Volume 13: Issue 4

The Wooden Shoe

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Farriery has so many optionsBy Stephen E. O’Grady, DVM, MRCVS, APF

One of the amazing aspects of the farrier professionis that there are so many practical optionsavailable to the farrier when an alternative to a

horseshoe may be necessary. The wooden shoe has becomea practical and very effective option in my practice fortreating not only chronic laminitis but many other footproblems. Among the other foot problems that may benefitfrom the wooden shoe are extensive white line disease,fractures of the distal phalanx / navicular bone and animmediate increase in sole depth when applied to horsesthat have feet with thin deformable soles. With chroniclaminitis and these other foot problems, the wooden shoeis only used as a transitional device to promote hoof wallgrowth at the coronet and increase sole depth. Once thenecessary hoof mass is present to achieve stability andrealignment of the distal phalanx within the hoof capsule,conventional farriery is again used or the horse can be leftbarefoot. To be effective, the farrier needs to understandthe principles of the wooden shoe in order to use his orher skills to apply the appropriate foot trim combined withthe fabrication, proper placement and application of theshoe. The wooden shoe is simple to apply, but as with anyprocedure, there is a learning curve, so chronic laminitiswill be used as an overview or example of the procedure.

There are 3 basic mechanical principles that are used totreat chronic laminitis:• Redistribute the load (weight of the horse) on the

ground surface of the foot • Reposition breakover• Provide heel elevation when necessary to decrease stress

in the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT)

1a. and 1b. A horseshoe with a broadtoe is used as a template. Cut out thewooden shoe in the shape of ahorseshoe using an angle saw or it canbe cut and modified using carpentry orfarriery tools to provide theappropriate bevel.

1a.

1b.

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This newsletter Published By Empire Farrier Supply

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The Natural Angle

The wooden shoe has all the mechanical components of otherfarriery systems previously advocated for the treatment ofchronic laminitis yet it may possess some additional advantagesover previous methods used. A major advantage of the woodenshoe is its ability to concentrate the load (weight) evenly over aspecified section of the foot due to its flat solid construction1, 2, 3.

Other advantages include: • non-traumatic application (eliminates the need to block the

horse if painful)• readily accessible materials (wood)• simplicity of construction • breakover and heel elevation can be fabricated into the shoe • beveled perimeter of the shoe decreases torque on the

lamellae (in a dorsal and lateral/medial direction)• beveled perimeter of the shoe concentrates the load (weight)

under the distal phalanx due to the solid base of the shoe

Heel elevation, when necessary, can be applied in a uniformmanner by altering the shape of the wooden shoe or byattaching a degree pad to the foot surface of the shoe. The shoecan be easily altered according to radiographic guidelines andthe structural requirements of the individual foot conformation.

Materials such as wood or layered plywood are used to createthe shoe. A horseshoe with a broad toe is used as a template tocut out the wooden shoe in the shape of a horseshoe using anangle saw or it can be cut out and then modified usingcarpentry or farriery tools to provide the appropriate bevel. Abevel of 45° is created around the perimeter of the shoe whichhelps negate the ground reaction force (GRF) exerted on thelamellae (Figures 1a & 1b on page 1).

A radiographic study consisting of a lateral and DP view areessential to determine the position/displacement of the distalphalanx within the hoof capsule and the radiographs are thenused as a guideline for farrier trimming. Using the widest partof the foot as a landmark, the heels are reduced from this pointpalmarly (toward the heel) according to the radiographs andthe toe is backed up from the dorsal hoof wall. Following thetrim, the hoof wall at the heels and the frog should now be onthe same plane. The shoe is now fitted to the foot; impressionmaterial is placed in the frog sulci and over the frog if necessaryto create a solid flat plane across the heels. The shoe is attachedto the foot using thin drywall screws placed in pre-drilled holesthrough the hoof wall located behind the widest part of the footand the horse is then allowed to stand on the shoe to dispersethe impression material in an even manner. A rasp is used toform a vertical line extending from the dorsal coronet to theground to determine the point of breakover. Using a rasp, thebevel at the toe is extended back to this point to create the

Illustrationshows the idealtrim using the

radiograph as aguideline. Note

the placement ofthe shoe. Blackline denotes the

center ofrotation.

Wooden shoe placed on foot with chronic laminitis.The last screw placed against the hoof at the heel is

termed a ‘strut.' Note the black line is the widestpart of the foot. Red line is drawn from the dorsal

coronet to the ground denoting breakover.

2.

3.

2 inch casting tape is placed around theperimeter of the shoe/foot incorporating the

screws to add security and providecircumferential stability to the foot.

4.

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Continued from Cover

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desired breakover. Additional screws can be placedagainst the hoof wall around the perimeter for stabilityand to act as ‘struts’. Finally, 2 inch fiberglass casting tapeis placed around the perimeter of the hoof wall and thewooden shoe which encompasses the screws and thestruts to further secure the shoe and provide circumferentialhoof wall stabilization (Figures 2, 3, 4 & 5).

The shoe can be further modified to unload painful areasof the sole or if the sole has dropped or prolapsed byrecessing the shoe’s solar surface. Shoe modifications areeasily added or subtracted (i.e. rasping the toe of theshoe to adjust breakover), with the foot in the farrierposition. The wooden shoe being malleable will often bemodified by normal wear which allows the horse to finda comfort zone unique to its individual needs.

Post application, the horse is radiographed at 4-5 weeksto determine hoof wall growth and sole depth.Depending on the increase in structural mass, the shoecan be left on longer, reset once more if necessary orchanged over to a conventional horse shoe. The DDFTmusculotendonous unit will shorten due to the rotationand it will further accommodate/adapt to the heelelevation provided by the wooden shoe. This must betaken into consideration when transitioned back to atraditional shoe as the heel elevation needs to be loweredgradually. After the appropriate trim, most any steel or

aluminum shoe can be modified to provide the necessarymechanics. I often use a Kerckhaert Steel Comfort shoewith the toe modified further for enhanced breakoverand a 2° or 3° wedge insert to provide the necessary heelelevation. The heel elevation is reduced on subsequentresets (Figure 6a & 6b).

Various farriery methods have been described for treatingchronic laminitis, yet no particular method has becomethe preferred choice. The wooden shoe may possesscertain advantages over existing methods such asredistributing the load evenly over the palmar/plantarsection of the foot due to its flat solid construction andthe mechanics (beveled perimeter, breakover and heelelevation) that can be incorporated directly into thefabrication of the shoe. It should be apparent that theadvantages of this farriery option will also be limitedunless strict attention is paid to the details involvingradiology, foot preparation and application of the shoe.

6a. 6b.5.

Left (5): Lateral radiograph showing placement of wooden shoe and point of breakover. Black line is center of rotationand red line is point of breakover. Center (6a): Kerckhaert Steel Comfort shoe used to transition out of wooden shoe.Note the breakover has been modified further. Right (6b): Kerckhaert Steel Comfort shoe placed on foot. The flatsurface of the wedge insert is used to create even pressure across the hoof wall at the heels and the frog.

References1. O’Grady. S.E., Steward, M. The wooden shoe as an option for treatingchronic laminitis. Equine Vet Edu 2009;8:272-276.

2. O’Grady, S.E, et al. How to Construct and Apply the Wooden Shoe forTreating Three Manifestations of Chronic Laminitis. in Proceedings. Amer.Assoc of Equine Pract 2007;53: 423-429.

3. O’Grady, SE, Farriery for Chronic Laminitis. In: Pollitt, CC, ed. Theveterinary clinics of North America, vol. 26:2. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders,2010; 407-423.

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RAPTORThe Bellota Raptor Rasp is 1/2-inch widerthan the other Bellota rasps, providing agreater cutting surface. It features amaximum cut on the rasp side and acoarse cut on the file side.

RAZORAs its name implies, the rasp side of theRazor offers an extreme cut, while the fileside is coarser. The 14-inch raspincorporates a new tooth design toreduce clogging and to retain itssharpness.

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The Natural Angle

Bold Cut

Indications ofHoof Wall Stressby Dave Farley APF, CF

One of the biggest problems we see these days is not so obviousuntil the shoe is removed. The “12 Points of Reference' DVD thatis available from farrierproducts™ dealers, refers to the observationseen in this foot (Picture 1) when the shoe is pulled. Theperimeter of the hoof wall should mirror the coronet band. Asyou can see, this foot is showing the typical signs of a perimeter fitshoe that was punched too fine.When the foot is trimmed andthe toe wall thickness is allowedto extend beyond where MotherNature wants it, a stress point iscreated. The stress is reflected inthe stretching of the white line,the toe crack and hemorrhagingof the white line.

A toe crack will usually start atthe bottom of the hoof wall in thecenter of the stress point. If thisis not addressed and the lever isnot removed another crack maystart parallel on one or both sidesof the toe crack. These cracks willconnect with the weak points inthe hoof wall. The weak points inthe wall are the old nail holes,which were not driven in theright area to start with. Nailsdriven in the center of the wallwill create a weak point. Nailsshould enter the white line or the outside edge of the white line.This does less damage to the hoof and allows for stronger nailing.

This problem in the toe is almost always accompanied by the heelspulling forward, causing the outside heel to roll under. Picture 2shows the foot after applying a Kerckhaert DF Grand Prix shoe.The fit addresses the rolled under outside heel and is set back torelieve the stress on the toe. The crack will grow down (disappear)and the foot becomes healthy again and reduces the chance of softtissue damage occurring somewhere else in the limb.

This is the first in a series of problems we will cover in the Natural Angle. If you have any questions or comments please emailfpd@farrierproducts.com.

There are a lot ofcauses of stress in the

hoof; conformational,poor hoof prep, shoe

placement or acombination of these

factors. It’s importantto be able to recognize

the signs of stress inorder to determine how

you will trim the hoofand what type of shoe

and placement youmight choose to

reduce the stress.

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THE NATURAL ANGLE is publishedto provide you with new and useful informa-tion about the industry. It is publishedthrough a cooperative effort of Vector andLiberty Horseshoe Nails, Bloom Forge,FPD, Kerckhaert Shoes, Vettec, Bellota,Mercury and your supplier.

Articles in this publication are theproperty of The Natural Angle and cannot bereprinted without express permission. Forinformation concerning reprints, pleasecontact Dan Burke, FPD, P.O. Box 1328,Shelbyville, KY 40066 or Email:fpd@farrierproducts.com.

If you have questions, comments orideas concerning the articles published inthe Natural Angle, please contact yourdistributor. We welcome your input. TheNatural Angle is designed and edited byGraphic Response. �

The Natural Angle

42065 Zevo Dr. #15 • Temecula, CA 92590877-EFS-3367 • www.empirefarriersupply.com

To increase strengthand wear,Kerckhaert hasadded additionalthickness in shoesizes 0 through 3, clipped and unclipped, in the SteelTriumph series. This change is especially beneficial if youuse clipped shoes on event horses with larger feet.Combine this enhancement with the V-crease design andsole relief in Kerckhaert shoes and you have anexceptional shoe. Punched for 5 City or 5 Slim.

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similar to theClassic Roller, thisshoe is anexcellent choicefor horsesneeding additional ease of breakover. Aids inrelief of injuries or chronic ailments and movementin performance. The crease gives traction while nottaking away from the rollover effect. Punched for 5City or 5 Slim.

Fronts - 00, 0, 1, 2 Unclipped

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