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In a message dated 8/29/2004 10:32:16 PM Mountain Daylight Time, anyone@xxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:

Can't let that sit out there unanswered.
My old friend Henry Heymering, master shoer, says:

Yes the hoof does pump blood as the horse puts weight on the leg -
that's known.  What is not known is exactly how that happens.  However,
as blood is pumped out of the hoof as maximum weight is put on it; and
'expansion' of the hoof occurs at the same time as maximum weight is
put on it, it cannot be 'expansion' that is pumping the blood.  When
the hoof is expanded it will contain more volume rather than less, and
would be sucking rather than pushing out.  You can safely put steel
shoes on your horse without any worry that it will impede circulation. 
If anything, shoes may increase circulation.

- Henry

OK, mechanically, is this accurate? My dental vet is a barefoot advocate. I know how and where I ride my horses and believe that I would be  a poor owner if I did not have shoes on my boys. Granted, I am extremely picky about how my boys are shod. I know a good job from a bad, mediocre job. I have one farrier who is my favorite and I have a few numbers of ones that I have been told are good. One bad shoe job, for the most part, won't ruin a horse but continuous poor shoeing can. JMO, not a very humble one though.  Beccy, the barefooter-in-the-winter, Utah

> --- Begin Message ---
> >> Unfortunately I've read the veterinary articles about how regular 
> shoes just don't allow for enough hoof flexion and therefore impede 
> circulation. <<
>
> Can't let that sit out there unanswered.
> My old friend Henry Heymering, master shoer, says:
>
> Yes the hoof does pump blood as the horse puts weight on the leg - 
> that's known.  What is not known is exactly how that happens.  However, 
> as blood is pumped out of the hoof as maximum weight is put on it; and 
> 'expansion' of the hoof occurs at the same time as maximum weight is 
> put on it, it cannot be 'expansion' that is pumping the blood.  When 
> the hoof is expanded it will contain more volume rather than less, and 
> would be sucking rather than pushing out.  You can safely put steel 
> shoes on your horse without any worry that it will impede circulation.  
> If anything, shoes may increase circulation.
>
> - Henry
>
>
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