The Performance Horse

What the horse runs on, at what speed, from what height, how tight it is expected to

turn and how often has a great effect on its physique – especially its feet! The feet are

the first to receive all this force, torque and shock which is why the hoof, its care and

comfort are of paramount importance to horse, rider and farrier.

The equine athlete and its rider usually weighs more than half a ton so the weight

borne by any one foot at a time can be anywhere between two to three tons –

depending on the activity being performed. Analysing a horse in action using a high

speed video in slow motion demonstrates the extreme degree of movement

together with the hydraulic shock waves that the naked eye cannot detect.

The constant high demands placed on the performance horse mean that their feet

require even more attention and care when compared with the leisure horse.

Conventional metal shoes have been the best option for many centuries but they

transmit rather than absorb shock waves and limit the hoof’s natural ability to flex

during high impact movement. However, their protective role is essential in

maintaining the integrity of the hoof wall over a variety of different surfaces and paces

whilst carrying a rider or pulling a vehicle. To surpass conventional metal horseshoes

involved identifying new materials that behave in the same way as the hoof, or

ideally became part of the hoof whilst still playing a protective role.

Those materials have now been developed… Imprint Sport

Extreme movement.