Barefoot or Shod: Which Methodology is Best?

by
James Rooney, D.V.M.

I have been reluctant to offer any comment or opinion about the various techniques of shoeing or not shoeing horses. I am neither farrier nor horseshoer but rather a veterinary pathologist and anatomist with a deep interest in the functional anatomy and mechanics of the legs, specifically the foot, of horses. Having written a good bit about the foot I have been asked repeatedly about shoeing, not shoeing, how to shoe, and so on. Rather than continue ad hoc replies to these questions, I am putting some thoughts here in one place to which I shall refer future questions.

First, and I know almost everyone agrees, the best way to shoe a horse, from the horse’s viewpoint, is not at all. Since we keep horses to do things that we want in places that we want, it is often necessary to use shoes. Why? Simply, to reduce or eliminate excessive wearing away of the foot. The rate of wear of the foot is directly related to the type of surface and to the weight acting on that foot. Without human interference the horse manages to balance the rate of wear with the surface upon which it finds itself. The horse cannot adjust that rate of wear to the added weight of rider or driver/wagon/cart.(For a more detailed discussion of that point please see Optimum Surfaces for Horses on this site.)Clearly, in my view, shoes must be used under many circumstances and should not be used unless the circumstances require them.

Having said that the next question, of course, is: which system of shoeing is the best in view of what I have written about the mechanics and functional anatomy of the foot? I shall not answer that question and for good reason. What I can and do offer is understanding of the mechanics and function of the foot. Specific application, as you all know, or should know, depends upon the conformation of the horse, the work expected of the animal, and the surfaces upon which that work will be done. There is no one, single recipe for the best way to shoe horses. After learning as much as possible about normal mechanics and function, one has the best chance of making good decisions about the individual horse in front of you and the foot between your knees.

The various "systems," such as Duckett's dot, Natural Balance, Strasser trim, Bergeleen’s etc. may all have merit, but I think one is fooling oneself to believe that any one system applies to all horses and all feet. Any system offered is, in fact, a theory. There is nothing wrong with that, but theory must be adjusted to the immediate vagaries of the real world – the real foot. The basic thing, and I repeat myself, is to learn as much as possible about the normal working of the digit, and then go to the horse. Don't try to force a system, just do your thing, and your thing should be better because there is more in your brain to work with. Don't say, Rooney says to do thus and so or Bergey says do this or that. What you do say is I have read and understand Rooney and Ovnicek and the others, and I shall continue to read and learn whenever and wherever I can. Always, however, with a skeptical eye and a well-honed bulls**t detector. And now I’m now going out and shoe that damn horse!

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