A case-control study was used to examine the relationships between exercise history, toe grabs and the risk of catastrophic proximal sesamoid bone fracture in racing Thoroughbreds. Researchers collected the lower limbs and shoes of 269 horses that were examined by necropsy as part of the California Horse Racing Board’s Postmortem Program and official race and timed work records were obtained from the Jockey Club.

I’ve lost count of the number of times when owners have explained that their horse has to be shod with bar shoes, rolled toes, egg bars, wedged heels or a similar type of shoe.

Q: It appears that the trend for Rocky Mountain horses is to cut down the heels to achieve an angle of 48 degrees or less. We all know the type of ailments that long toe, low angles bring with them. What angle would you recommend?