Peripheral Loading and the Pad Effect

by Yvonne Welz, reprinted from The Horse's Hoof

Before I attended Dr. Robert Bowker’s clinic in January, 2007, it never occurred to me that a healthy horse should have pads placed into their hoof boots. Or that a horse without sore hooves would benefit from a regimen of boots with pads! What I learned that weekend changed my mind completely, and I’d like to share that compelling information with you.

Dr. Bowker, a professor and scientist, has no connection with any hoof boot companies, so this is not a marketing gimmick! Bowker simply has some extremely interesting research that we can use to our advantage. Whether you are rehabilitating a lame horse, trying to create a tough barefoot performance hoof, or simply trying to maintain your horse’s feet, you need to know this. If you ever use a boot of any kind on your horse, you need to know this. And if you ever ride over flat, hard ground with bare hooves, you need to know this.

What is Peripheral Loading?
Peripheral loading of the hoof occurs when the hoof wall bears more of the weight. Peripheral loading occurs by degrees; there is more peripheral loading in a shod hoof standing on a flat surface, versus a bare hoof on a flat surface. There is more peripheral loading in a bare hoof standing on a flat surface, versus a bare hoof standing on turf. Peripheral loading is dependent on both the type of trimming involved (i.e. shoeing, or trimming so that the hoof wall bears most of the weight) and the surface the hoof is standing upon (whether or not there is material to pack into the hoof, to relieve the peripheral load).

Peripheral loading is a negative thing.
Why? Because Bowker’s Dopplar Ultrasound studies have shown that the greater the peripheral loading, the worse the blood flow throughout the hoof capsule! Bowker discovered that with less peripheral loading, the greater the perfusion of blood flow through the hoof. Better blood flow equals healthier hooves.

The best thing we can do for our horses’ hooves is to try to relieve the peripheral load. How? By transferring some of the load to the sole. Solar loading appears to promote blood flow through the hoof. Think about it—what is natural for the horse? A wild horse lives on undulating terrain, with dirt, grass and weeds. This variable terrain provides a cushion that packs into his hoof as he moves across it. Small rocks and debris provide a constant, but changing, source of stimulation to the sole.

Bowker’s studies show that blood perfusion through the foot is highest when a hoof is on pea gravel and on foam pads, both rating at 90 on his index. A hoof standing on cement rates at 50, while wood rates 55. Lowest on the chart is a non-weight bearing hoof, at 40.

If you use any type of boot, consider the interior surface of the boot. There is no way around it—a hard, flat surface will encourage more peripheral loading while the horse is wearing that boot. But put a thick foam pad inside that boot, and you’ve suddenly improved your horse’s blood flow to his hooves! Any horse can benefit from greater perfusion of blood flow, so consider boots with pads as a useful tool for hoof improvement. In general, if you plan to ride your horse on a surface that will increase peripheral loading (i.e., hard & concussive), you will be much better off using boots and pads during that ride.

Message of the day: when using hoof boots, don’t leave home without the pads!

**Dr. Strasser and Jaime Jackson have long touted the benefits of hoof soaking. While there are a couple different types of soaking boots on the market, Cheryl Henderson of ABC Hoofcare (www.abchoofcare.com) swears by the use of EasyCare Easysoakers. She’s seen dramatic improvements using these boots, by soaking every day for 20 minutes in warm water while walking the horse at the same time.