Walls cannot wear
& maintain normal shape/length
- unnatural stresses on hoof as walls get too long
- incorrect trim cannot be worn away
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
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
Physical trauma (bruising, etc.) to hoof tissues
Weight causes unnatural strains on joints & ligaments through centrifugal effects
Traction compromised: too little on smooth, slick terrain, too much on softer ground
Deformation &
contraction of the hoof
- heel pain or navicular syndrome
- thrush
- skeletal & muscular stresses, conformational changes
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)
Danger & severity
of injury increased
- to the horse itself (caught in wire, interference, etc.)
- to people
- to other horses
Damage to properties, trails, etc. increased dramatically
Prevents proper development of young horses foot & coffin bone (especially palmar processes)
Orthopedic possibilities do not exist (circulation is reduced, while healing requires increased circulation)
©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.
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