The first time that I had really considered Plastic Heart Bar pads
was during a clinic featuring Myron McLane as the guest speaker.
Since then, there are times when I have used his pads,
and others in order to give the horses what they need.
I use steel heartbar shoes mostly, which includes,
purchased Heartbar shoes, handmade,
as well as a welded insert applied to an open shoe.
The shoe below would be one of the welded inserts.
(Yes the frog support looks kinda funny,
but that was the Bi-level shape of the frog and
I achieved the much needed and advised
zero pressure applied to the frog)
After viewing Ricks photo of an application that he had done . . .
(Thanks Rick for letting me use your photo as a plastic application example)
. . . I got to thinking about the need for the
FULL CONTACT yet ZERO PREASURE application of a Heartbar shoe,
And wondered if the plastic version really delivers.
Being that the frog support plastic pad, is not absolutely ridged,
When a horse foot steps on a large stone
and it is central between the actual shoe,
and the only contact is with the frog support,
then would there not be an extreme amount of pressure on the frog?
Conversely, if the foot was to come to rest
where the ground was in contact with the shoes perimeter,
but there was a hollow in the ground
right where the frog support was
would the support then, not be doing its job?
(I can see that in Ricks photo,
the rear of the pad between the heels of the shoe
there is a pretty solid suport,
but not forward of that.)
I am not an advocate for any of the heartbar choices, necessarily,
And Impression material or other fillers aside . . .
. . . Some may think that, maybe I'm splitting hairs,
But as the thought occurred to me,
I figured it might be worth exploring
and asking all of you, for your respected opinions.
PS. As Rick suggested to me . . .
. . . "Lets include aluminum Heartbar shoes in this discussion."