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Post by Calaminty Jane on Oct 17, 2012 8:39:46 GMT -5
Hoof Care Tips by Carole Herder from Cavallo Horse and Rider
Carole asks Dr. Robert Bowker DVM his opinion on keeping your horse barefoot.
"The blood in horses' feet does much more than provide nutrients to hoof tissue. It enables the unshod foot to function as a hydraulic system, in much the same way the gel-filled athletic shoes do. We need to be trimming hooves so that more of the back part of the foot - including the frog - bears the initial ground impact forces and weight. Horseshoes provide a much smaller surface area to absorb shock. So if a bare hoof landing after a jump experiences say, 1,000 pounds of loading per square foot, then with a traditional shoe, there's going to be 2,000 pounds per square foot." (Horse & Rider, FEB, 2006).
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