Therapeutic shoeing for orthopaedic injuries. Part 1: biomechanical basics and Part 2: what is the evidence?

Given the link between the external shape of the hoof capsule and its internal function, trimming and shoeing should optimise functionality and ultimately reduce stress, both to prevent injury and to treat established pathology. For centuries, farriery has been a craft relying merely on tradition, personal experience and empirical evidence [1]. Over the last decades, an increasing number of studies have provided insight in key concepts of hoof biomechanics. Unfortunately, there is still a lack of high-quality evidencebased research on trimming and shoeing for specific orthopaedic pathologies ...