Natural balance Shoeing
I would like to start this section by making very clear natural balance shoeing is not really
about the shoe! A full understanding of biomechanics, foot function, hoof mapping & and
trimming the foot to obtain an equilibrium around the coffin joint & eliminate as many hoof
distortions as possible is the key to the successful application of the shoe. The shoe is just a
product used that makes achieving some of these goals a little easier.
What is natural balance hoof care?
Natural balance hoof care originates from a study of the hoof wear patterns of wild horses
performed in the 1980s by Gene Overnick. The original purpose for studying the feet of feral
horses was
To find consistencies with naturally worn feet that might be valuable in treating lameness in
domestic horses, as well as preventing lameness & improving performance.
Since that time, many of the findings from that small bit of research, has lead to many scientific
investigations of the foot and how it functions. From the various research Projects and the
knowledge and experience from thousands of veterinarians and farriers, across the country and
abroad, a specific set of hoof evaluation guidelines and the hoof Maintenance protocol
commonly known as “Natural Balance Hoof Care”. Has been developed.
Although many farrier’s, vets and horseman are familiar with the “Natural Balance®
Horseshoes”, the real benefit from both a performance and treatment standpoint stems from the
specific hoof mapping & hoof trimming guidelines that compliment the use of the shoes on the
market today. So when we start talking about “Natural Balance Hoof Care”, we are not really
talking about the shoe! The things we are really talking about are…
- Becoming more aware of the horse’s foot by way of scientific research and the observations of
the naturally prepared foot.
- Understanding what is healthy & normal, and what is distorted & abnormal, and how
performance & soundness is affected by an unhealthy or distorted foot.
- Understanding good foot function and how to achieve equilibrium around the DIP Joint (the
DIP or Coffin Joint = coffin bone, Navicular bone & short pastern bone, plus all connective soft
The number 1 goal is to recognize and treat hoof capsule distortion that result in
pathologies. This can be achieved using land marks on the bottom of the foot that are
static in their relationship to the coffin bone inside the foot. (Hoof mapping) Structures
used as reference points to evaluate hoof distortion are:
 central sulcus of the frog
 the true apex of the frog
 the widest part of the sole
From these references a trim can be applied that will maintain the relationship between
the internal structures and the external hoof capsule & optimise the efficiency of the
back part of the foot (heels frog & bars)this creates an optimal base of support Utilizing
the back of the foot. & when a shoe is applied its placement is in a better relationship to
the internal anatomy.
structures like frog buttress ,digital cushion and the lateral cartridges play an important role in
foot function & will help to assist with shock absorbing, proprioception .& supporting and
aligning the phalanges (bones) encouraging the horse to land heel first. Adding to the fluidity of
its movement and is vital for the health and wellbeing of the hoof capsule.
The latest information regarding pathology in pleasure and performance horses is suggesting
that the lack of leverage relief offered by either foot wear or the terrain is a primary cause.
Strain or lesions on the
Deep digital flexor tendon and the connective tissue around the coffin joint & is a growing
concern based on MRI findings. Today the equine is used primarily for sport and we ask these animals
to work in circles. We need to provide our equine friends with a trim or if necessary a shoe that offers
some multidirectional leverage relief
Much like a naturally well worn foot with a well developed roll to the distal border of the hoof
wall.
Below the performance leverage reduction shoe
Shoes with multi directional break-over relief will reduce stress in connective tissues of the coffin joint
There is a delay in break-over with a shoe with an unnatural upright edge. This will challenge the coffin
joint
There are many designs of shoes in the natural balance hoof care range the design features of these shoes
compliment much of the latest information regarding equine foot function and biomechanics relating to
excess leverages around the coffin joint.
The basic premise behind the application is that properly placing the shoe around the widest part of the
foot, equally distributes the foot surface of the shoe around the coffin joint. This results in a coffin joint
that has the ability to function with no undue tension on the connective tissues; this in turn helps to
maintain soundness and offers the equine every chance to perform to the best of its ability. The simple
fact is that horses that are free of pain with a reduction in the amount of effort it takes to move will
perform better and stay sounder longer.
A well placed shoe Ideal Goals for optimal placement of shoe:
The shoe will be divided equally divided around the widest part of the foot (50/ 50)
A 60/40 ratio can be achieved 60% in the caudal aspect and 40% in the dorsal aspect to point of breakover.
Equal
Note:
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the widest part of the shoe falls under the centre of rotation of the coffin joint
the caudal (back) of the foot (the shock absorbing zone)has been fully utilised
the tip of the pedal bone has been protected by the wide section of the shoe
there is an equal amount of shoe in front of the widest part of the foot as there is behind
break-over has been placed in its optimal position ¼ inch a head of the tip of the pedal bone
(Reducing the leverage to the joint by bringing the break over point of a shoe to a closer
proximity to the
Tip of P3 has proven to be extremely beneficial as a treatment protocol.)
Many critics contend that the naturally worn foot is not valuable for domestic horse hoof
maintenance. They Contest a set of circumstances lead to the wear pattern of a naturally worn
foot However In the
wild, horses are not asked to repeatedly make sharp turns or engage in constant circles, yet they
will wear away as much of the outer hoof wall as necessary in all direction to minimize the
leverage to the coffin joint. The harder the terrain, the more the wall is worn away, bring the
pivoting points of the foot more towards the centre of the foot.1 In a softer environment, the hoof
wall does not need to wear as much
Because the ground will yield to the hoof wall. The point is that leverage is being reduced much greater
than what is conventionally provided for our domestic horses, and the wild horses, in general, are going
in
A straight line. If we add extra strain and stress to the animal and their feet with a rider, a saddle, and
disciplines that are challenging to the whole horse, why would we add extra length and width to the foot
that only increases the leverage forces around the coffin joint?
We need to start thinking about leverage and using some common sense about how we prepare the feet
and what we apply to the foot, and how that affects what we ask the horse to do. The work of Mike
Savoldi, Robert Bowker, and Dave Duckett, plus the information from Gene Overnick on the naturally
worn foot of the feral horse as well as the naturally worn foot of the domestic horse, appear to offer a
commonsense
Approach to a possible solution, or at least a direction for resolving the issues regarding pathology seen
in-and around the coffin joint. Now that we have a better understanding of the causes to so many of these
pathologies, and the treatments that are working to remedy them, we now have some guidelines on how to
prevent these lameness issues.