Why do open-heel horseshoes need help?

The reason I feel that the conventional open-heel horseshoe needs some help is, for example, you have a 1000# horse landing on an approximately 5” pod, in the heels and then to the drop-down phase of the stride where the weight of the horse is fully loaded.  Then, breakover to complete the stride and all phases of the motion work together; and what we expect is a great, correct stride.

Sore heels affect not only the hoof but also the gait, the attitude and the horse’s overall soundness.  When a horse is not comfortable landing on their heels correctly, they begin to look for a less painful way to put their foot down (the same as you or I would); most often it’s in the form of a toe-first landing.  Horses who toe-land are at risk for damage to the lower leg structures because when the toe lands first, the impact of the landing is located in the front of the hoof (part of the hoof that has no ability or structure to accept that much force) and is then transferred abruptly to the heel (that jerking movement is where the damage can occur) then to the foot as a whole for the drop-down phase and then back up for the breakover phase.  Try it for yourself, walk with a heel first to toe landing and then try a toe first to your heel landing – it’s similar for our horses. 

How do sore feet affect a horse’s mental outlook?  His feet are hurting – does he want to go out and do his job cheerfully or go top speed or make perfect movements?  Doubtful.  Why is it that horse people buy a horse, knowing beforehand that he has clean legs but terrible feet; however, the same people would run away from a horse with a tendon or suspensory problem?  Back to the “no foot, no horse” adage – how do you think those soft tissue issues came about?  Very possibly because his feet hurt, and he was trying to find a comfortable way to place his foot down. 

These are just a couple of the reasons why I created The Black Pads.  If you look at your horse’s feet, 90% of the time the insults are going to be in the heel.  I wanted something that would work WITH the hoof and the design that Mother Nature so perfectly created; we think that the pads coupled with your choice of shoe does just that.