Podiatry

The heart bar shoe, also referred to as the frog support shoe, looks very similar to a standard shoe until it reaches the heel. Unlike the regular "U" shaped shoe, this type of corrective shoe covers the frog resulting in a shoe that is heart-shaped.

The main purpose of the heart bar shoe is to shift weight from the hoof wall to the frog, providing pain relief and reducing inflammation. This shifting of weight supports healing, allowing the inflamed tissue to recover more effectively.

Normally, we want the hoof wall to bear the horse’s weight. However, some foot issues can result in discomfort when weight is placed on the hoof wall. These conditions may include:

• Laminitis (founder)
• Quarter cracks
• Contracted heels
• Corns

Egg bar shoes continue beyond the heel, creating a rounded, continuous egg shape.

Egg bar shoes are particularly beneficial for horses with navicular disease, which is characterized by heel pain and bony changes in the navicular bone. By alleviating pressure on the horse’s heel, egg bar shoes facilitate the healing of the navicular bone.

Straight bar shoes look a lot like the traditional “U” shaped horseshoes, but with a straight piece of metal that extends across the heel, connecting the two ends of the shoe.

The primary purpose of straight bar shoes is to extend the load-bearing surface of the hoof, offering 360 degrees of support and providing stability to the hoof.

A horse’s hoof is a dynamic structure that transforms when pressure is applied. When a horse steps onto their foot, the hoof will shift and expand, aiding in shock absorption. Straight bar shoes can be used to treat conditions such as quarter cracks or other issues that could be made worse by motion within the hoof, potentially leading to coffin bone fractures. By providing stability, straight bar shoes improve the likelihood of healing and support optimal hoof function.

Hoof pads are commonly used in corrective shoeing. These pads cover the entire sole of the horse’s foot to provide protection and support. 

The pad functions like the sole of a running shoe, preventing bruising and pain by providing a barrier against objects, such as sticks and rocks. 

Pads can also be used to transfer weight and pressure from the hoof wall to the frog, protect wounds on the bottom of the foot, and to keep excessive moisture away from hooves healing from thrush.

Suspensory shoes are designed to aid horses suffering from suspensory ligament desmitis or injuries to the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT).

These shoes resemble regular horseshoes with the addition of a wide toe that extends into the horse’s sole. This keeps the toe from sinking into the ground and raising the horse’s heel.

By raising the toe, suspensory shoes reduce the ground reaction force that is applied to the foot and transmitted to other supporting structures. This significantly decreases forces applied to the suspensory ligament and SDFT, allowing these structures to rest and heal.

Elevated heel shoes feature a raised heel. These shoes are attached to the horse’s hoof in a normal fashion, but the raised heel makes them unique.

These shoes are designed to treat injuries to the distal check ligament (DSL) and deep digital flexor tendons (DDFT). The raised heel places the limb in a flexed position, reducing strain on injured tendons or bringing ends of a ruptured tendon closer together, facilitating healing.

As the injury heals, the heels are gradually lowered, progressively increasing the use of the healing tendon or ligament.

While these shoes can be helpful in the primary phase of the injury, continued management and alternative treatments for the injury are crucial. Elevated heel shoes are not a standalone solution.

Flip-flop horseshoes are a hybrid of regular shoeing, hoof pads, and barefoot trimming.

Flip flops feature a half-shoe that is nailed into the toe and lateral walls of the hoof. The shoe does not extend past the widest part of the hoof. Under the shoe, a pad covers the entire sole from toe to heel. The pad is not secured to the foot, allowing it to “flop” as the horse raises its heel off the ground.

These shoes are commonly used for horses with heel pain. Because the shoe does not extend past the widest portion of the hoof, the heel can flex and compress naturally. This enhances circulation around the navicular bone and underlying soft tissues, promoting healing and reducing inflammation.

These shoes offer the benefits of heel freedom while protecting most of the hoof wall, making them increasingly popular among show horses. The free heel allows for maximal flexion and force absorption when landing after a jump, while the half shoe protects most of the hoof wall from crumbling.