Horses shod with traditional steel shoes experience much higher concussion than unshod barefoot horses at the level of the hoof wall. Adding a polyurethane shoe which is attached to the hoof, restricting natural hoof expansion also reduces the shock-wave impact compared to a horse in metal shoes.
So imagine what happens when you combine the additional impact-reducing layer of a polyurethane hoof boot under a barefoot hoof which is able to expand and flex like nature intended it to!
Using Renegade hoof boots on a barefoot horse offers a huge reduction in the concussive impact force on your horses hoof and skeleton compared to having them shod, especially when riding on harder surfaces. This has implications for horses stride length, performance, soundness - and long term risk of osteoarthritis.
Renegade® hoof boots reduce impact on hooves
Impact on horses hooves in metal shoes
Rigid metal horse shoes are locked to the hoof wall by nails and prevent the hoof wall and heel from flexing naturally, and metal is exceptionally hard which creates a spike in impact forces, especially when hooves hit a hard surface. Because steel does not compress, the horse's skeleton directly absorbs the initial peak force of a hoof landing - and let's remember that horses weigh around half a ton, and at gallop the toe of the hoof can bear 2.5 times the horse's weight.
When a steel shoe strikes asphalt or concrete, it rings with a massive spike of high-frequency vibration. This metal-on-stone vibration travels straight up the bone column. This means that hoof impact transmits short, high-frequency shock waves up the leg - a repetitive concussive effect which can contribute to osteoarthritis in horses.
Impact on horses hooves in attached polyurethane shoes
Flexible polyurethane hoof boot soles mimic the natural density and flexibility of the load bearing hoof wall of a natural hoof so they help absorb the initial concussion, creating a longer lasting less concussive shock wave and dampening vibrations from hooves striking hard surfaces like asphalt or gravel.
A polyurethane (PU) horseshoe has been shown to reduce high-frequency impact vibrations even more than an unshod hoof on hard surfaces. The polyurethane deforms slightly allowing the impact to spread over a longer duration, lowering the maximum peak impact force dramatically as shown below. This is when the shoe is nailed to the hoof, restricting the flexion of the actual hoof, so an unshod hoof in a hoof boot will have an even lower peak impact force as the hoof itself can also dampen the impact.
Even a layer of polyurethane on the base of a metal horseshoe was shown to reduce the concussive impact initial concussive shock wave and slow down the impact duration, both of which significantly lower the peak forces traveling up the horse's lower leg. Due to the reduced discomfort from concussive forces, even these horses shod in metal shoes that had just a polyurethane layer underneath recorded longer strides and chose to trot faster than horses in the metal only shoes.
However even though a polyurethane horse shoe can flex and stretch they do still restrict circulation and the natural expansion of the horses hoof to an extent, due to being attached to the hoof wall by nails or glue. Like metal horseshoes, if they are incorrectly fitted they can contribute to constricted heels, atrophied frogs and other issues that arise with poor shoeing - and even perfectly fitted, polyurethane horse shoes lift the sole away from the ground adding load to the hoof wall and reducing the beneficial circulation that results from stimulation of the frog and digital cushion.
Impact on barefoot hooves in a polyurethane hoof boot
A horse's hooves are perfectly designed to absorb impact and boost circulation. They flex with every step the horse takes and the hoof structures are ideally evolved to handle load bearing in the optimal way.
Natural hoof expansion allows the hoof wall to expand and contract laterally upon impact and a barefoot hoof which does not have a shoe on allows more contact through the frog which compresses and expands, as well as pressing on the digital cushion above the frog, all of which boots healthy blood circulation within the hoof capsule, and aids circulation up the horses legs.
A polyurethane sole (as in a Renegade® hoof boot) protecting a natural barefoot hoof creates a purely elastomeric hoof protection system where both the unshod hoof and the layer of polyurethane can disperse impact forces effectively, combining to greatly reduce the shock wave peak that travels through the hoof tissues and horses skeleton.
A Renegade® hoof boot also allows the sole, frog, and bars to actively share the weight-bearing load in a natural way, distributing the horse's weight across the hoof which decreases localized pressure spikes, and replicates the natural hoof mechanism allowing the hoof to flex and pump blood efficiently.
Hoof Boots offer the highest possible shock reduction because the boot acts as an additional external cushion for a fully unconstrained natural hoof.
How this knowledge is changing hoof management
As science continues to reveal the benefits of barefoot to horses and more horse owners transition horses to barefoot, hoof boots are becoming the perfect option to allow horse riders to keep their horses hooves natural, healthy - and to ensure their hooves experience less impact damage.
Hoof boots are exploding in popularity worldwide
Horse owners everywhere are questioning the legacy belief that horses are better off when shod with metal horseshoes. Taking into account the benefits of hoof boots to their horses musculoskeletal system and hooves, the convenience of on-demand hoof protection and the far lower cost of hoof boots compared to shoeing in metal, barefoot horses with hoof boots when they need them is now seen as a superior model for hoof care by increasing numbers of horse riders.
Barefoot is becoming the first option for arthritis and navicular
In the past, horses with arthritis and navicular degeneration were often shod, but with increased understanding of how removing metal can reduce the 'shock wave' impact peak, modern farriers often turn to polyurethane shoes or hoof boots to prevent or rehabilitate chronic lower-limb joint disorders, as they offer improved joint and tissue protection.
Which hoof boot is best for your barefoot horse?
A polyurethane hoof boot like Renegade hoof boots takes impact reduction and biomechanical freedom a step further, reducing concussive forces dramatically compared to steel. But our different hoof boot styles also offer different harness of polyurethane blends which can be ideal for different horses.
Renegade® Classic Hoof Boots and Viper Shield™ Hoof Boots
Highly structured and durable polyurethane hoof boots which provide excellent point-pressure protection against sharp, jagged rocks on the trail, prioritizing stability and durability. These boots offer optimum limb stabilization and riding distance per hoof boot and are the top choice for most high-mileage endurance riders.
Viper Vivid™ Hoof Boots and Viper Glow™ Hoof Boots
These hoof boots are made with material that is very slightly softer, with a formulation designed for enhanced shock absorption. The Glow boots in particular provide a quieter, more cushioned ride that absorbs micro-vibrations, making them ideal for horses undergoing joint rehabilitation, older horses, or who will be travelling long distances or at faster speeds on hard ground.
