In the first three years in a horse’s life, adequate hoof development stems mainly from stimulation of the horse receptors during normal exercise and turn out; however, the intense training experienced by two-year-old racehorses puts excess stress on the immature bone structure. When the horse is shod to alleviate the resulting discomfort, the hoof receptors lose contact with the ground, which further weakens the foot. Without proper treatment, this will often lead to the development of chronic hoof problems.
During the first three years of a horse’s life, adequate hoof development is mainly influenced by stimulating the horse’s receptors through normal exercise and turnout; however, the rigorous training experienced by two-year-old racehorses puts undue stress on their immature bone structure. When horses are shod to alleviate resulting discomfort, hoof receptors lose contact with the ground, which further weakens the foot. Without proper treatment, this frequently results in chronic hoof problems.