Description: How your horse may benefit from a barefoot approach. The EponaShoe is an alternative to barefoot and traditional shoeing methods.
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An Equine Podiatrist – or EP for short - is a trained specialist in barefoot hoofcare. Equine Podiatry is the scientific study of the anatomy and physiology of the equine hoof. An EP understands how to influence this to achieve optimum hoof health for any individual horse.
A holistic approach is needed to attain this – you can be the best trimmer in the world, but unless many factors are taken into consideration, you will not get the best feet! The hoof is a highly complex structure made up of several components which each have a crucial part to play in the correct function of the hoof as a whole. It is only by taking the roles and relationships of all of these component structures into account, that optimum health, function and therefore usability can be achieved.
There are many factors which affect and influence hooves - Nutrition, the environment, management, biomechanics, type of work done and surfaces available, as well as other health issues - are some of the biggest ones. An EP has hoof specific training in all of these areas, and can make appropriate recommendations to enable the horse to develop the best hooves possible - this is why an EP approach can really make a difference.