What is Peripheral Loading; Easing the load

There’s an increasing amount of information available in magazines and online on ‘peripheral loading’, a negative situation that occurs when the horse’s hoof wall bears excess body weight, at the expense of areas of the hoof including the sole, frog and heels. 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 also more peripheral loading in a bare hoof standing on a flat surface, versus a bare hoof standing on turf. Essentially, peripheral loading forms part of a wider discussion about how the horse ‘loads’, or carries bodyweight. Many elements, such as the horse’s conformation, the terrain it is ridden on, and the speed of the horse, affect the loading. Jaime Jackson, pioneer of the Association for the Advancement of Natural Horse Care Practices (AANHCP) trimming method, states that in the natural state, the equine hoof wall (including the bars) endures the primary weight-bearing responsibility of supporting the hoof, followed by the sole and frog respectively. In the natural state, the animal’s heel-bulbs also descend to aid in the weight-bearing mechanism, according to Jaime. The wild horse’s hoof wall, sole and frog are all meant to bear weight; however, shoeing a horse is believed by barefoot advocates to lift the sole and frog off the ground too much, resulting in a weak hoof wall, thin soles and small frogs. Horseshoes focus the ‘loading’ entirely upon the hoof wall, a situation that is said to reduce blood flow throughout the hoof capsule. Add a concussive surface into the mix, and you have a problem, in terms of maintaining long-term equine soundness. How do we reduce peripheral loading? We can relieve the ‘peripheral load’ by maintaining a barefoot management regime (which includes diet and professional trimming), and transferring some of the load to the sole of the horse’s foot. Solar loading appears to promote blood flow through the hoof, according to experts. It is important to remember that if you are a barefoot horse owner, your animal does not escape peripheral loading, however, – remember, it occurs by degrees, according to the surface that the hooves are load-bearing upon. However, a foam pad inside a barefoot boot drastically improves blood flow to the hooves, and offers solar support and shock absorption, providing less peripheral loading than if you were to ride the barefooted horse on a hard surface without boots. If you have a barefoot horse and plan to ride it on a surface that will increase peripheral loading (i.e., hard and concussive ground), you would be advised to use hoof boots and pads during that ride, to help reduce concussion. Check out The Saddlery Shop’s range of hoof boots and comfort pads at www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk