Evidence-based shoeing for orthopaedic pathologies: biomechanical basics of therapeutic farriery

Introduction

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, in the prevention of injury as well as in the treatment of 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 has provided insight in key concepts of hoof biomechanics. Unfortunately, there is still a lack of high-quality evidence-based research on trimming and shoeing for specific orthopaedic pathologies. However, the technological evolution may ultimately provide objective and quantitative tools to employ routinely in the assessment of equine locomotion and farriery.² In this regard, pressure plates offer unique opportunities for evaluating limb loading symmetry³ , hoof contact area⁴ , the pressure distribution underneath the hoof⁵ , the toe-heel and medio-lateral hoof balance of the vertical ground reaction force on hard and soft surfaces^6-7 and in horses with conformational deficits.⁸ Building further on the preceding text by Weishaupt et al., this paper will summarise relevant biomechanical principles of therapeutic farriery and potential clinical applications. [...]