontraction of the hoof
  • will make changes in the shape of the hoof capsule
• The Horse will go through a period of some discomfort--though some horses experience relief upon removal of shoes and given a proper trim.
• The horse will likely abscess in each hoof, in many cases--multiple times. Soaking the hooves is vital to aid in optimal repair.
• Vital to the success transitioning process is the willingness on the owner to refrain from premature riding of the horse, exorcise the horse by walking and often putting up with rather harsh criticism from uninformed peers.
• The use of Hoof Boots is often necessary in the transformation process.

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Last edited: 30 June, 2007
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