Benefits of using HoofArmor

Theory:
The main purpose of horseshoes is to furnish hoof protection against abrasion and breakage. Expansion of the hoof is necessary for the circulation of blood throughout the hoof and the maintenance of the nerves; it is crucial to the health of the hoof. Also, recent scientific articles have shown that a horse’s hoof expands to provide traction by “grabbing” the ground surface, and the circulatory system of the hoof is lately thought to assist in shock absorption and dissipation through “hemodynamics”. Hoof Armor is a hoof protective material, which is applied as an adhesive coating, specially formulated to offer superior abrasion resistance with very little weight while also allowing flexibility for the natural expansion of the hoof.

Key Benefits:
Flexibility to allow unhindered expansion of the hoof for better circulation and health.
Less weight while maintaining hoof protection for more natural gait.
Additional protective layer of Hoof Armor can be reapplied at any time.
Helps hoof sole grow thicker for better stone protection.
Can be used to fill certain chipped or broken hoof areas.
No nails to break hoof wall or loosen.

Some uses:

-Any time lightness and flexibility are desired.
-Any time horseshoes are not desired.
-Horses, whose hoof walls are thin, chipped, broken or shelly.
-Race Track, Hunter Jumper or Dressage.
-Gaited horses in off-season to preserve hoof growth.

Some Advantages:
-Lighter more flexible than metal horseshoes.
-No nails to come loose, no shoes to lose.
-Can be applied where metal horseshoes are difficult to use.
-Can be applied by horse owners.
-Can be reapplied at any time.

Bare footing your horse:

For best results, when applying Hoof Armor, particularly in the transition from horseshoes to barefoot, trim hoof wall level with the sole, and do not thin the sole by cutting it concave. Rasp all edges smooth and rounded. After cleaning and preparing the surfaces, apply a bead of Hoof Armor on the bottom of the hoof. Spread a thin coating of Hoof Armor over the bottom of the hoof wall, the sole, and a little up over the edge onto the top or dorsal surface. Horses transitioning from shoes to barefoot show an immediate improvement in stone sensitivity, but may take two or three Hoof Armor applications (trim cycles) to develop their best stone protection.

Thin Hoof Walls:

The real problem with thin hoof walls is that the hoof wall alone is not meant to support the entire weight of the horse. Hoof Armor is used to grow a thicker sole, which helps the hoof wall carry the weight. This weight distribution allows the hoof wall to regrow and maintain without splitting and cracking, both with barefoot or shod horses.

Navicular:

It is likely that rigid horseshoes are a cause of a horse's navicular syndrome. The contraction they cause can contract heels and narrow the navicular channel thorough which the flexor tendon passes. The lack of circulation caused by shoes causes deterioration of the navicular bursa and bone. This also makes the hooves numb, and lets the horse feel as though there is nothing wrong. This is why many people think that horseshoes provide stone protection, even though the shoes don't cover the sole and frog. Hoof Armor can be used as a component of a hoof improvement and maintenance program. The flexibility of Hoof Armor will allow the hoof to expand naturally and with proper trimming, will allow the heels to expand, thereby widening the navicular channel. Depending on the age of the horse and the level of deterioration, this technique can retard and sometimes stop the effects and pain of navicular.

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