In recent years, the hoof-care industry has been inundated with new products and trimming techniques. As a result, hoof-care providers have more options when treating horses.

Hoof care spans a wide range of interventions. From simple trimming practices to advanced therapeutic concepts, hoof-care formulas must be effective and support hoof-capsule morphology and soundness. It’s essential that each horse receives individualized care tailored to the horse’s unique characteristics.

Hoof-care providers must assess each horse and decide which technique or method is best suited to improve hoof-capsule morphology or soundness. A large part of being successful is acknowledging and managing compromised structures. A systematic evaluation process makes concepts easier to develop, as it reduces the risk of overlooking fundamental aspects relevant to each case.

Hoof-care practices support equine welfare, and horse owners are becoming more aware of the positive effect hoof-care practices can have on their equine athletes. Moreover, high-quality hoof-care practices have been proven to reduce the likelihood of a horse suffering from performance-related injury. But what’s really happening as a byproduct of intervention?

Improving Mechanical Function

Although routine maintenance is a large part of hoof care, the…