Damaging Effects of Shoeing

Great damage actually begins before a steel shoe even touches the horse's hoof when the hoof is prepared for its application.

The natural, life - promoting, energetic shapes of natural hooves are disrespected and disregarded when a farrier flattens the sole of a hoof for the application of a shoe. Flattening the bottom of the equine hoof destroys its ability to perform its vital functions, and nailing a rigid steel ring around the lower edge further ensures its steady deterioration and deformation, as well as provides for a state of disease in the entire horse.

The conductibility of the nails and steel shoe allow concussive forces, vibrations, and sudden extreme changes of temperature to enter the hoof.

Every horse that wears steel shoes suffers some degree of laminar separation.

There are a myriad of other malfunctions that also occur in a shod hoof, and they all contribute to the hoof functioning in a completely different and abnormal fashion and lead to a severe contraction in their size, so much so that when the shoe is removed the horses can no longer walk comfortably on their own feet.

For the presence of steel on a horse's feet, we are able to observe profound damages that occur due to the stagnation of blood within the hoof and the diminished return of blood back up toward the heart through the veins of the lower leg. Shoes interfere with the hoof’s natural blood - pumping mechanism.

I will not ever ask any client of mine to consider shoeing their horse with steel. I have conviction in my belief about this and it is unwavering.

I feel that farriers and veterinarians and trainers and horse people everywhere must learn the truth and tell their clients, friends, and colleagues that shoeing horses damages them and robs them of years of their lives.

Giving a horse his feet back will liberate him and positively change his life, and it will be a liberating experience for you, too, changing your life as you learn firsthand what a powerful tool this knowledge is.

Comments

[JENNIFER]

I have a five year old quarter horse gelding who has had a heck of a time with his hooves. He has mainly been in shoes since he was a three year old..the past year or less I have kept him with front shoes only. Last spring something happen to him in the field and his nose swelled shut, high fever etc. About a month after that I saw a pink/red ring showing up on his white hooves. Which I have since learned is called "fever ring", which can sometimes leave a horse permanently damaged. The ring grew out of his hooves, but, his front hooves seem to still break easily and he is very very tender-footed. I recently took his shoes off to try and do the bare foot/natural foot with him..but he can hardly walk unless its pure soft grass to walk on. Then I purchased him some of the easy boots (epic)I believe. Well that helped emensley. The thing is...can I let him wear them constantly? I had the vet look at him today and he is telling me I need to put shoes back on his front feet because his hoof wall is so thin and because he is walking on the soles of his feet. I don't want him in shoes because it seems everytime we put shoes on him it makes his feet break more. Any advice? I have buted him..and that helps..but I would prefer not to have to keep him medicated. I am lost at how to help him, and just wrenches my heart seeing him in pain like that.

Thank you
Jennifer