The Harmful Effects of Shoeing
(The following information was provided by Dr. Hiltrud Strasser and Ms. Sabine Kells--used by permission)

1. Walls cannot wear & maintain normal shape/length
   - unnatural stresses on hoof as walls get too long
   - incorrect trim cannot be worn away

2. 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

3. 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

4. Physical trauma (bruising, etc.) to hoof tissues

5. Weight causes unnatural strains on joints & ligaments through centrifugal effects

6. Traction compromised: too little on smooth, slick terrain, too much on softer ground

7. Deformation & contraction of the hoof
   - heel pain or “navicular syndrome”
   - thrush
   - skeletal & muscular stresses, conformational changes

8. 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)

9. Danger & severity of injury increased
   - to the horse itself (caught in wire, interference, etc.)
   - to people
   - to other horses

10. Damage to properties, trails, etc. increased dramatically

11. Prevents proper development of young horse’s foot & coffin bone (especially palmar processes)

12. Orthopedic possibilities do not exist (circulation is reduced, while healing requires increased circulation)

13. “Incorrect” shoeing increases rate & severity of damage

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© 2002 - 2007 by The Naked Hoof Pty. Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of these publications may be reproduced by any means whatsoever without the written permission of the publisher and/or authors. The information and products contained within these webpages and articles are intended for educational purposes only, and not for diagnosing or medicinally prescribing in any way. Readers are cautioned to seek expert advice from a qualified health professional before pursuing any form of treatment on their animals. Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher.

Last edited: 30 June, 2007
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