Therapeutic farriery: one veterinarian's perspective.

Summary

# Therapeutic Farriery: One Veterinarian's Perspective — Editorial Summary Parks's 2013 review examines the principles underlying therapeutic farriery, highlighting a fundamental challenge in equine hoof care: clinicians must often formulate shoeing strategies based on clinical signs rather than confirmed diagnoses, making a sound understanding of biomechanical principles essential for effective decision-making. The author explores how trimming and shoeing modifications alter foot function within a limited set of biomechanical parameters, emphasising that any alteration designed to improve one aspect of hoof function will simultaneously affect other aspects—a trade-off that demands careful consideration and individualised application. Rather than presenting prescriptive shoeing protocols, Parks advocates for an evidence-based approach grounded in biomechanical reasoning and available research data, combined with clinical experience, to guide therapeutic decisions. This perspective reinforces that therapeutic farriery succeeds not through formulaic application but through understanding the interconnected nature of foot mechanics and tailoring modifications to each horse's specific presentation and underlying pathology when determinable.

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Key Findings

• •Therapeutic shoeing is most effective when directed at a specific diagnosis rather than symptoms alone
• •Modifying horseshoe design to improve one aspect of foot function inevitably impacts other aspects of foot function
• •Shoeing principles should be applied using theoretical reasoning based on available research data and clinical experience

Conditions Studied