The stresses that I am referring to are the stresses placed on the internal structures (bones, cartilage, ligaments, laminae, blood flow) of the hoof that cause the equine to alter its stance or movement due to discomfort in its hooves (bone structure, cartilages, bilateral ligaments, white line, deep flexor tendon, digital cushion and the bursar between the bones and ligaments/tendons).

When weight is placed on the hoof and the equine detects pain it will alter its stance so that the hoof does not bear the full weight that it should. This restricts hoof expansion and blood flow, which allows the equine to control the amount of pain in the hoof. Over the long term with the compromised hoof function this leads to hoof problems such as contracted heels, underrun heels, thin hoof walls etc.

Compromised hoof function does have a significant effect on blood flow to the hoof and this leads to the sensitive laminae and digital cushion losing the ability to perform the supporting role that they have supporting P3 and taking weight, and necrosis in some areas due to lack of blood flow.

The hoof needs to expand so that it can absorb shock and allow for blood to enter the hoof capsule. All major part of the hoof biomechanics.

So what do we do to remove the soreness in our horses? Do we carry out medical or corrective shoeing? What is medical or corrective shoeing?

I think that these terms are too widely used and believe the correct term is correct orthopaedic balanced trimming or shoeing.

To me the term medical or corrective shoeing is for specialised techniques that are applied to help the equine recover from an injury or to help balance a equine with a birth defect.