Collateral ligament injuries are increasingly common among performance horses, particularly those that repeatedly load, twist and turn during their work.

When a horse suffers an injury to a collateral ligament, it requires protection to promote healing. A collateral shoe — also known as an asymmetric shoe — limits foot penetration on the wide branch while enhancing it on the narrow branch. This appliance corrects asymmetrical decent on soft footing, reduces movement of the ligament, helps correct an upright wall and prevents and treats sprains.

In order to be effective, the horse’s footing must be deformable. A hard surface will negate any benefit that the shoe is meant to offer because it eliminates the protection it offers the ligament.

Key Factors

In this series, we are detailing different shoeing applications and various options for how to achieve the same desired outcome. Each application…