Developed in France during the 17th century, the shoe was forged to protect the heel from corns or bruising. However, the French didn’t call them corns. Rather, they were called onions — hence the name of the shoe.

A hospital plate shoe treatment is a versatile and effective application for managing and treating a variety of hoof maladies.
It’s a varied combination of a horseshoe and removable plate that protects the solar area of the foot while allowing the horse to walk during healing from bouts of laminitis and post-deep penetrating wounds. The plate can act as a tourniquet when the foot is packed with sterile packing material and the plate is tightened against the shoe.