1. Walls cannot wear & maintain normal shape/length
   - unnatural stresses on hoof as walls get too long
   - incorrect trim cannot be worn away

2. Vibration (800 Hz)
   - destroys hoof wall and tissue
   - causes structural abnormalities in laminar corium, leading to compromised coffin bone suspension
   - causes irritation of ligament & tendon attachments to periosteum of bones & joint cartilage

3. Hoof mechanism is impaired
   - reduced shock absorption with fixation of the wall
   - impact travels up leg & stresses joints, etc.
   - ossifications
   - coffin bone impacts sole which cannot draw flat
   - circulation in the hoof is reduced
   - heart is overstressed (without support from hooves)
   - poor cell nutrition & reduced temperature
   - reduced cell metabolism
   - reduced horn quality and quantity
   - excessive waste metabolic protein unused in hoof production remains in bloodstream
   - overstressing of kidneys, liver, skin

4. Physical trauma (bruising, etc.) to hoof tissues

5. Weight causes unnatural strains on joints & ligaments through centrifugal effects

6. Traction compromised: too little on smooth, slick terrain, too much on softer ground

7. Deformation & contraction of the hoof
   - heel pain or “navicular syndrome”
   - thrush
   - skeletal & muscular stresses, conformational changes

8. Negative effects of nails
   - physical damage to wall (holes)
   - dehydration of white line horn
   - vibrations affecting horn & corium
   - insulation breached (metal conducts cold into foot, decreasing corium temperature and cell metabolism)

9. Danger & severity of injury increased
   - to the horse itself (caught in wire, interference, etc.)
   - to people
   - to other horses

10. Damage to properties, trails, etc. increased dramatically

11. Prevents proper development of young horse’s foot & coffin bone (especially palmar processes)

12. Orthopedic possibilities do not exist (circulation is reduced, while healing requires increased circulation)

13. “Incorrect” shoeing increases rate & severity of damage

©2006 by The Horse's Hoof. All rights reserved. No part of these publications may be reproduced by any means whatsoever without the written permission of the publisher and/or authors. The information contained within these articles is intended for educational purposes only, and not for diagnosing or medicinally prescribing in any way. Readers are cautioned to seek expert advice from a qualified health professional before pursuing any form of treatment on their animals. Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher.