Beschrijving
Drawing on more than twenty years of practical experience, anatomical dissections, and research, Piet Loof presents a different way of looking at the equine foot. This book is not about a new trimming method. It is an exploration of the living structures in the back of the foot.
Why are so many blood vessels, nerves, ungual cartilages, and the digital cushion located there? Is that merely a coincidence, or did nature place its most important system in this part of the foot?
Using anatomy, observation, and practical experience, the author invites readers to view the equine foot from an entirely different perspective.
Contents
Foreword by Dr. Tomas Teskey
- The Debate About Hoof Mechanism
- Nature’s Greatest Investment in the Foot
- Why Does the Foot Have a Frog?
- The Foot as a Hydraulic System
- How Does a Horse Know It Is Safe to Put Its Foot Down?
- What Happens When the Frog Is Not Involved?
- How Does a Contracted Heel Develop?
- Why Do Horses Land on Their Heels?
- Toe Landing
- The Long Toe
- The Ground Beneath the Foot
- Movement Shapes and Heals the Foot
- A Hoof Never Lies
- More Influence Than You Think
- Looking Ahead
About the Author
Book Preview
Foreword
To Piet,
Horses brought us together, and ever since, we have continued to exchange ideas and experiences. That story is still being written. When I first met Piet during one of my educational horse clinics, his thoughtful questions immediately caught my attention—in the best possible way. It was refreshing to meet someone who shared the same fascination with horses and their feet that has inspired me throughout my own career. That shared fascination led us to seek each other out time and again, exchanging our latest ideas, discoveries, and, above all, our questions. It has taken countless horses—and a significant part of our own lives—to arrive at those questions. One of them, much to my delight, even became the title of this book. The more remarkable things we discover about horses, the better the questions we learn to ask. Those questions encourage us to keep searching because we know there is still so much left to discover.Piet has brought together an impressive body of knowledge about the equine hoof. He has done so because he is deeply inspired by the beauty of Equus and because, like me, he is passionate about sharing that knowledge with others.Our students see the enthusiasm in our eyes whenever we talk about hooves. That curiosity quickly becomes contagious, growing into a solid understanding of hoof function that improves the lives of both horses and the people who care for them. This book contains a collection of fascinating insights that I could easily expand upon for many more pages. Yet more importantthan adding words is taking a moment to recognize something else.
By studying Equus more deeply and striving to understand horses on a deeper level, we make the world a little better. Horses continue to guide us, even as we search for answers ourselves. In return, they ask for very little: companionship, grass, the freedom to move, and thoughtful hoof and dental care.
When we care for them with that level of respect, the results are far better than conventional horse management often considers possible.I believe the tide is slowly beginning to turn. More and more people are looking for a balanced relationship with their horses—a true partnership in which horse and human meet each other halfway. Such a relationship benefits not only horses and the people who care for them, but also the world around us.It may not surprise you that, alongside his pioneering work for the Barefoot Paardadviseur Foundation, Piet has also developed extensive knowledge of horticulture, sustainable land management, and organic farming. So I raise my glass to Piet—and to everyone who discovers the message of this book. May we continue to enjoy digging deeper, asking the very best questions, and sharing both what we have learned and what we still hope to discover.Because the more we understand, the better we can act. And, truthfully, this journey of discovery is far more rewarding when we make it together.
Thank you, Piet, for your questions, your friendship, and the many conversations we’ve shared.
Where do we go from here?
Dr. Tomas Teskey, D.V.M.
A Sneak Preview
Introduction
For years, our attention was focused on the hoof wall.Then, during an increasing number of anatomical dissections, I began to notice something happening in the back of the foot—something that was rarely discussed.
Chapter 1
The Debate About Hoof Mechanism
Few topics in hoof science have generated as much discussion as hoof mechanism. Does the hoof expand when a horse bears weight? If it does, by how much?For decades, this debate has continued within the horse world, often without bringing us much closer to an answer .On one side are the farriers. Their view is generally that the difference between a shod hoof and a barefoot hoof is much smaller than is often claimed. A horseshoe does not completely immobilize the hoof. Even when shod, the hoof still moves, and measurements often show only a few millimetres of expansion. On the other side are barefoot practitioners, who point to the influence of shoes on the foot’s natural function—not only on hoof wall movement, but also on frog loading, heel development, and the way forces are distributed throughout the foot. For years, the discussion has revolved around the same question: How much does the hoof wall move? Photographs are taken, measuring points are marked, and scientific studies are cited. One side considers the differences significant, while the other regards them as negligible.The longer I followed this discussion, the more I began to wonder whether those few millimetres were really the most important part of the story.Almost all attention was directed toward the underside of the hoof wall. That was where measurements were taken, differences were analysed, and conclusions were drawn. This does not mean the hoof wall is unimportant. Quite the opposite. The hoof wall carries part of the horse’s weight, protects the internal structures from wear and external damage, and works together with the sole, the frog, and the laminae to form an exceptionally strong structure. Without a healthy hoof wall, the foot cannot function properly.
Yet one question kept returning.
Are we actually looking in the right place? The moment a horse places its foot on the ground, far more happens than simply loading the hoof wall. Living tissues respond to weight. Soft structures deform. Forces are absorbed and redistributed. Some of these changes are visible from the outside, but many occur deep within the foot, where they remain hidden unless you study anatomy through dissection or advanced imaging. That was the moment my own thinking began to change.The real question was no longer how much the hoof expands, but whether the visible movement of the hoof wall is merely the result of something much more important taking place deeper inside the foot.When you look at where nature has invested the greatest amount of living tissue, you do not arrive at the hoof wall.You arrive at a completely different part of the foot.
And that is where the story of this book truly begins.
Chapter 2
Nature’s Greatest Investment in the Foot
When you look inside a horse’s foot, one thing immediately stands out.Almost all of the living, shock-absorbing structures are located in the back of the foot—not beneath the toe, and not within the hoof wall. This region contains the digital cushion, the ungual cartilages, extensive networks of blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue. Together, they form a surprisingly large volume of living tissue.
Who Is This Book For?
This book is written for anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of the equine foot. Whether you are a Barefoot Hoof Care Professional, hoof trimmer, veterinarian, student, or horse owner, this book invites you to look at the equine foot from a different perspective.
You will discover why the frog plays a far greater role than is commonly believed, how the equine foot functions as one integrated system, and why movement, terrain, and loading have such a profound influence on hoof shape and health.
The anatomy and biomechanics are explained step by step in clear, accessible language, always linked to what can be observed in everyday practice.
This book is based on decades of observation, research, teaching, and hands-on work with horses.
It is written for people who want to understand not only how the hoof looks, but, more importantly, why the equine foot functions as nature designed it.
If that is what you are looking for, this book is for you.
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