His work would bring him extensive research opportunities as well as the development of the Greatcombe Equine Clinic, a rehabilitation center for horses with hoof issues. After about 33 years in the business, his career took an interesting turn when he nailed on his last steel shoe. No, Richardson didn’t retire. But 15 years ago, he did retire his way of outfitting a horse’s feet. He set out on a quest to explore a world of barefoot trimming and find the best alternatives to nailed-on steel shoes.

Since then, Richardson has teamed up with Mark Johnson, another professional farrier in the UK who has made strides in equine hooves care, in an effort to educate others and advance their own work in the best care for horses.

“We have joined together to bring owners, vets, farriers and trimmers towards a greater understanding and explanation of just how we have both reached a

conclusion that open-heeled steel shoes are of no benefit to horse’s hoof,” Richardson said.

‍A Perfect Fit

‍Richardson and Johnson have been working to identify how a horse’s hoof ailment could be treated with alternatives to steel shoes, taking great care and pride in making sure whatever product they are putting on the horse is the right choice for its unique needs. The two quickly realized that no one type of hoof-wear works for all horses, and even mixing types of alternative shoes for one horse is sometimes necessary to achieve optimal results in comfort, healing and protection.

“We have been exploring a variety of hoof boots available for us to use as professionals who work with a wide range of hoof problems,” Richardson said, noting that hoof wear has advanced considerably over the last few years with innovative designs and production

models. “There has also been more consideration in the need to study motion, function, condition and attachment systems and how all of these affect the hoof.

”Their search for the perfect product led them to Equine Fusion Boots, a producer of horse jogging shoes developed by a team of engineers, veterinarians, horse trainers, hoof trimmers and shoe developing experts. Richardson said the performance of the jogging shoes align with the approach he and Johnson are taking to understand as much as they can about the motion of the whole horse and whether the imbalances were coming from above the coronary band or below it as reported by owners, riders, veterinarians and saddlers.

“When we first started to use Equine Fusion boots, we were immediately impressed with the flexibility and the sole presentation, two functions that are essential, especially when trying to create comfort in a hoof that is finding discomfort in landing heel first,” Richardson said. “The Equine Fusion team have been very supportive of our work, and we realize that we are becoming part of a unit that is thinking as we do, namely, that the wellbeing of the animal is paramount.”

A Balancing Act

‍As referral farriers, Richardson and Johnson said they have seen too many horses subjected to treatment that relies on the basics – the foot is trimmed and a steel shoe or boot is fitted according to esthetics, but without consideration of function and movement.

Instead, the experts said, an importance should be placed on fitting a boot with performance that is compatible with the existing action in the foot, in order to avoid conflict. For example, in cases where a horse experiences a toe-first landing, the break-over of the shoe needs to be altered.

“Just putting a boot on that complies with the measurements taken may well be ok, but for us, we think it goes a bit further. For instance, do these measurements accurately reflect the way the horse moves on the ground and therefore within the boot?,” Richardson said. “We are finding there are many things we can do to the outside of the boot that will replace what was traditionally done by a steel shoe, a boot or shoe gives much more flexibility in catering the product to a horse’s needs than a steel shoe could. Those benefits include: This is especially the case for external wedges, he noted, that can be:

• External wedges attached to the boot that can be altered at any time to ensure it is providing maximum support
• A removable boot that allows for more regular foot trimming
• The ability to more efficiently keep hooves clean and free of surface infection
• An effective way to react quickly to changes that may occur

They are also have success with internal support and are presently testing the Equine Fusion Indent Pad,which is inserted inside the boot for short periods of time to assess weight distribution and motion. The experts can study the indentations on the pad to learn where the horse is breaking over and which side of the hoof is being loaded at stance and in motion.

Richardson said custom fitting internal wedges could significantly improve a horse’s ability to overcome problems and strengthen areas that have problems and cause discomfort.

“Although Equine Fusion’s Indent Pad is still in its development stage, we realize the increasing need fora boot to have the ability to give more internal support, whether it be for comfort or supporting a deviation, ”he said. “We so look forward to working with Equine Fusion on this approach to creating soundness. Their knowledge on materials and attachment systems is invaluable to us.

”Richardson said the work he and Johnson are doing, along with companies like Equine Fusion, are helping to usher out an era that has long overstayed its welcome as the norm. He noted it is not far off when the norm changes to fitting boots and trimming as a matter of course, which then will spur an increase in knowledge in the field and bring to the forefront how motion,function, condition and diet are the true stars of great hooves.

“If the only tool you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. It is a no-brainer: No forge, no anvil, no nails and no scared horses,” he said. “Steel shoes were invented and developed because that’s what was available at the time. We believe what is available now means it is time to move on.”

Switzerland horse owner Cecile Sperisen admits there was a time she despised hoof boots. She would often encounter bad experiences with riding mates as they struggled with the hoof boots their horses were wearing as they joined her for a ride.

“It always turned out to be drama. Either these hard plastic shoes got lost or some wire in them broke. Even worse, sometimes the horse’s bulb, the soft part of the back part of the heel, would be rubbed by the shoes,causing them to bleed and result in horrible discomfort for the horse.”Because of those instances, Sperisen said she swore off the use of what she called the “torture devices” on her own horses. The needs of a little red pony named Bommel quickly changed Sperisen’s mind.

“When little Bommel was rescued by us, he was 15 years old, had Cushing Syndrome, was extremely obese and his hooves were a nightmare,” she said. “They were trimmed too short, and he had an abscess.”

Sperisen said she summoned the help of her farrier, who warned her that shoeing the horse again could trigger Laminitis, an inflammation of the sensitive layers inside a horse’s hoof. When the farrier suggested that Sperisen try shoes for her pony, she was reminded of the bad experiences of other riders. But her quest to help Bommel led her to internet searches, where she discovered Equine Fusion’s All Terrain Active Boots. “That’s worth a try,’” she said. “The next day, I purchased them along with the dampening pads, which reminded me of my own memory foam insoles. They were super soft.

”To her surprise, Sperisen said she was stunned by the ease of putting the shoes on Bommel. She was impressed with the construction that included Velcro and a closing flap instead of straps or wires. The shoes fit Bommel perfectly. Still, she said, she was skeptical about how the shoes would perform on the go, so she got Bommel ready and off they went for a trail run into the woods.

“Pony Bommel started to take much longer strides almost immediately. It was like he was walking on clouds saying, ‘Yippee, my feet don’t hurt anymore,’’ sh esaid. “Much to my surprise, those shoes did and still do a fantastic job. I now have a healthy, slim, well-trained pony who loves to run on whatever ground. The shock absorption is incredible, and from what I can tell, so is the breakover point.

”Since then, Sperisen purchased a pair of the All-Terrain Ultra Jogging shoes for her Icelandic Horse, when he was recovering from a hoof abscess. She said it was much easier to leave the show on, rather than deal with a bandage on his foot that would often get wet and dirty. With the shoes, the horse was able to be hand walked property and receive pasture time. She said the shoes enabled him to heal quickly.

For 7 years now, Sperisen said she has been using the shoes every day for activities including 8km-10km train runs, lunging and jumping. One of the benefits she likes the most is the easy of putting the shoes on, which she notes she can now do with her eyes closed if she wanted to.

Consistency with the product has made her a believer,having never lost a shoe even when they were soaked in water, drenched in mud, or, as is a common occurrence in Switzerland, buried in snow. Due to the long and icy winters, she said she uses Equine Fusion’s stud kit to prevent slips.