Farriery for the Sport Horse—Principles andTechniques

Duncan Peters, DVM, MS

There are a variety of shoeing techniques employed for the sport horse. The individual equinedisciplines influence the selection of shoe type. It is important for farriers and veterinarians to workin concert and follow some shoeing principles that will optimize performance and support the horsefor longevity in their athletic careers. The sport-horse disciplines are generally recognized to includeshow hunters and jumpers, horse trials and eventing, dressage, and combined driving. Author’saddress: Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, 4250 Iron Works Pike, Lexington, Kentucky 40511;e-mail: dpeters@hagyard.com. © 2010 AAEP.

1. Introduction

The sport-performance horse industry encompassesa wide variety of breeds and disciplines, and itplaces high demands on the physical ability and theathletic skills of these horses. A large focus formaintaining these horses free of lameness is theregion of the foot. Optimal performance can be pro-portional to the attention placed on trimming andshoe placement on the foot. It is therefore apparentthat the farrier and veterinarian will both be askedto manage conditions of the feet. Success isachieved when the farrier and veterinarian canwork together to develop shoeing schemes that willenable the horse to compete to the best of theirabilities and over a long period of time.

Sport horses follow a vigorous schedule of trainingand competition. They tend to travel to events on aweekly basis or may be based in a competition areafor an extended period of time (1–4 mo). They maycompete and train on a variety of different surfaces(grass, sand, synthetics, dirt/packed roads, or com-binations) and under variable weather conditions.

Many horses are maintained at a competition-readi-ness condition year round. This means that, from afitness level and foot-care standpoint, these horsesare always in a high-maintenance situation and maynot get the chance to let down or fully recover fromminor conditions. It then becomes necessary tomanage these conditions while the horse is still try-ing to compete.

2. Farrier/Veterinarian Relationships

It is very important that the farrier, veterinarian,and owner/trainer communicate when dealing witha specific foot condition on a horse. A good workingrelationship and open conversation about specificcases foster creative ideas and practical solutions forthe horse and client. It is important to note thatthe veterinarian, farrier, and even owner/trainermay well have conflicting views and/or ideas, andthus, there needs to be open discussion and ulti-mately, collaborative decision making.

The veterinarian provides anatomic and physio-logic expertise as well as understanding of how itrelates to the rest of the musculoskeletal system.

AAEP PROCEEDINGS � Vol. 56 � 2010 505

FARRIER PROGRAM

NOTES

He/she understands the pathophysiology of the dis-ease process that might be occurring, be it a coffin-bone fracture, a medial collateral ligament desmitis,or an insertional deep digital flexor tendonopathy.The veterinarian can provide imaging technologythat provides a better understanding of the specificfoot-disease process. Digital radiology, ultrasonog-raphy, fluoroscopy, thermography, computed tomog-raphy (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)all have their place for helping to diagnose foot prob-lems. It is essential to base any therapy or man-agement on an accurate diagnosis, thus removingguesswork and increasing success. The veterinar-ian and farrier can then intelligently exchange ideason shoeing principles, treatments, and shoe designsthat have practical application on the specific clini-cal case.

My experience with the majority of sport-horsefarriers is that they possess a solid knowledge of theanatomy of the foot and how these structures inter-act to produce a sound, efficient unit during disci-pline-specific athletic performance. This basicknowledge is essential for any farrier wanting to besuccessful in the sport-horse industry. Farriers arecraftsman with the ability to take a concept andfashion it into a functional shoe for the specific need.They generally are well-aware of various options forshoes or foot-support systems. Thus, when work-ing in tandem with a veterinarian and factual infor-mation regarding a particular problem, thelikelihood of successful shoeing management isenhanced.

3. Principles of Shoeing the Sport Horse

The basics of shoeing the sport horse do not varywidely from those of other disciplines and breeds.The potential difference can come with the fact thatthese horses tend to be shod on a shorter shoeinginterval, and some specific needs are required foreach discipline. Many sport horses are presentlyon shoeing cycles of 4–5 wk to keep their feet lookinggood as well as prevent undue stresses from imbal-ances or length that occurs normally as feet growout. Small changes can have a major impact onpotential soundness issues when exercising at com-petitive levels. Devices to provide better traction(heel calks, raised nails, borium, studs, and raisedrims) can put additional stress on the foot, bones,ligaments, and tendons.1 It is also not uncommonto have different farriers trimming and shoeing thesame horse because of the travel and calendar ofcompetitions. Most sport horses are managed invery controlled exercise environments with minimalturnout time (if any, it is usually less than 1 h/day).Most actual riding-exercise periods tend to be rela-tively short (less than 1 h) compared with the timespent in stalls the rest of the day. This confine-ment housing can lead to inadequate natural stim-ulation of the feet, resulting in some abnormalitiesthat may affect performance.2 These may includegradual shrinkage of the heel mass of the foot, con-

tracture of the heels, decreased digital cushion size,lack of adequate sole-plate callous, narrowing of thebars, loss of frog elasticity, and decreased perfusionof the foot because of poor hemodynamic stimulationfrom movement. The practice of frequent bathingof performance horses can affect the hoof qualitybecause of the abnormal wetting/drying cycle, andthis can result in brittle/shelly hoof walls, white-lineseparation, excessive exfoliating soles, and superfi-cial hoof cracks (Fig. 1).

4. Manage the Breakover

In my opinion, this is one of the most critical aspectsof shoeing the sport horse. It is not just the brea-kover that occurs at the toe, but the breakover thatoccurs in the approximate cranial one-half of the footfrom the toe to the widest part of the foot. Thebreakover should be placed close to the solar marginof P3, at both the toe and toward the quarters (Fig.2). This is best accomplished with a beveled out-side bearing edge to the shoe. The extent of thebevel is related to the size and shape of the horse’sfoot. A horse with a wide, flat foot will require alonger bevel, whereas a small, narrower foot mayjust need a rounded outside edge to the shoe to easebreakover. Other forge techniques to accomplishthis same action in a shoe include rolled toes, rockermotion, and use of half-round stock. Some pre-made commercial shoes have this action built intothe shoe (Fig. 3). This action of the shoe can reducetension to the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) andthe collateral ligaments of the distal interphalan-geal (DIP) joint.1,3,4 It also helps to decrease ab-normal loading tension on the suspensory ligamentof the distal sesamoid bone, primarily on turns.4

I believe that this is an especially important princi-ple with the advent of the recent synthetic footingsthat are used in many competition rings. Thesefootings seem to bind together more firmly and thus,

Fig. 1. Superficial hoof cracks and shelly feet contributed to byfrequent bathing.

506 2010 � Vol. 56 � AAEP PROCEEDINGS

FARRIER PROGRAM

tend to displace less as the horse goes from maxi-mum stance phase to push-off. This provides excel-lent traction but I believe it also puts greatermoment tension on soft-tissue supporting and pro-pulsive structures, increasing the risk of injury.

The better traction of these footings along with thespirit of competition encourages riders to be moreaggressive.

5. Support the Heels

Proper shoe-heel support is important to form a solidfoundation for the foot. It is not unusual that somehorses have the tendency for low, forward heels,thus allowing the majority of the foot mass to becranial to the center of rotation of the DIP joint (Fig.

Fig. 2. Radiograph showing cranial breakover (arrow) placedappropriately at toe region by use of beveled shoe and slightrocker motion incorporated into the shoe.

Fig. 3. Natural Balance PLR shoe. This shoe has a factorybuilt-in bevel in the cranial/caudal direction at the toe (diamond)as well as an outside bearing edge built-in bevel (arrows) aroundquarters and toward heels to allow for ease of medial/lateralbreakover.

Fig. 4. (A) Lateral view showing the heel of the shoe cranial tothe heel bulbs (arrow), thus providing inadequate support to thecaudal portion of the foot. (B) Solar view of the foot showing lackof caudal extension of the shoe (thick arrow) and narrowing of theheels (left-right arrow) to limit expansion of caudal hoof struc-tures for normal function.

AAEP PROCEEDINGS � Vol. 56 � 2010 507

FARRIER PROGRAM

4). This can put untoward, increased stress on thecaudal soft-tissue structures of the foot, such asthe suspensory apparatus of the navicular bone andthe distal aspect of the DDFT.5,6 Additionally, theheels may start to roll under, decreasing the angle ofthe bars and narrowing the caudal aspect of the foot.As the caudal aspect of the foot narrows or decreasesin size, the mechanical forces on the hoof wall seemto shift forward toward the quarters. This, alongwith some medial/lateral imbalance of the foot, canlead to flexing and weakening of the hoof wall andmay lead to quarter cracks.7,8 Caudal heel support

implies extending the shoe to approximately theheel bulbs of the foot (Fig. 5). Owners, trainers,veterinarians, and farriers may be reluctant to placeshoes this far caudally for fear of the horse steppingon a shoe heel branch and pulling the shoe. In myexperience, if the horse is provided adequate ease ofbreakover, loss of shoes is rare. Adequate spread tothe shoe heels should be provided as well to allowthe caudal soft-tissue structures of the foot to con-tact the ground. This can be assisted with someslippering or tapering of shoe heels or some mechan-ical devices, such as a hinged shoe with a heelspring. If the caudal soft tissues contact theground properly, they will maximally function toabsorb the energy of impact, to optimize hemody-namic perfusion of foot tissues, and to provide de-sired proprioceptive awareness of the footposition.2,9 A variety of bar shoes may provide cau-dal heel support and further stability. It is notuncommon for many farriers and veterinarians touse a bar shoe for one or two shoeing cycles for aspecific condition, such as bruised/sore heels or anacute hoof crack. In terms of addressing the pri-mary need for adequate heel support, my experiencehas shown that this can generally be accomplishedwithout the use of bar shoes.

6. Attention to Medial/Lateral Balance

Medial/lateral balance is always a consideration forthe athletic sport horse (Fig. 6). Proper balancewill help to minimize abnormal forces on soft tissuesand joint surfaces during the rigors of training and

Fig. 5. (A) Foot shod with adequate heel support for a showhunter. (B) Shoe positioned to provide adequate support to thecaudal portion of the foot and the spread of heels to enable softtissues of the hoof to function properly.

Fig. 6. Right front foot with the medial aspect of the foot out ofbalance and proximal deviation of the coronary band (arrow) in ashow jumper.

508 2010 � Vol. 56 � AAEP PROCEEDINGS

FARRIER PROGRAM

competition that could lead to injury of these struc-tures. It is also an important consideration as thespeeds of competition increase, such as the cross-country phase in 3-day eventing, marathon day incompetitive driving, or jump-offs in stadium jump-ing. It should be the aim of shoeing to attempt toevenly distribute the weight up through the joints ofthe leg in relation to the conformation of the leg.This will help to minimize abnormal tension on thesoft-tissue support structures, especially collateralligaments of joints as well as branches of ligamentsor tendons that may insert parasaggitally on theboney column.10 I believe this becomes especiallyimportant with horses that compete on many of thenew synthetic surfaces (polymer-coated sand, sand/fiber combinations, and sand/rubber/polymer) thatprovide superior traction compared with sand orgrass surfaces. Especially while turning, the shear

or tension forces on the collateral or parasaggitalsoft tissues are increased with the increased trac-tion, because the ground surface does not tend todeform as much as would occur with sand or grass.If the medial/lateral balance is not optimal, it ispossible that the tissues may exceed their loadingcapacity and become injured. Maintaining optimalbalance can be a challenge because of conforma-tional or acquired aspects of boney alignment thatmay be present. Radiographic evaluation may beof value in helping to identify any degree of dispar-ity, but it is important to correlate radiographicfindings with the conformation of the limb. Imbal-ances, such as minor sheared heels and hoof wallflares, may be corrected with a consistent approachat the beginning of each shoeing cycle. In the eventthat more radical correction is required, the farrier/veterinarian team may elect to employ the use of

Fig. 7. (A) Medial aspect of the right front hoof mildly out of balance, in part because of laterally offset hoof-to-pastern conformation.(B) Left front foot (thick arrow) with broken-back hoof/pastern axis and right front mild club foot (thin arrow) in a 3-day event horse.(C) Radiographs may be useful to assess alignment concerns. Normal desired lateral-view alignment.

AAEP PROCEEDINGS � Vol. 56 � 2010 509

FARRIER PROGRAM

thickened or thinned branches of the shoe, shim/rimpads on the low side of the foot, or building the lowside up with an acrylic or glue-on shoe combination.

7. Consideration of the Width of the Foot

A wide, level base of support, proportional to thehorse size, is desirable. If the radial width of thefoot is excessively increased in relation to the verti-cal boney structure of the leg, then a great deal oftension is exerted on the medial or lateral soft-tissuesupport structures as the horse turns. The stresson the tension side of the joint can further be in-creased with speed, shortened radius of turns, andfirmness of the surface during training or competi-tion. This lever-arm effect increases with thewidth of the foot and is likely to contribute to soft-tissue injuries.10 To counteract this effect, the shoeneeds to be fit tighter at the widest part of the foot ora slight roller motion needs to be incorporated intothe shoe by use of a bevel on the leading edge in thatregion. From my clinical experience, many horsesbenefit from a narrower functional foot, with theresult being a lower incidence of collateral desmopa-thies and synovitis of joints of the lower leg, espe-cially in the DIP joint.

8. Align the Boney Structures

Most sport horses are not primarily selected fortheir conformation. They are selected on their abil-ity to perform at a certain level at a particular stagein their competitive life. The farrier and veterinar-ian may recognize some of the conformational con-cerns that could affect performance (Fig. 7). Inmany cases, the owner/trainer may rely on the vet-erinarian/farrier team to develop a strategy of shoesupport for some of these conformational issues thatmay help reduce excessive stress on certain struc-tures during exercise load. Some of the conditionsthat may be addressed include the laterally offsethoof from the pastern, bench knees, base narrow inthe hind legs, toe-in or toe-out lower leg, broken-back hoof/pastern axis, and club foot. The principleis to attempt to shoe so that any ground force reac-tion up the leg will be born most efficiently anddissipated by the supporting boney column and as-sociated soft tissues.5 It must be appreciated that asmall improvement in this dissipation of forces overthe lifetime of the sport horse may be significant anddecrease the incidence of lameness. Each confor-mational variation needs to be addressed individu-ally and must be evaluated as to its potentialimportance within a specific discipline. A dressagehorse may be better able to tolerate a toed-in lower-leg conformation than an event horse working atcross-country speeds in regards to the risk for devel-oping a lameness issue. A variety of shoe designs,attention to shoe placement, and various fillers/acrylics, glue-on devices, and multiple pads areavailable tools to assist the farrier and veterinarianin the attempt to best align the skeletal structure.Which specific technique or device is employed can

be developed in concert between the farrier and vet-erinarian with an eye on long-term support for thehorse.

9. Protect the Bottom of the Foot

Sore feet tend to be a common occurrence in thecompetitive sport horse. This is usually caused byinflammation of the underlying sensitive tissues as-sociated with either the sole or the lamina. Thismay be because of the lack of sole callous/thickness,an environment that does not encourage tougheningof the sole, abrasive footings that will wear down thesole, removal of the sole with shoeing, different foot-ing conditions from what a horse routinely trains on,and pathology of the foot (abscess, bruise, and lam-inar pain). In many cases, these horses can bemade comfortable and work through the soreness ifthe foot is adequately protected. In the clinical sit-uation, the initial aim should be to decrease theinflammation and pain of these tissues with medi-cation and physical therapy (cryotherapy, poultices,and padding). Management changes concerningexercise, nutrition, and reduction of stress may benecessary to minimize progression to a more seriouscondition. After the inflammatory process seemscontrolled, a variety of protective/supportive devicescan be used to allow the horse to comfortably returnto exercise. In many cases, desiccating and hard-ening the insensitive sole material by the use ofturpentine, iodine, or one of the commercial soletougheners available is adequate. A wide web shoemay be employed to protect a greater portion of thesolar area. If more protection is required, a padwith or without some cushioning material beneath itmay be the solution (Fig. 8). Pads are available in

Fig. 8. Wide web shoe (black arrow) and leather rim pad (whitearrow) for protection of a portion of the solar surface of the foot.

510 2010 � Vol. 56 � AAEP PROCEEDINGS

FARRIER PROGRAM

a variety of materials, from natural leather to syn-thetic rubbers, plastics, and metal with all types ofinserts and support thicknesses.1 The decision touse a particular pad is usually based on the experi-ence of the individual farrier. There are variouspour-in pad materials that adhere to the sole andare available in a variety of firmnesses. They havethe advantage of not allowing arena footing to packunder the material (as can happen with pads), andin many cases, they can be removed without havingto remove the shoe after the condition seemsresolved.

The foot care of the sport horse requires all in-volved (owner, trainer, farrier, and veterinarian) tobe attentive to the functional needs of the horse andany changes in performance that may occur relatedto the feet. The farrier and veterinarian are in anexcellent position to be able to assess both of theseareas and offer suggestions to optimize performance.In addition, their ability to work together enhancesthe possibility of success.

References1. Parks A. Horseshoes and shoeing. In: Ross M, Dyson S,

eds. Diagnosis and Management of Lameness in the Horse.Elsevier Science, 2003.

2. Bowker RM, Linder K, Sonea IM, et al. Sensory nerve fibersand receptors in equine distal forelimbs and the potentialroles in locomotion. Equine Vet J 1995;18(Suppl):146.

3. Willeman MA, Savelberg HH, Jacobs MW, et al. Biome-chanical effects of rocker-toed shoes in sound horses. Vet Q1996;18:S75.

4. Willeman MA, Savelberg HH, Barneveld A. The effect oforthopedic shoeing on the force exerted by the deep digitalflexor tendon on the navicular bone in horses. Equine Vet J1999;31:25.

5. Riemersma DJ, van den Bogert AJ, Jansen MO, et al.Influence of shoeing on ground reaction forces and tendonstrains in the forelimbs of ponies. Equine Vet J 1996;28:126.

6. Moyer W, Anderson JP. Lameness caused by impropershoeing. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1975;166:47.

7. Thomson JJ, Biewener AA, Bertram JEA. Surface strain onthe equine wall in vivo: implications for the material designand functional morphology of the wall. J Exp Biol 1992;166:145.

8. Kasapi MA, Gosline JM. Strain-rate-dependent mechanicalproperties of the equine hoof wall. J Exp Biol 1996;199:1133.

9. Bowker RM, Van Wulfen KK, Springer SE, et al. Functionalanatomy of the cartilage of the distal phalanx and digitalcushion in the equine foot and a hemodynamic flow hypoth-esis of energy dissipation. Am J Vet Res 1998;59:961.

10. Denoix JM. Functional anatomy of the equine interphalan-geal joint, in Proceedings. 45th Annual American Associa-tion of Equine Practitioners Convention 1999;174.

AAEP PROCEEDINGS � Vol. 56 � 2010 511

FARRIER PROGRAM